Cover crops: potential game changer for Western Cape weed management
Farming practices in the Western Cape’s grain-producing areas have undergone significant changes, largely due to the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) and, to a lesser extent, regenerative agriculture (RA). While CA offers numerous benefits,...
Cultivar choice and fertilization CAN IMPROVE YIELD
Dry bean is an important grain crop in South Africa produced mainly for consumption due to its high protein content. Major producing areas are the Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. Producers in the...
HOENDER en GRAAN: twee bedrywe wat mekaar versterk
Die hoenderbedryf is een van die grootste en mees dinamiese verbruikers van graan in Suid-Afrika en speel dus ’n sleutelrol in die volhoubaarheid en groei van die graanbedryf. As primêre komponent in voerrantsoene, skep...
Considering hybrid selection – back to basics
Every year one of the most important decisions for a producer is the selection of a hybrid package to plant. When selecting a suitable package, two of the most important considerations must be the...
Bestuur van MRL’e in PLAASLIKE PRODUKSIE
Die graanbedryf in Suid-Afrika speel ’n belangrike rol in nasionale voedselsekerheid asook internasionale voedselhandel. Verbruikers en globale markte se behoeftes vir meer volhoubare en veiliger voedsel het die afgelope paar jaar drasties toegeneem. Gevolglik...
Saailingverwelksiekte: die stil saboteur van saad tot saailing
Saailingverwelking van graangewasse kan ’n wesenlike probleem wees tydens saailingstadium en die volle impak van hierdie siektekompleks verdien meer aandag. Saailingverwelking beïnvloed plantdigtheid, saailingkrag en kan ’n negatiewe invloed op opbrengs hê. In baie...
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...
