Today Dylan Weyer of Harry Gwala Agri and Graeme Horne of Omnia visited a group of emerging farmers in the Donnybrook area to do soil samples for a future maize project. Here are a few images I took of the soil sampling and of the meeting that took place. It will be good to come back here in a few months to see the progress of this project.
I really enjoy this type of photography, of interacting with the farmers, exploring the rural backroads that wind their way through valleys I had no idea existed and of course, I’m always learning something new in the way of agricultural operations! Today I learned about soil sampling and how its done and why they do it like they do! A sample is taken roughly every 20 metres apart. These samples are mixed into one bag to get a representation of the field. In today’s case, it’s being mixed in a standard bank bag which is great marketing for Standard Bank, especially since they have actually committed to funding some of this project! Marketing at its best, I reckon! From here, it’s sent to the Omnia soil testing lab where it is analysed and they will then recommend a lime and fertilizer program. A must for new cropping projects being started in fallow land. I will be back in the coming months to photograph the fence going up and the start of the planting season for these emerging farmers!