Agricultural irrigation scheduling solutions

Southern African agriculture is entering the 2026-27 El Niño cycle with stronger foundations to manage potential climate-related disruption, despite risks from drought, heat stress, changing rainfall patterns and pressure on water resources.

Good pollination starts with good preparation. Babylonstoren beekeeper Arné Stander shares some key considerations and a practical checklist to make sure farmers are ready for flowering. Arné Stander, beekeeper and entomologist at Babylonstoren in the Cape Winelands. Image: Supplied by Babylonstoren Successful pollination is not a simple case of putting hives in an orchard when…

The South African Rooibos Council (SARC) has welcomed China’s decision to introduce tariff-free access for Rooibos imports from African countries, describing it as a major opportunity to grow exports in the world’s largest tea-consuming market.

With the expansion of soya bean cultivation in South Africa, growers must prioritise biocontrol for pest risk mitigation. Gustav Venter, technical lead of Insecticides at Syngenta, says the often-underestimated threat of sucking pests in soya bean crops can be managed with early scouting, identification, and thorough chemical control with integrated pest management.