Field Crops

A vegetable farmer in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, who converted to biological crop production, has significantly increased yield, improved quality and reduced input costs. Robyn Joubert reports.

Nutrient-rich dairy slurry was once considered a liability and a pollutant, but the current high fertiliser price has changed all that, says dairy technical consultant Gavin Brockett. Robyn Joubert spoke to him.

The winner of the Berg River Table Grape Competition for 2008 Johann Britz of the farm Tweespruit near Paarl, chose a pitted grape cultivar because he believed it was best-suited to his farm’s terroir. With attention to detail, he now exports a quality product and is expanding his vineyards, writes Wouter Kriel.

While humates are promoted as an almost magic potion by some, sub-standard products have battered their reputation. Glenneis Erasmus talked to several agriculturists to find out what they are, how to use them and how to ensure product quality.

In South Africa, eradicating invasive woody alien vegetation for alternative land use is normally a relatively heavy-handed method involving big drums of diesel or water and herbicide.

While much is still uncertain about the local biofuel industry, Mozambique is already planting vast jatropha plantations for biodiesel production. The country's minister of Science and Technology has announced that it aims to become the Brazil of Africa. Fanie van Rooyen went to Mozambique to visit what's probably one of the biggest jatropha plantations in the world, and discovered it's run by a South African.

Seed breeders and suppliers provided colourful and informative exhibition stands yet again at Nampo Harvest Day 2007. In this week, we introduce you to some new champions in the field of maize cultivars and other seed varieties. Peter Hittersay did the rounds of suppliers' stands and reports on the new 2007 releases and the claims for each cultivar.

Last week's article showed the impact that leafroll virus can have on vine quality and production, and stressed the need for vigorous measures against mealybug. This week Glenneis Erasmus covers effective monitoring and control protocols.

While its true that the leafroll virus doesn't destroy grapevines, it can nevetheless have a severe impact, often resulting in crop losses of up to 60%, which adversely affects wine quality. In a two-part series, Glenneis Erasmus reports on the latest research into this problem.

Growing salad crops in hydroponic systems boosts production and creates a year-round supply. However, the system is capital-intensive and requires careful monitoring. Glenneis Erasmus spoke to hydroponic lettuce producers Duncan and Karen Napier about the pros and cons.

Fish River Valley farmers have heard wild promises before that growing sugar beet would save them from relying on maize and lucerne crops prone to price volatility and ostrich exports vulnerable to bird flu outbreaks. To date there's been little progress in establishing a beet industry, leaving many understandably sceptical. But Sugar Beet SA's new biofuels plan could well win over the doubters if the price is right, writes Stephan Hofstätter. Issue date 15 June 2007

New dynamic recommendations for row width and planting density in Western Cape conservation tillage systems have been developed by key players in agriculture, including Dr Mark Hardy (Western Cape Department of Agriculture), Prof André Agenbag (Department of Agronomy, University of Stellenbosch) and numerous producers who hosted trials over the past five seasons. John Tolmay, the project leader and also senior researcher at the ARC Small Grains Institute, Bethlehem, summarises these guidelines. Issue date 8 June 2007

Ever since the highly destructive sirex woodwasp reached our shores in 1994, its devastation of pine plantations has resulted in a R300 million loss for the local timber industry. The problem though is that known control ­solutions, while effective in other countries, are for some reason ineffective here. Lloyd Phillips reports. Issue date 15 June 2007

The Swartland Canola Competition recognises outstanding farming efforts, identifying trends that could help enhance the production of this crop. This year's winner, André Brink, may have found the secret formula to canola success - nitrogen, seed density and rainfall.

As weeds become increasingly resistant to herbicides, farmers will have to adopt strategic or long-term approaches when cultivating their crops. The time has come to consider other alternatives, before resorting immediately to chemical tools.

The processing of fibre and derivatives from kenaf is about to commence in Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, in a brand new plant presently undergoing commissioning, with production set to kick off in early April

Over the last few years, coffee production in South Africa has been more of a boutique industry limited to a handful of growers on minimal land. But as a coffee culture grows locally and internationally, the demand for beans suggests it may be the right time to revisit home-grown coffee. Robyn Joubert reports.
Issue Date: 13 April 2007

Ranking alongside caviar and saffron in price and rarity, black truffles are now produced in South Africa by Donna Hornby of Truffles of Africa in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal.

Fruit farmer Ian de Kock of Harmonie farm near Montagu in the Western Cape, says the use of fulvic and amino acids has improved crop health, yields and fruit quality while reducing the dependence on fertiliser.
Issue Date 16 March 2007

Growing mushrooms on a small scale for home use or commercial sale can be lucrative. However, Lloyd Phillips discovers why a good-quality mushroom crop can only come from spawn produced under stringent laboratory conditions.
Issue Date: 9 March 2007