South Africa’s grain industry took their hats off for the country’s grain giants whose dedication and expertise have made them the cream of the crop.
This year’s winners in the Growth for Gold Awards presented by Grain SA were announced yesterday. They celebrated the shining stars in maize, soybeans, and sunflower production.
During the event, Grain SA chairperson Derek Mathews highlighted why farmers sharing their successful strategies for achieving record-high yields is of utmost importance.
Always strive to do better
“I often ask why we host a competition like this. The answer is; that if we do not continue to strive and look ahead then we will stagnate.
“It is essential that the successes we achieve as farmers are shared. If a yield is achieved, sharing what contributed to the achievement of those yields with your fellow farmers and with the industry is of utmost importance,” he said.
Matthews congratulated everyone who achieved incredible yields. “May your hard work be well rewarded.”
A toast to the champions
Grain SA’s Growth for Gold Awards raised a toast to the champions in the field, South Africa’s top grain producers, who have set the bar high. Photo: Grain SA
The top three producers in the maize category for the KwaZulu-Natal region are Koot Smit from Vryheid with a Pioneer seed yield of 15.21 tonnes per hectare; Bjorn Haug from Colenso with a Pannar seed yield of 16.24 tonnes per hectare; and the winner Job Dube from Utrecht with a Pioneer seed yield of 16.78 tonnes per hectare. Photo: Grain SA
The top three producers in the maize category for Eastern Free State are Francois Van Rensburg from Reitz with a Pioneer seed cultivar of 13.615 tonnes per hectare; Jaco Bothe from Reitz with a Pioneer seed cultivar of 13.75 tonnes per hectare; and the winner Gerrie Claassen from Bethlehem planting Pioneer with a competition record of 14.093 tonnes per hectare. Photo: Grain SA
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