The Agricultural Writers SA North named its regional applicants on 29 September all through its awards night, held in Pretoria.
Photograph: Magda du Toit
The applicants had been nominated through Agricultural Writers SA North contributors within the sections for Farmer of the 12 months, Agriculturist of the 12 months, and New Entrant to Industrial Agriculture of the 12 months for 2023.
Lindi Botha, chairperson of Agricultural Writers SA North, stated all through the development, “In spite of financial power felt international through each and every sector, agriculture as an trade endured to face out as flourishing. It is a testomony to the resilience and innovation of everybody excited about agriculture.”
All the way through a panel dialogue specializing in answers for an unsure long term, the take-home message was once that relationships, cast partnerships, adaptability and perseverance had been key parts in being a hit as a farmer.
Botha stated that the street forward was once strewn with demanding situations. “In spite of the good fortune of our agricultural trade, we additionally call to mind those that to find themselves in make-or-break eventualities. This makes it the entire extra essential to face in combination, construct relationships and paintings in combination to search out answers.”
She added that in a similar fashion to farmers, the media had been additionally going through troubles as a result of the adjustments within the data panorama.
“The tips panorama has modified to permit for unverified ‘info’ and choice truths. Right now, it’s much more prudent to hunt out and reinforce those that are at the facet of fact. Right here, the Agricultural Writers SA performs an important function. In reporting at the trade, and creating verbal exchange methods, our contributors paintings to make sure agriculture’s voice is heard and that the trade is knowledgeable through info, with out bias. I wish to specific my heartfelt because of everybody who helps our trade – whether or not you learn your information on-line, purchase {a magazine} every week, or utilise knowledgeable communicators to succeed in your audiences. With out your reinforce a very powerful watchdog will stop to exist,” she stated.
The provincial award recipients for Agricultural Writers SA North had been:
Farmer of the 12 months
- Gauteng: Jimie Malan
- Mpumalanga: Dewald te Water
Agriculturist of the 12 months
This 12 months the point of interest was once on agricultural economists:
- Gauteng: Corné Louw
- Loose State: Prof Frikkie Maré
New Entrant to Industrial Agriculture
Heleen Pienaar and Dirk Strydom from Grain SA won Corné Louw’s award as Agricultural Writers SA North Agriculturist of the 12 months for Gauteng on his behalf. Louw was once not able to wait as he was once in Australia representing Grain SA on the International Canola Congress.