From weather data and climate information to local trials and soil data, how growers can turn data into more effective decisions has recently come under the spotlight at more than one agricultural forum.
The amount of weather and agricultural data available today is greater than ever. The question, however, is whether this is actually helping growers make better decisions.
Possibly, said Janet Lawless, marketing manager at InteliGro, but only if data is turned into practical insight that can be used when it matters, whether during planting, cultivar selection, disease management, nutrition or managing a specific climate event.
Lawless, who was a speaker at the launch of Pessl Instruments’ project to install 100 000 weather stations in Africa, believes growers and companies have not yet unlocked the full potential of weather data.
“Data on its own does not help you reduce risk; improved decision-making helps you reduce risk. And that is the gap. A grower cannot control the weather, climate, input prices or commodity prices. What can be controlled is how decisions around these factors are made,” Lawless said.
Bridging the gap between raw weather data and on-farm action
According to Lawless, a long-term approach to dealing with extreme climate conditions, as well as smaller climate changes within these conditions, requires using all the tools available.
“In the data industry, we increasingly need to deliver data as credible intelligence. This includes turning access to data into a practical on-farm tool that supports decision-making, with actionable insights such as a clear indication of whether to spray or not – and why.
“But it also includes closer collaboration; there are many different input suppliers that play a role, as well as industry bodies, which are already working together but can work even more closely. When industry organisations, universities and growers work more closely together and act credibly, we can make this information available to everyone,” she said.
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Meanwhile, Dr Ilse Trautmann, an expert in data-driven farming and a member of the advisory board of Pessl Instruments’ weather station project, said a more resilient agricultural sector starts with informed decision-making.
“We need to adapt both within and beyond the farm gate.
“The ability to turn the right information into a decision at the right time is becoming increasingly important, particularly in an agricultural season in which climate uncertainty, drought and El Niño are limiting room to manoeuvre. Data alone is not enough – we also need people who can help us understand and apply it,” she said.
Unlocking long-term value through local research and trials
Lawless and Trautmann’s message is particularly relevant to dryland and row-crop farming, where a single decision can make the difference between profit and loss.
Agronomist Reinhardt Wessels, a technical marketing specialist at InteliGro, discussed the results of Intelekt Solutions’ 2025 wheat trials near Moorreesburg as a practical example of how local research can help improve decision-making on the farm.
The Moorreesburg trials were established nine years ago and are among the Western Cape’s long-term scientific field trials. In the current setup, five wheat cultivars, five fungicide programmes and an untreated control are compared across 130 blocks.
“What happened in the past gives us the data and lessons that we can apply in the future. The value of historical data lies in helping us look beyond the current season,” Wessels said.
Another example emerged during the Swartland Show when soil scientist Jan van Zyl, InteliGro technical marketing specialist in plant nutrition, explained how soil conditions and local research can influence management decisions.
His discussion of chemical stratification in minimum-tillage systems showed why soil samples and a good understanding of soil profiles are important. In some Swartland soils, calcium, potassium and phosphate can accumulate in the top 2.5 cm. According to research, this occurs in about 30% of Swartland soils.
Prioritising economic returns over maximum yields
Dr Karen Truter, InteliGro technical marketing specialist in plant nutrition, highlighted the differences that can occur within a single farm at the information day.
“Targeted on-farm trials can help growers determine what works under their own conditions. The aim is not necessarily to achieve the highest agronomic yield, but to find the best economic return.
“This requires a different way of thinking. The question is not only how much a crop can produce, but also what it costs to achieve that yield and what ultimately remains for the grower,” Truter said.
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