A soil health journey to greener pastures
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Look at this journey of how a farm manager in the Tsitsikamma improved his soil health and what benefit it had on the environment.
Identifying the opportunities for biodiversity management
Reading Time: 11 minutes
A healthy agro-ecosystem contributes both directly and indirectly to agricultural production, and more emphasis should be placed on restoring and maintaining healthy agro-ecosystems.
Soil food web series: Earthworms, the lungs and intestines of the soil
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Charles Darwin, the father of earthworm science, once said: “Without the work of this humble creature, who knows nothing of the benefits he confers upon mankind, agriculture, as we know it, would be very difficult, if not wholly impossible”
Grazing management: The key to sustainable pasture-based farming
Reading Time: 8 minutes
On pasture-based farms, the roughage grown on pastures is the predominant feed source. It is therefore most beneficial to grow and utilise these pastures effectively.
Need more water, why not get rid of your aliens?
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Alien invasive plants are a huge threat to water security, and therefore sustainable agriculture. By clearing alien invasive plants, not only are we making more water available, but the opportunity to explore other industries exist.
How we are wasting money and nutrients, and negatively impacting the environment
Reading Time: 7 minutes
There is a lot more nutrient cycling taking place than just what is put into the soil through fertiliser, and taken out in grass and eventually milk. In order to develop a more efficient nutrient cycling system, farmers have to take into account the various losses and sources of nutrients.
Carbon farming: Regenerative agriculture at work
Reading Time: 3 minutes
This is part of the reason why Trace & Save initiated the carbon farming project. It is a central place where information on sustainable farm management can be transferred, a place where the commonality is caring for our soils and their health. Caring for our soils is caring for the future.
Rhizosphere: The Carbon Stock Exchange Centre
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Plants are made-up of many components which each play an important role in the plants’ functioning. The part with the most important role of all is the leaf. This is where the core of the plants defensive and growth systems are initiated.
What if agriculture could actually have a positive impact?
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that aims to restore soil, reduce erosion, increase soil carbon levels, enhance biodiversity, improve water cycling, enhance ecosystem services and generally restore and improve the health of the entire agroecosystem.