 |  |
More Than Parts | |
PARTRITE NEWS |
ARCHIVE
News
New safety measures for harvesters
FARMERS are being urged to adopt new safety measures to help prevent the risk of their header catching fire during harvest.
Each year more than 1000 harvesters catch fire, of which about one per cent, or approximately 12 harvesters worth at least $500,000 each, are burnt to the ground. Click here to read more
Agricultural markets set to become more volatile, at higher price levels
Agricultural markets are set to become more volatile, at higher price levels, over the next three to five years, according to a Rabobank report.
It says "profound shifts" in China's self-sufficiency of key feed grains and the knock-on effects of the drought in Black Sea regions this year will be the main drivers of this increased volatility.
For the first time in 15 years, China will import a "meaningful amount" of corn this year and its need for feed grains is likely to increase sooner than previously predicted as the country industrialises meat production, Rabobank global strategist David Nelson said. Click here to read more
The fruit and wine-growing sector in South Africa
General overview: a dynamic agricultural sector
Production value in billions of Rand (2008-2010)
(Economic Review RSA 2010)
The agricultural sector represents 3% of South Africa's GDP and employs more than 6% of the working population. As the leading agricultural power on the continent, South Africa produces a surplus in its food processing industry (agricultural surplus of 1 billion euros in 2009). Over the past several years, its exports grew steadily before reaching their current stable position: The country is the world's 7th largest exporter of wine, 6th largest exporter of citrus fruit and 10th largest exporter of fruit (based on volume).
In 2009/2010, total agricultural production was valued at approximately 127 billion rands (or approximately 12.5 billion euros), broken down into 31 billion for large-scale farming, 32.5 billion for horticulture and 64 billion for animal production
Farmland covers 122 million hectares, with only 18% being used to grow crops while the remainder is devoted to cattle farming. Click here to read more
Japan's Robot picks only the ripest strawberries
Japan's Robot Picks Only the Ripest Strawberries (video)
It takes more than a green thumb to be a great farmer, super-human vision helps as well. The Institute of Agricultural Machinery at Japan's National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, along with SI Seiko, has developed a robot that can select and harvest strawberries based on their color. Ripened berries are detected using the robot's stereoscopic cameras, and analyzed to measure how red they appear. When the fruit is ready to come off the vine, the robot quickly locates it in 3D space and cuts it free.
Hungry Africa needs to focus on agriculture, new book says
Calestous Juma, a development scientist, says Africa can turn around by improving roads and transportation, training engineers and using irrigation, solar energy and more technology.
Reporting from Johannesburg, South Africa -
The problem: African hunger. In a nutshell, 250 million Africans are undernourished, a quarter of the population and an increase of 100 million in the last 20 years. Yet 70% of Africans are farmers growing food.
The hope: Within one generation, Africa will grow enough to feed itself. But how? According to Calestous Juma, a Harvard professor and Kenyan development scientist, Africa can turn its fortunes around by improving roads and transportation, training an army of engineers and using irrigation, solar energy and more technology. Click here to read more
A British driver has set a new lawnmower land speed record (yes, it exists) by reaching 87mph on his trusty grass cutter.
Don Wales smashed the previous 80.792mph lawnmower land speed record at Pendine Sands, in west Wales with a verified time of 87.833mph.
To set the record Don - whose grandfather Sir Malcolm Campbell broke the land speed record in 1924 - had to complete two timed runs, just after cutting a patch of grass.
Project RunningBlade converted a regular ride-on mower into the speedy vehicle by using a more powerful engine, stripping the machine of extra weight and adding new wheels... and Don can now mow his lawn in 14.7seconds.
