Planting time and hybrid choice: keys to successful sunflower production
Sunflower is one of South Africa’s top oilseed crops, valued for both its yield and oil quality. However, climate change associated with hotter summers, more frequent droughts, and unpredictable rainfall poses new challenges. Recent...
The era of ’easy ’ chemistry is coming to an end
The agrochemicals that enabled ever-increasing yields on stable hectares are facing an unprecedented squeeze. This is due in part to the growing realisation that many of these chemicals come with an unmanageable human and...
Innovation in the soil: exploring summer cultivars for 2025/2026
The 2024/2025 summer grain season reminded us just how unpredictable farming can be. On a positive note, maize, soybeans, and sunflowers all bounced back from the previous production season, with improved yields, supported by...
Climate-smart water technologies for resilience and sustainability
Water scarcity ranks among humanity’s greatest challenges today, alongside land degradation and food insecurity. These challenges are worsened by climate change and rising demands from competing sectors and a growing population. For example, over...
Só lyk aanplantings op droëland en onder besproeiing in SA
Suid-Afrikaanse graanproduksie speel af op twee uiters verskillende verhoë: besproeiingslande en droëlandboerdery. Waar besproeiing ’n mate van stabiliteit bied met meer konsekwente opbrengste, is droëlandboerdery grootliks afhanklik van onvoorspelbare reënval en veranderende klimaatspatrone. Hierdie...
’n Dekade van sorghumproewe: Lesse uit ’n jaar van uitsonderlike weeruitdagings
In die 2024/2025-produksieseisoen vier ons ’n dekade van sorghumproewe. In hierdie artikel word gekyk na dié produksieseisoen, nuwe saadmaatskappye wat deel geword het van die proef asook die feit dat nuwe kultivarinskrywings goeie potensiaal...
Local sorghum industry deserves better recognition in SA
How many South Africans can identify sorghum in their everyday meals? For most modern households, the answer is likely ‘very few’. Despite being one of the most drought-tolerant and versatile crops in the country,...
FERTILISER INDUSTRY IN SA: This is what it looks like
Fertilisers are crucial for improving soil fertility and maintaining agricultural productivity, especially in nutrient-limited soils commonly found in key grain-production regions of South Africa. The South African fertiliser industry is largely influenced by global...
LUGTOEDIENING – vliegtuig, hommeltuig of beide?
Sedert landboumiddels die eerste keer op 3 Augustus 1921 vanuit ’n vliegtuig oor ’n gewas toegedien is, speel lugtoediening ’n belangrike rol in die produksie van gewasse. In baie gevalle is lugtoediening nie ’n...
Die waarde van hoë reënval in April
Vir graanproduksie in die noordwes-Vrystaat, soos eintlik in alle graanproduserende dele van die somersaaigebied met sy semidroë klimaat, is reënval verreweg die beperkendste natuurlike hulpbron. ’n Kenmerk van dié reënval is dat dit uiters...
