Crops

While the use of plastics has helped farmers to produce more with less, the material presents an enormous environmental issue. This report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations looks at alternatives that can be introduced by farmers and governments to reduce reliance on plastics in agricultural production and thereby cut down on pollution.

Thanks to Milesight’s Internet of Things solutions, introduced to the country via MiRO, South African farmers stand a better chance of overcoming challenges arising from climate change.

Investment in smart-irrigation companies has been on the increase over the past few years, and this trend shows no signs of abating. Janine Ryan and Glenneis Kriel look at some of the companies in the industry, both local and international, that are likely to make headlines in the near future.

In South Africa, about 30% of local agricultural production is wasted every year, which is equivalent to an estimated R60 billion, or around 2% of GDP. In a country where 30% of households are at risk of hunger, 31% experience hunger and 13 million children live in poverty, this waste is unsustainable and needs to change, says James Brand, a senior associate in ENSafrica’s Natural Resources and Environment department.

Firefighting is not complicated, but managing the process, which includes prevention, training, communication, maintaining equipment and more, is another story. It requires minute attention to detail, says Peter Hughes.

Two of the 16 silver medals awarded at Agritechnica 2022 went to Continental’s Agro ContiSeal and Krone’s ExactUnload, which make transport in the field safer and easier to manage.

Soil pollution is a serious challenge worldwide, resulting in environmental damage and potential health hazards to people and animals. This report examines affordable ways in which farmers can limit its effects on their crops and reduce further soil degradation.

John Deere Financial’ s agricultural asset finance packages are created with each farmer’s unique situation and cash flow requirements in mind. This frees up producers to get on with their core business of farming.

It is often argued that the ability of the local dairy industry to grow or even survive will depend on the extent to which it can compete with imported dairy products. But can South African dairy farmers succeed when the odds are so clearly stacked against them? Bertus van Heerden, chief economist of the Milk Producers’ Organisation, and Prof Johann Kirsten, director of the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University, carried out a price analysis to get some answers.

With interest in the production of orchard crops on the rise, Massey Ferguson has launched the MF 3300 narrow-width tractor series in SA.

Given the advanced technological capabilities of agricultural equipment designed and produced overseas, South African farmers might be tempted to import their implements. However, with locally manufactured machinery and tools come a host of benefits, says Grethe Bestbier of Agrico.

The COVID-19 pandemic has handed farmers a golden opportunity and we dare not let it pass. Let’s work together to boost the public image of farmers and farming, says Peter Hughes.

A new study on emergency food relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, by researchers Camilla Adelle and Ashley Haywood, shows how civil society groups can help to restore South Africa’s ailing food system in the long term, and why government needs to aid the process by providing an enabling environment.

The Fendt 200 VFPS Vario specialist tractor series recently launched in South Africa offers a wide range of configurations that allow farmers to tailor a tractor to suit their specific needs.

A critical juncture in the life of the family agribusiness is the transition from one generation to the next. One of the reasons for this, explains Trevor Dickinson, is that the capacity of the business to pay any form of remuneration has to be balanced with the requirements of the individuals who own and operate it.

Jenna Robinson, Go to Market Manager for Husqvarna, looks at seven reasons why battery-powered machinery is making waves in the farming industry.

Access to effective antimicrobials and their appropriate use have a role in productive and sustainable agriculture. However, the misuse of these products has contributed to rising rates of antimicrobial resistance, impairing public health, food and agriculture production systems, and food security. The UN’s recent action plan serves as a road map for focusing global efforts to address antimicrobial resistance.

Mooketsa Ramasodi, director general of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, argues that bringing South Africa’s informal livestock sector fully on board will not only improve the lives and future prospects of smallholder farmers, but also maximise profits for the industry as a whole.

John Deere offers fruit farmers tractors with improved power and reduced fuel consumption in the aim to help growers increase their profitability.

Although the current political tensions between Russia and Ukraine have not yet spilled over to global agricultural commodity markets, it could have serious implications for the rest of the world.