Https / fmtec n l ge c .:/d h oo i s. oza
T l: 021e 411 90 54
df @d o tw recozam fms f a..Irrigation
Scheduling/
Automation
Weather Stations
Continuos
Logging Soil
Moisture Probe
Mb4000 Farm
Management
Software
Farmpro Payroll and
Clock systems
probablyresultinplantmaterial
degradingwithina fewmonths,
oncelifehasbeenrestoredto
thesoilina fewyears,”hesays.
Teubeshasobserveda higher
predatoryinsectpopulation
intheareaundercovercrops,
thanintheareaswhereno
covercropswereplanted.
“Thisshowsthatwemight
overtimebeabletoreduceour
pesticideusage,”hesays.A leArning process
According to Steenkamp,
one of the challenges they
encountered during the trials
was that the cover crops were
planted late on some farms
due to the water restrictions.
“From what we’ve seen so
far, cover crops need to be
planted from April up until
middle June to be eliminated by
October, just before the vines
become active again. You don’t
want competition between thevinesandthecovercrops.”
It alsobecameevidentthat
thecovercropsshouldnotbe
destroyedbychemicalmeans.
“We’restillexperimentingwith
differentwaysofeliminating
them.Chemicaleliminationgoes
againsttheentirephilosophy
ofregenerativeagricultureand
resultsina lossofplantmaterial.
“Theidealwouldbetodevelop
a rollerthatcanflattenthecover
cropsontheridges,butsome
farmershaveusedmulchers,
withpromisingresults,”hesays.no mAgicwAnd
The planter is still a work in
progress, with Steenkamp now
developing his third prototype.
He had five planters in operation
at the time of writing.
“The planter and cover crops
shouldn’t be seen as a magic
solution to production problems,
but rather part of the various
tools a regenerative farmercan use to enhance soil health
and reduce dependence
on synthetic fertilisers.
“Others include conservation
farming practices such as crop
rotation, minimal soil disturbance,
stubble retention, and the use
of environmentally friendly
interventions to build soil health,
such as compost teas, compost
and ultra-high-density grazing.”
Ultimately, Jordaan and
Teubes are keen to go
chemical-free.
“The water in our dams is no
longer clear. I dream that the
way in which I farm will help
restore the dams to their natural
status, so people will again talk
about the different species of fish
they catch here,” says Jordaan.
“I’m not the owner of this
farm, but the custodian of
land for future generations.”- EmailStoneySteenkampat
[email protected],or phone
him on 083 659 5716. ▪FW