Grow for Gold: Producers excel despite challenges

Grain SA’s Grow for Gold Awards recently celebrated its fifth birthday in style at the Thaba Eco Hotel in Johannesburg. The Grow for Gold National Yield Competition provides a platform for grain producers to compete for the best yield per category, aiming to reach the genetic potential of different grain crops and learn from one another.

According to Corné Louw of Grain SA, this year saw the best yields per millimetre of rain, despite the drought experienced in most parts of the summer rainfall area. Maize yields in the competition were between 160 and 190% higher than the average South African yields, the largest gap ever recorded. Similarly, soya bean yields were between 130 and 210% higher than the national average, also setting a new record.

This year, a wheat competition was introduced, and a new sunflower yield record was achieved.

The winners in the Grow for Gold Maize categories were as follows:

KwaZulu-Natal region

1. Bruce Gibbing from Winterton planting Pioneer P1197 with a yield of 16,099 tonnes/ha.
2. Bruce Gibbings from Winterton planting Pioneer P1197 with a yield of 15,867 tonnes/ha.
3. Tyson Zunckel from Bergville planting Pioneer P1197 with a yield of 15,330 tonnes/ha.

Eastern Highveld region

1. Jannie Schoeman from Middelburg planting Pannar PAN 3R-573R with a yield of 16,210 tonnes/ha.
2. Carel Opperman from Middelburg planting Pannar PAN 4R-528R with a yield of 16,008 tonnes/ha.
3. Nefdt du Toit from Middelburg planting Pioneer P2432 with a yield of 15,436 tonnes/ha.

Eastern-Free State region

1. Johan Scheepers from Fouriesburg planting Pioneer Phb 33H58BR with a yield of 12,298 tonnes/ha.
2. Apin Odendaal from Reitz planting Pioneer P2432 with a yield of 11,620 tonnes/ha.
3. Pieter Hattingh from Reitz planting Pioneer P2137BR with a yield of 11,257 tonnes/ha.

Central region

1. Andries Groesbeek from Nigel planting Bayer DKC66-66BR with a yield of 13,460 tonnes/ha.
2. Oelof Grabie from Bapsfontein planting DKC64-54BR with a yield of 13,370 tonnes/ha.
3. Johan Pistorius from Nigel planting Bayer DKC72-76BR with a yield of 12,970 tonnes/ha.

North West region

1. Janna du Rand from Mareetsane planting Pannar PAN 5R-891BR with a yield of 9,776 tonnes/ha.

2. Jan Labuschagne from Mareetsane planting Agricol VP 8405 BR with a yield of 9,560 tonnes/ha.

3. ALCOR Boerdery from Makwassie planting VP 8405 BR producing a yield of 9,120 tonnes/ha.

Water Table region

1. Jan Botma from Bothaville planting Bayer DKC76-77BR producing a yield of 12,549 tonnes/ha.
2. Tewie Nel from Bultfontein planting Bayer DKC75-65BR producing a yield of 8.880 tonnes/ha.

Irrigation

1. Wouter Heyns from Cradock planting Bayer DKC64-54BR producing a yield of 22,813 tonnes/ha.
2. Theuns Otto from Cradock planting Pioneer P1197PW producing a yield of 22,283 tonnes/ha.
3. Braam Du Plessis from Cradock planting Bayer DKC65-60BR producing a yield of 21,375 tonnes/ha.

The winners of the Grow for Gold Soya Bean categories were as follows:

KwaZulu-Natal region

1. Bertie Pretorius from Newcastle planting Pioneer P64T39R with a yield of 4,402 tonnes/ha.
2. Hein Smit from Normandien planting Agricol DM 68R09 with a yield of 4,401 tonnes/ha.
3. Tommie Scholtz from Bergville planting Pioneer P64T39R with a yield of 4,189 tonnes/ha.

Eastern Highveld region

1. Danie Bester from Balfour planting Direct entry DM 5351 RSF with a yield of 5,470 tonnes/ha.
2. Rouxgrow from Witbank planting AST RA565 RR with a yield of 4,660 tonnes/ha.
3. Jannie Schoeman from Middelburg planting Pioneer P48T48R with a yield of 4,374 tonnes/ha.

Eastern-Free State region

1. Daniel Slabbert from Bethlehem planting Agricol DM 5953 RSF with a yield of 3,710 tonnes/ha.

Central region

1. Viljee Crous from Kroonpark, Kroonstad planting Direct entry DM 6.8iRR with a yield of 5,030 tonnes/ha.
2. Boetina Boerdery from Endikot planting Agricol DM 5953 RSF with a yield of 4,948 tonnes/ha.
3. Mike van Niekerk from Derby planting Pioneer P71T74R with a yield of 4,144 tonnes/ha.

North West region

1. PG van Zyl from Schweizer-Reneke planting Pioneer P64T39R with a yield of 4,720 tonnes/ha.
2. Jozeph Du Plessis from Schweizer-Reneke planting Direct entry Agriocare EC24 with a yield of3,804 tonnes/ha.
3. Hennie and Henro Pieters from Sannieshof planting Agricol DM 6.8iRR with a yield of 2,370 tonnes/ha.

Water Table region

1. Kobus Grobbelaar from Bothaville planting Agricol DM 6.8iRR with a yield of 6,124 tonnes/ha.
2. Chris Marx from Bultfontein planting AST RA565RR with a yield of 5,609 tonnes/ha.
3. Burrie Naude from Hoopstad planting Agricol DM 61i63 RSF iPRO with a yield of 4,725 tonnes/ha.

Irrigation

1. Japie Breedt from Bapsfontein planting AST RA660 RR with a yield of 6,197 tonnes/ha.
2. Tok van der Walt from Delareyville planting Agricol DM 5953 RSF with a yield of 6,170 tonnes/ha.
3. Jan van Heerden from Hartswater planting Agricol DM 5953 RSF with a yield of 5,732 tonnes/ha.

The winners of the Grow for Gold Sunflower categories were as follows:

Grain yield/ha

1. Stompie Olivier from Potchefstroom planting Pannar PAN 7180CLP with a yield of 4,472 tonnes/ha (competition record).
2. Dalton Viljoen from Koster planting Pioneer P65LP65 with a yield of 4,173 tonnes/ha.
3. Danus van Zyl from Leeudoringstad planting Agricol AGSUN 5270 with a yield of 4,147 tonnes/ha.

Oil yield/ha

1. Danus van Zyl from Leeudoringstad planting Agricol AGSUN 5270 with a yield of 4,147 tonnes/ha.
2. Eddie van Heerden from Wesselsbron planting Agricol AGSUN 8251 with a yield of 3,650 tonnes/ha.
3. Pieter van den Berg from Hertzogville planting Agricol AGSUN 8251 with a yield of 3,270 tonnes/ha.

Western Cape High Rainfall region

1. José de Kock from Napier planting Direct entry SST 0187 with a yield of 5,900 tonnes/ha.

Irrigation Northern region

1. DT Farming from Winterton planting Syngenta SST 8205 with a yield of 11,270 tonnes/ha.
2. Koos Pieterse from Thabazimbi planting Syngenta SST 8205 with a yield of 9,307 tonnes/ha.
3. Kobus Coetzee from Thabazimbi planting Syngenta SST 8205 with a yield of 8,956 tonnes/ha.

Irrigation Southern region

1. Hilton Megaw from Douglas planting Syngenta SST 8205 with a yield of 11,180 tonnes/ha.
2. Joёl le Roux from Hopetown planting Syngenta SST 8205 with a yield of 10,020 tonnes/ha.
3. Fanie Blumenthal from Hopetown planting Syngenta with a yield of SST 82059,260 tonnes/ha.

Stompie Olivier, from the Potchefstroom area and winner of the Sunflower category for Grain Yield/ha, spoke to AgriOrbit following the awards function. He mentioned that contrary to popular belief, sunflowers do not thrive under harsh conditions. “You need to fertilise it properly and plant it at the correct time. We have noticed that sunflowers planted earlier perform better. Foliar sprays are also very important for sunflowers. Sunflowers are a very grateful thing; if you take care of them, they take care of you,” said Olivier. – Elmarie Smit, Plaas Media