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