The role that farmers play
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There is also a responsibility to being a land manager. Farmers are in a position to be stewards of the land that they manage.
Carbon footprint of a farm, why does it matter?
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Every farmer that I have presented a carbon footprint of their farm to has expressed a desire to reduce it over time. One of the main reasons for this is because a carbon footprint is actually an indicator of broader farm sustainability.
So how do you actually go about building carbon in soil?
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The carbon in plants is then transferred to the soil when plant roots and vegetation die and are incorporated into the soil by microorganisms in the soil.
Should farmers concern themselves with biodiversity conservation?
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The majority of land in South Africa is owned by farmers. This makes farmers the true stewards of South Africa’s land.
Do you know how much food your cows require?
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Our philosophy about sustainable agriculture is about limiting inputs from outside a farm system to what is strictly necessary. One of the inputs that is often over-imported, wastefully so, is feed.
The impact of Gypsum on sodic soils
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Do you have large cracks in your soil? This could be the result of excess sodium. Read this blog to see the positive impact of gypsum application on excess sodium and an improvement in soil structure.
Using minerals efficiently: Tsitsikamma dairy farm case study
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A supply of nutrients and minerals to soils which is greater than the amount needed to maintain soil health and fertility actually endangers the soil and can negatively impact on surface and ground water sources.
Improving feed energy utlisation: Six years of data in the Tsitsikamma
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Energy is imperative to growth and sustenance of all animals, and plays a major role in the production of milk by a dairy cow.
The hype around soil health
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The challenge for farmers is sieving through all these techniques at their disposal and finding that one technique which they understand and identify with – one which is simple and informative enough for them that they would be able to use the results and implement directed management practices on their farm.
Case study: Cation exchange capacity vs Total exchangeable cations, is this another potayto potahto case?
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The soil’s ability to hold nutrients is very closely associated with yield potential. Soil management practices that aim to improve cation exchange capacity guarantee higher and cost effective production.