Carbon – the drought survival secret!
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Soil carbon helps with moisture retention and can get you through dry periods. Farm management practices should be wired towards sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere!
Know your soil
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The soil is more than just a big blob of brown stuff. It has organic matter, mineral particles as well as a variety of microorganisms. The quantity of each of these determines the health of that soil.
Are cities healthier than farms?
Reading Time: 2 minutes
I realised again that there is still a lot of work for us, as the sustainable agriculture community, to do. We need to continue improving the health of agricultural land.
Green ranging free grazing
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Dairy cows on pastures are green ranging and free grazing. These cows can move around with freedom and eat grass in a natural manner.
Farming sector: The backbone of society
Reading Time: 4 minutes
There is no time like the present when it comes to educating the public about agriculture and the role it plays in our lives. It cannot be overstated how crucial it is for more people to understand agriculture and not be influenced by common misconceptions.
How much water does it take to produce a litre of milk?
Reading Time: 5 minutes
The average water use across farms is therefore 911 litres of water per litre of milk. The main point I would like to make though is that the water use efficiency varies between the different farm systems.
Where animals are happy, the food is healthy
Reading Time: 6 minutes
Trace and Save’s sustainability measures ensure the consumer that the box of milk they buy is sourced from a farm that treats animals and the environment well.
Carbon neutral cows
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Did you know that dairy cows can be carbon neutral? Yes, I am talking about greenhouse gas emissions neutral. I know it seems crazy.
The vexing question of animal welfare
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Animal welfare is certainly a subject about which most people will have something to say. Most people’s opinions are firmly held and are based on their beliefs, culture and traditions, rather than on factual evidence. The broader community needs to understand that animal welfare is a very complex and multifaceted subject which cannot be reduced to one box.
Sustainable food production: Is agriculture playing its part?
Reading Time: 3 minutes
It is going to take considerable effort from researchers, consultants and farmers, and a commitment to developing farm systems which better mimic nature, but I am hopeful for the future of sustainable agriculture in South Africa.