1m ago46h ago1 min read
AGRICULTURAL SQUEEZE: Bread & Wine: When the wheat stops paying (Part Four)
WorldAgricultural changes
/file/attachments/orphans/WW3wheat1_458702.jpg)
Micheil Smuts has changed his wheat farming methods, using less ploughing and more spraying to reduce erosion and conserve moisture.
The traditional method of deeply turning the earth and burying weeds is no longer used, instead leaving the upper soil less disturbed and dealing with weeds on the surface.
- This is the fourth in a six-part series.
- Read Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.Micheil Smuts farms wheat with less ploughing than his father did, and more spraying.That sounds like a contradiction.
- On Grasrug, the Swartland farm that’s been in his family for 140 years, the old method was to turn the earth deeply, bury the weeds and plant.
Key Takeaways
- Micheil Smuts farms wheat with less ploughing than his father did
- Less ploughing is used to achieve this
- More spraying is used to control weeds
- Ryegrass is a particular problem on the surface
- The farm has been in the Smuts family for 140 years
Media Spectrum
Total: 1 source•Published: 46h ago•Last Updated: 1m ago
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Bias & Framing Analysis
Top Framing Differences
- Left: Coverage on "AGRICULTURAL SQUEEZE: Bread & Wine: When the wheat stops paying (Part Four)" is documented across center and left-leaning reporting.
- Center: Not enough sources yet — framing will appear once outlets on this side cover the story.
- Right: Not enough sources yet — framing will appear once outlets on this side cover the story.
Overall Tone
Center
Coverage Blindspots
Left
Left-leaning desks have 1 source on "AGRICULTURAL SQUEEZE: Bread & Wine: When the wheat stops paying (Part Four)"; additional angles may appear as coverage expands.
Right
Not enough sources yet on this side — a blindspot summary will appear once outlets cover the story.
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What's Next
Expected Outcomes
- The success of Micheil Smuts' adapted farming methods is uncertain
Why It Matters
The agricultural industry is facing challenges, and innovative methods like Smuts' may be crucial for its future
Key Perspective
No attributed perspective yet — we only show quotes grounded in analysis.
Credibility & Editorial Standards
Story FramingLeft
Evaluated across 1 reporting source (100% Left · 0% Center · 0% Right)
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Outlet ConsensusLeft
Historical editorial baseline for Daily Maverick (ZA)
WorldLeft
Politics & GovernanceLeft
Credibility ScoreHigh Credibility
89/ 100
Multi-factor accuracy index for Daily Maverick (ZA) and related desks based on verifiable sourcing and editorial standards.
Factuality: High 100%
Ownership: Daily Maverick (ZA) (Corporate)
Timeline of this story
- Sep 10Daily Maverick (ZA): On Grasrug, held by one family for 140 years, Micheil Smuts explains why conventional wheat now requires less ploughing, more spraying and a
Historical Context
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