We've Bean around the Block

Episode 2 of 23: Nematodes in soybean productionIn this episode of ‘We’ve bean around the block’, we catch up with world renowned nematologist Prof Driekie Fourie and discuss the nematodes that are problematic to soybean production in South Africa. The root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are considered the biggest nematode problem in South Africa, but the lesion nematodes

Episode 1 of 23Cane in painIn this episode of ‘We’ve bean around the block’, we re-visit the topic of dry beans in rotation with sugarcane. This episode follows a previous podcast (Episode 5 of 21) with advanced thinking of how to incorporate beans into a rotation with sugarcane. Host Antony Jarvie discusses rotation ideas and practicalities with forward thinking cane farmer,

Episode 6 of 22Adopting Success: ZamukeleIn this episode of ‘We’ve bean around the block’, host Antony Jarvie discusses the Zamukele project with Success Mdluli of the Schoeman Group. Zamukele is a Zulu word that means ‘adopt’, and it is a platform that the Schoeman Group have developed to adopt small-scale farmers into their canning bean enterprise. After an initial scre

Episode 5 of 22Agronomic strategies for following a wet seasonIn this episode of ‘We’ve bean around the block’, host Antony Jarvie and experienced agronomist Grant Pringle explore the prospects for the 2022/23 summer cropping season. In this podcast, the agronomic strategies that should be considered are explored in a crop agnostic fashion. The very wet preceding two seasons,

Episode 4 of 22: Nitrogen fixationIn this episode of ‘We’ve bean around the block’, host Antony Jarvie discusses nitrogen fixation with UKZN’s Professor Mark Laing. The discussion is centred around nitrogen fixation in soybeans, but it broadens into a discussion that covers legumes and non-legume crops. The fragile Bradyrhizobium japonicum used in soybean production is not

Episode 3 of 22: Grant us technology, in abundancePeering down the Corteva soybean pipeline is a bit like overhearing a farmers’ prayers… grant us technology, in abundance. In this episode of ‘We’ve bean around the block’, host Antony Jarvie brings you both Grant and technology. The guest for this episode is Pannar agronomist Grant Pringle, who shepherds the discussion th

Episode 2 of 22: Seedling disordersIn this episode of ‘We’ve bean around the block’ host Antony Jarvie talks to product agronomist Grant Pringle about seedling disorders in dry beans. Often poor germination and emergence are blamed on seed quality, but as Grant explains, there are a host of reasons why the germination percentage on the seed bag may not align with what is expe

Episode 1 of 22: 2021 year in reviewQuestions from the mail bag‘We’ve bean around the block’ podcast host Antony Jarvie invites an avid listener, Colin Prince, to critically review the channel and to assist with listener questions. Colin, who is a seasoned enthusiast of podcasts and claims to have listened to all the WBATB episodes, discusses the pros and cons of show length,

Episode 11 of 21: What is bugging you, Marlene?Common insect pests of soybean‘We’ve bean around the block’ podcast host Antony Jarvie interviews Dr Marlene van Rooyen, entomologist at Corteva Agriscience, about the most common soybean pests. The podcast starts off with cutworm- a ubiquitous soil pest plaguing soybean production in South Africa. This polyphagous insect is a co

Episode 10 of 21: Deidre and the 4 decadesWe’ve bean around the block host Antony Jarvie interviews Dr Deidre Fourie to celebrate the last four decades of bean research at the Grain Crops Research Institute in Potchefstroom. Deidre has recently retired from leading the team, and the interview covers the last 4 decades of bean research, organized in eras and covers the major decis