Improving and maintaining soil health is not an overnight fix, but a lifelong endeavour that requires patience and experimentation. In this second part of a three-part series on cover crops and soil health, US farmer and cover crops coach Steve Groff shares a number of valuable tips on using cover crops as a tool for achieving sustainable soil health. Lloyd Phillips reports.
Aspirant and existing conservation agriculture farmers need to appreciate that improving and maintaining good soil health is a never-ending process. During this lifelong journey, there will be times when they experience hurdles and failures in their conservation agriculture actions. Instead of throwing in the towel, they should understand that every setback is temporary and, with research and persistence, can be overcome. So says US farmer and cover crops coach Steve Groff.
“I’ve been practising conservation agriculture for 35 years. It’s a long time. As long as I’m alive, I expect to be constantly learning in my journey of achieving and maintaining good soil health on my farm.
“Nowadays, even if my farm has heavy rain, there’s very little run-off, no erosion, and high moisture infiltration. This is due to soil cover and the constant presence of living plants on my fields. But when I first started with no-till and cover crops, it took me a number of years to achieve these benefits.”
Groff urges farmers to go out to their lands when it rains to personally observe whether the soil is capturing the rainwater rather than allowing it to run off, taking topsoil, nutrients and moisture with it.
HERBICIDE RESISTANCE
A proliferation of weeds resistant to herbicides, particularly glyphosate-based products, has been observed in many countries, including South Africa. This worrying phenomenon poses a threat to food security. Groff gives the assurance, however, that, with good management, cover crops can help rid croplands of herbicide-resistant weeds.
Denne historien er fra November 30, 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra November 30, 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
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Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
