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Revolutionise your sowing with the new LEMKEN Solitair PT! ((Image credit: LEMKEN)

The new LEMKEN Solitair PT is a high-performance drill combination with a power harrow, designed for professionals who demand efficiency and precision in a variety of soil conditions

Perfect for farmers and contractors, this machine sets new standards in sowing with its exceptional seedbed preparation, ease of use, and versatility.

Optimised seedbed preparation with power harrow

A good seedbed is essential for even crop emergence, and the Solitair PT excels here. It comes with the Zirkon power harrow, featuring four tine carriers per metre of working width. The harrow's unique tine layout, combined with hydraulic depth adjustment as standard, ensures consistent soil crumbling and flow in all conditions. The working depth, rotor speed, and forward speed can all be individually adjusted, enabling the machine to work both quickly and shallow or deeply and thoroughly, depending on soil type and tillage needs. The levelling bar can be adjusted either hydraulically or mechanically for consistent, high-quality results.

Tank options to suit every need

To boost efficiency, the Solitair PT is equipped with large-capacity metal tanks. You can choose between a single tank with 4,400-litre capacity or a double tank with 5,100 litres (40:60 split). Built with corrosion-resistant parts and an integrated agitator shaft, the modular metering system ensures reliable operation, even with different seeds or fertilisers.

Precision sowing with OptiDisc coulter bar

The Solitair PT features a high-quality coulter bar with parallelogram-guided double disc coulters, available in OptiDisc M (up to 45 kg coulter pressure) or OptiDisc H (up to 70 kg coulter pressure). The coulter pressure can be adjusted either mechanically or hydraulically, independent of seed depth, making it ideal for varying soil conditions and high-speed operations. To improve seed placement, the machine also includes a pre-running trapeze packer roller that ensures optimal seed-to-soil contact, promoting fast and uniform crop emergence.

Designed for practicality and flexibility

The Solitair PT is designed for ease of use in everyday farming tasks. Its long drawbar allows tight turns, even with large tractors. Additional tools like leading tyre packers, wheel mark eradicator discs, and tractor wheel mark eradicators provide further adaptability for any situation.

The LEMKEN Solitair PT is a future-oriented, reliable seed drill that offers precision, flexibility, and top-quality results. It is an excellent choice for arable farmers and contractors who demand the best performance in their sowing operations.

The committee urged the department to speed up efforts to localise renewable energy production.

South Africa's  Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources has called on the Department of Electricity and Energy to prioritise the local manufacturing of renewable energy products instead of relying on imports

This came after the department briefed the committee on the implementation of the Renewable Energy Sector Master Plan (RESMP).

During the presentation, the department outlined the key goals of the Master Plan, describing it as a driver for industrial development that aims to meet the growing demand for renewable energy, especially solar and wind power. A strong focus was placed on the importance of promoting inclusive economic growth by involving previously disadvantaged groups, with particular emphasis on youth and women, in the renewable energy sector.

The committee was briefed on several initiatives under the Master Plan. These included the localisation of renewable energy production, the rollout of skills development programmes, and the establishment of proper monitoring systems to track progress. Committee members stressed that the plan should not only address energy needs but also promote job creation and skills development.

Members raised concerns about the involvement of vulnerable communities, especially those in rural areas, asking the department how it plans to ensure these groups benefit from the Master Plan. The department responded by affirming its goal to ensure that at least 50% of job opportunities go to youth and marginalised communities. It also highlighted ongoing efforts to identify skills needs and expand internship and training programmes.

Regarding local manufacturing, the committee questioned the current focus on training people only for assembly work rather than producing renewable energy components like solar panels and charge controllers. They urged the department to move beyond just assembling and start developing the capacity to manufacture such products locally. In response, the department confirmed that steps are being taken to explore and expand local manufacturing opportunities.

The committee also flagged concerns about regulatory hurdles, particularly a moratorium from the Department of Defence, which has delayed the issuing of letters of no objection needed by Independent Power Producers (IPPs). They warned this could slow down progress in renewable energy projects. The department assured the committee it would work with the relevant departments to address these challenges and avoid any delays for IPPs.

Overall, the committee urged the department to speed up efforts to localise renewable energy production and ensure broad community participation.

An AI algorithm transforms livestock into a bankable asset hundreds of miles away.

In rural Kenya, a loan officer walks down a dirt road, heat rising from the savannah

He approaches a herd of cattle and, with a smartphone in hand, photographs one of the animals. An AI algorithm transforms livestock into a bankable asset hundreds of miles away. This is a glimpse of the quiet revolution led by Jenny Ambukiyenyi Onya, a young Congolese engineer.

Onya addresses a paradox affecting millions of women in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. The region is home to about 200 million smallholder farmers, a significant number of whom are women, accounting for up to 60% of the farmers. Yet, despite their vital role, these women remain largely invisible to the financial system. The Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that women receive only 10% of smallholder-targeted loans and just 1 percent of all agricultural loans. This exclusion leaves 70-115 million women without access to formal financing.

For these women, livestock is their savings. However, traditional methods of documenting animal ownership, like ear tags, are fragile and easily falsified, making it hard for banks to verify ownership. Onya's solution, Halisi Livestock, uses AI to recognise livestock, much like facial recognition technology. By analysing each animal's unique features, the AI creates a digital identity that can't be falsified.

"By combining the need for reliability in the field with in-house technical expertise, we saw an opportunity to apply AI to recognise assets like livestock," says Onya.

Her innovation provides a reliable, indisputable way for farmers to count and value their herds. This digital identity is proof of ownership, turning livestock into verifiable loan collateral. "For financial institutions, it's no longer a rough estimate but concrete and reliable data," Onya explains.

Through the "Enhancing Women Entrepreneurship for Africa" programme, Onya's company, Neotex.ai, has expanded its services across rural Kenya, registering over 1,250 head of livestock.

Onya's message is clear: "Dare to create. Even in sectors where you are not expected to. If I can build disruptive solutions from a cell phone and a herd of cows, you too can reinvent what no one has dared to imagine."

ALMACO D1 is designed to specific needs of the seed research industry.

The ALMACO D1 Data Collection Unit is a modern solution designed to deliver precise, real-time plot harvest data for seed research

Built with durability and an intuitive interface, the D1 accurately measures test weight, shell weight, and moisture levels—helping researchers make faster and better advancement decisions.

D1 easily integrates with existing systems, making it a cost-effective upgrade for research professionals. It is fully compatible with ALMACO plot harvesters, seed processing lines, individual threshers, and is the only solution that works with ALMACO packagers.

With a single device, researchers can collect harvest data across multiple crops. D1 supports nearly all crop types, including corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, canola, sunflowers, and more. ALMACO experts emphaasised,"No matter the crop, D1 measures with accuracy and precision.along with that moisture and weight curves are stored in the harvest software and not the D1 control box, so there is no need to switch units between harvesters."

Built for all-weather use, the D1 doesn’t need to be removed during poor weather, transport, or overnight storage. It is water, rust, and dust resistant, and performs reliably in both hot and cold conditions. To improve visibility, the unit can be placed out of sight and is fully operated through the main harvest software display. D1 has no internal battery or separate display, reducing maintenance and eliminating the risk of data loss due to power failure. 

The interface is user-friendly and includes built-in diagnostics to maximize uptime. Its intuitive design helps reduce training time and allows more time for field data collection. Calibration is simple with step-by-step guides, and the system supports any moisture blade size, including larger ones for greater precision. Experts also focused by stating,"Calibration supports any size moisture blade for client accuracy specifications—including large moisture blades for high data precision."

Backed by decades of experience, ALMACO developed the D1 to meet the specific needs of the seed research industry, offering an efficient, accurate, and low-maintenance solution for real-time data collection.

EA plans to conduct over 10,000 inspections of water company assets.

The UK government has announced its largest-ever budget to tackle water pollution, providing the Environment Agency (EA) with over £189 million for the 2024/25 financial year

This investment marks the biggest increase in enforcement powers in a decade and is part of the government’s broader Plan for Change.

EA responsible for inspecting water companies and prosecuting environmental damage, will use the funding to recruit more enforcement officers, upgrade equipment, and implement modern technologies. Steve Reed, Environment Secretary said, "This government is cleaning them up, including the biggest boost to enforcement in a decade paid for by the water companies responsible for it.

In 2024 alone, the EA plans to conduct over 10,000 inspections of water company assets. Since July 2024, it has launched a record 81 criminal investigations into pollution incidents involving water companies.

The budget for the EA has increased by 64% since the 2023/24 financial year. Importantly, this increase is fully funded by charges paid by water companies—not by taxpayers.

 Reed emphasized the public's growing concern: "The public are furious about sewage pollution in our rivers, lakes and seas." He added, "Our changes give the water watchdog the resources they need to tackle pollution and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good."

To ensure efficiency, EA has committed to strict spending targets. In the current year alone, it has achieved savings of over £23 million.

Further support will come through a proposed new levy on the water sector, currently under consultation. Introduced under the Water (Special Measures) Act, this levy will help the EA recover enforcement costs, allowing quicker action against pollution.

The EA’s efforts will also expand to the agricultural sector, with plans to carry out 6,000 farm inspections annually by 2029. These inspections aim to reduce runoff and pollution from farms into rivers and lakes. This major funding and new powers underline a strong push to improve water quality across the UK.

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