In agriculture, where every gram of yield matters, farmers are constantly on the lookout for innovative solutions to enhance productivity and crop quality. One such solution that has garnered attention in recent years is triacontanol, a natural plant growth regulator. Here’s how to use triacontanol on plants and the benefits of doing so. What is triacontanol? Triacontanol, a long-chain fatty alcohol, …
Diseases and pests are among the major constraints to agricultural production worldwide. These problems have been further exacerbated by mono-cropping production systems in response to the increased food demands of an ever-expanding population. As a result, most commercial farmers have resorted to excessive chemical use to manage diseases and pests. The indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides not only poses risks …
It’s responsible for giving brown sugar its flavour and colour; it adds aroma, colour, and wonderful chew to cookie batters and provides thickness to baked beans, marinades and sauces. You may be aware that molasses has many uses in the culinary world, but did you know that fermented molasses has myriad benefits in farming for both crops and soil health? …
An article by agronomic consultant Jim Pingrey printed in the July 2023 issue of the Acres U.S.A. magazine proposes that “soil health is essential for a resilient plant, but we can also ramp up plant resilience and aid in building soil health by applying timely foliar sprays”. In recent times, foliar feeding has become accepted as an essential aspect of …
As a grower or farmer, you may constantly be dosing your system with extra nutrients in the hopes that your plants will thrive. But each nutrient has a specific role to play, and you need to understand how the seven micronutrients work to optimise crop production, promote sustainable agriculture, and achieve economic benefits. What are micronutrients? Nutrients can be macronutrients …
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a spike in global grain and fertiliser prices as it became extremely difficult to get exports out of the country. Although a United Nations-brokered deal has eased some of the supply chain issues, fertiliser costs remain high—fertilisers are at their least affordable levels since the 2008 global food crisis, putting a strain on …
RegenZ Founder and CEO Justin Platt lists his 6 top agricultural trends for 2023. As a major agricultural producer and exporter, South Africa’s agricultural industry plays an essential role in the country’s economy. But it comes with a significant footprint on resources such as water, energy, nutrients, soil and natural cycles. Then there’s the impact of dealing with climate change …
We need better knowing, not more knowledge The modern focus on scientific and intellectual farming approaches has significantly advanced food production. Innovations such as fertilisers and machinery have enabled food production to keep pace with a booming population, and advancements in the preservation of food results in access to a greater variety of food all over the world. However, in …
Hendrik Odendaal, a commercial farmer in Standerton, Mpumalanga, is on the road to more regenerative farming methods. His main crops are maize and soybeans. We recently got the chance to chat with Hendrik about his regenerative farming journey. Hendrik started farming in 2005 using conventional agricultural practices. Without even knowing it was a regenerative practice at the time, he started …
These three awe-inspiring soil health documentaries on Netflix showcase the current state of our planet, but also provide us with the simple solutions we need to change our future. 1. Kiss the Ground Produced in 2020, this full-length documentary speaks about the healing power of soil. It argues that the soil’s capacity to sequester carbon could be the key to …