Soil is much more than the ground in which we grow our food.

South African farmers have faced several difficult drought periods over the past four decades.

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Over the last 150 years, the planet has lost half of its fertile topsoil. If farmers are to maintain the crop yields needed to feed our ever-growing population, then ensuring their fields receive the correct care is vital.

Every spring, apple and peach growers face a decision that sounds simple and isn’t. A tree that sets too much fruit will give you a heavy crop of small, poor-quality produce. It may also skip bearing the following year. So crews walk the rows and remove blossoms or young fruitlets by hand, leaving only as many as each branch can carry well.

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The amount of sunlight that Earth reflects back into space — measured by the dim glow seen on the dark portions of a crescent moon’s face — has decreased measurably in recent years.

South African farmers operate in an environment where running a successful agricultural business requires much more than producing good crops or raising healthy livestock.