Organic farming
Organic farming, Agro-ecology, Biodynamics, Regenerative Agriculture, Vegan, Organic farming
Mapping
Introduction It is essential to have accurate maps in any farming enterprise, particularly if you are planning to do precision farming. Other times when you will be grateful to have maps are when you are: planning aerial crop-spraying determining the potential of land applying pesticides ordering seed and fertiliser wishing to insure your crops hiring or […]
Legal aid and legislation
Introduction Agricultural activity takes place within a wider social, environmental and economic context, and so any attempt at compiling a list of the laws which affect agriculture necessarily goes beyond the laws administered by the Department of Agriculture. The reader will find two lists of legislation: one of laws pertaining immediately to agriculture, and a […]
Laboratories and Agriculture
Introduction Laboratories play a vital role in the monitoring and effectiveness of the agricultural value chain. Resources like soil and water are evaluated. Precision agriculture and its accurate application of fertiliser, for example, depend on the soil tests. Inputs like animal feed and fertiliser are analysed. Using tainted inputs like fertiliser can have a detrimental […]
Hydroponics and undercover growing
Introduction Translated directly, hydroponics means plants working (growing) in water. The word hydroponic is derived from two Greek words: hydro – meaning water, and ponos – meaning labour. A modern definition of hydroponics: A system where plants are grown in a growing media or substrate other than natural soil. All the nutrients (6 macro- and 6 micro-elements) are dissolved […]
Fertigation
Fertilisation is the feeding of plants, while Fertigation is the feeding of plants by means of first dissolving the nutrients in the irrigation water. Hence the name “Fertigation” which is a combination of the two words “Fertilisation” and “Irrigation”. Advantages of Fertigation Uniform application of the fertilisers throughout the irrigated area. The amounts and […]
Drones
Introduction Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Distant water points and livestock are obvious things that require checking up on, and how better to do it than sending an unmanned aircraft (during the day or night) to confirm that all is in order. Useful applications of drones in agriculture revolve around: surveillance of livestock, vehicles etc damage […]
Consultants
Role players View the Premium Listings below (scroll down or click on “Premium Listings” on the Table of Contents to the right). AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (arc) Find details of the different ARC campuses at www.arc.agric.za. BANKS Banks have teams of agricultural advisors, who work closely with the agricultural managers. The role of these economists includes […]
Conservation Agriculture
Photos above used courtesy of Helen Gordon, WWF SA Introduction Our continent is bleeding to death: megatons of topsoil wash out to sea every year due to soil structure degraded by ploughing. Conservation Agriculture (CA) – or “Conservation Tillage” as it was often called – is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly method of farming which does […]
Biotechnology and plant breeding
Introduction The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines biotechnology as: “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use”. These technologies are applied in crops, forestry, livestock and aquaculture, and in food processing. They are used for many different purposes, such as […]