Renowned dry-land farmer and “corn warrior” Kevin Kalb is set to grace the stage as a keynote speaker at the Africa Agri Tech 2023 (AAT2023) exhibition and conference in Pretoria from 14 to 16 March 2023.
As one of the top dry-land farmers in the world, Kalb’s visit to South Africa offers local farmers a unique opportunity to learn from his impressive yield of 19.5 tonnes per hectare over the past five years.
Thanks to Case IH, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of agricultural equipment, Kalb will share his farming experience at AAT2023. With a global presence in 160 countries, Case IH has a reputation for offering powerful, reliable, and highly efficient equipment that helps professional farmers meet the growing challenges of modern-day farming.
Kalb, a fifth-generation farmer based in Dubois County, has won the US-based National Corn Yield Contest 14 times and set records for the highest non-irrigated maize yields in Indiana. In 2021, he achieved a yield of 27.5 tonnes per hectare, and he aims to beat the record of 31 tonnes per hectare. His family members also share his competitive spirit and manage a farm that produces mainly maize, with some soybeans and turkeys on the side.
Apart from his impressive farming accomplishments, Kalb is co-founder and leader of the Midwest advanced crop consulting programme, where he helps farmers find ways to improve their yields in a sustainable manner. The Kalb family has also developed a host of special products marketed under the Dekalb brand, which include seed hybrids using germ plasm with the latest biotechnology traits for better performance.
In an interview, Kalb revealed that the secret to his success is based on tissue samples, saying, “Everything I do is based on tissue samples. I don’t guess anymore. High-yielding corn needs balanced nutrients, applied when the plants need them.”
The AAT2023 conference and exhibition offer a valuable opportunity for visitors to learn from experts like Kevin and Shawn Kalb, as well as network with them. The event is dedicated to connecting the Southern African agricultural, scientific, and technology communities over three days, exploring global trends and advances in agricultural science, technology, and innovation, and the benefits that these will bring to the agricultural ecosystem in the future.
Furthermore, the event includes a three-day conference, exhibition, and co-located events, such as Women in Agriculture, an innovation challenge, start-up pitches, foreign trade lounge, hybrid event offering, agriculture industry achievement awards, and South Africa’s inaugural Agriculture Hall of Fame. It promises to deliver premium insights coupled with best-in-class presenters and suppliers.
With Kalb’s presence at the AAT2023, local farmers have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn from a global authority on dry-land farming and improve their yields. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to attend three days of conferences, visit the exhibition displays, and network with experts in the field. More information is available at www.africa-agri.co.za.
