With the declining fertility and productive capacity of many South African cropping soils, there is an increasing need to develop more sustainable and profitable cropping systems in these regions. Global and local research studies have shown that cover crops have the potential to address and reverse some of these problems if well managed.
During the past decade several articles in SA Graan/Grain have highlighted the important uses and benefits of cover crops as an integral part of crop-livestock conservation agriculture (CA) systems. These benefits include:
- Livestock integration: Cover crops allow the profitable and sustainable integration of animals in cropping systems. Cover crops are included in or between cash crops and grazed with animals.
- Protecting profits: Cover Read More
Fusarium-aarskroei is ’n moeilike siekte om te bestuur, omdat die patogeen, Fusarium graminearum, ’n wye reeks gewasse kan infekteer, insluitend koring, gars, mielies en sojabone – wat algemeen in wisselbou op dieselfde lande geproduseer word – asook grasonkruide.
Verder dien gewasreste (stoppels) van die vorige seisoen as bron van nuwe infeksies en boonop is die mees bestande koringkultivars slegs matig weerstandig teen die siekte. Chemiese beheer is nie 100% effektief nie en kan die siekte nie heeltemal onderdruk nie. Daar is tans geen swamdoders teen aarskroei geregistreer in Suid-Afrika nie.
In die vorige artikel oor Fusarium-aarskroei van koring (SA Graan/Grain, September) is agtergrondinligting oor die siekte sowel as die verloop van die Read More
Valerie Cilliers,
editor, SA Graan/Grain
One of the most colourful days on the Grain SA calendar is the annual Day of Celebration. The aim of the event is to give recognition to emerging farmers who are part of the PGP Farmer Development Programme and who excel in their respective categories.
The event – held on 20 September at NAMPO Park this year – was no exception as the festive atmosphere and colourful traditional attire worn by many of the participants once again highlighted the rich diversity of South African agriculture.
The head of Phahama Grain Phakama (PGP), Dr Sandile Ngcamphalala, and Jeremia Mathebula, vice-chairperson of Grain Read More
Valerie Cilliers,
editor, SA Graan/Grain
‘The annual Grain SA awards ceremony bears testimony to the heights that can be achieved within the grain industry. It is our opportunity as Grain SA to acknowledge excellence and leadership in agriculture. Tonight, we celebrate the achievements of fellow South Africans who have excelled in their field, from the smallest to the largest – we celebrate you for your unrelenting drive to reach success despite the numerous challenges you face daily. We as Grain SA salute you.’
With these words, Richard Krige (vice-chairperson, Grain SA) set the stage for the 2023 Grain SA awards ceremony which was held at The Maslow Hotel in Pretoria on 20 Read More
Magda du Toit,
SA Graan/Grain-medewerker
Oop gesprekke in en buite die raadsale is van kritieke belang om oplossings te vind vir die uitdagings in die graanopbergingsbedryf. Dit was die goue draad wat deur al vier die paneelbesprekings geweef is tydens Agbiz Grain se onlangse Graan-en-Oliesadesimposium wat in Pretoria gehou is.
Toegang tot beskikbare graanvoorraad, deursigtigheid in graanverhandelingsisteme, opbergingskoste, die risiko wat konsentrasie van graan in sekere sentra inhou, die agteruitgang van infrastruktuur, naspeurbaarheid en versekering was van die punte op die besprekingsagenda wat in die lig van praktiese uitdagings deurgetrap is.
“Die graanverhandelings- en opbergingsbedryf is ’n sentrale rolspeler in die graanbedryf en ook die breër landbousektor. Met die oog op die volhoubaarheid Read More
Martin Brandt,
landboukundige, Pioneer
Dikwels word gevra hoekom daar nie gewig aan die koppe is tydens oestyd nie, alhoewel die mielieplante normaal vertoon het met ’n goeie aantal koppe per hektaar. Die antwoord lê daarin dat verskeie reaksies van mielieplante waargeneem kan word gedurende seisoene waar die weerpatrone anders as normaalweg voel.
In ’n seisoen soos onlangs in Suid-Afrika ervaar is, waar daar uiters nat planttoestande was en toe in die seisoen ’n erge hittetydperk, is gevind dat mielieplante in die begin van die seisoen tydens wortelontwikkeling nie goeie wortelstelsels gevorm het nie. Tydens die hittetydperk was baie mielieplante in die reproduktiewe stadiums, wat veroorsaak Read More