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!
Soil Sampling by Omnia
Standard bank have generously offered funding for some of this project
Dylan Weyer of Harry Gwala Agri organisation (an Agriculture NGO) meets with emerging farmers to discuss project plans, markets and finance.
