A wider choice of improved cultivars, along with adapted production and field management practices, is contributing to higher grain yields, greater profitability, and a more sustainable grain production industry in South Africa.
Photo: Supplied
The annual Grain SA Grow for Gold National Yield Competition provides a platform for grain producers to compete with their peers in different categories based on crops and production areas. The competition aims to determine the genetic potential of different grain crops and for farmers to learn from one another by sharing best practices.
Now in its sixth year, the awards have become a hallmark of producer recognition and agricultural progress. By benchmarking yields and celebrating success, the initiative encourages knowledge sharing, motivates producers to push boundaries, and showcases the vital role of the grain industry in securing South Africa’s food future.
This year’s event was held on 25 September at the Thaba Eco Hotel in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
“The awards are more than numbers on a yield spreadsheet. The [producers’] achievements are a testimony to their determination and ability to adapt, [and this is] a celebration of the science behind cultivar development.
“Although the wetter second half of the past season boosted maize and soya bean yields, it also resulted in disease challenges for sunflower production, such as sclerotinia, negatively affecting yields. But the yields obtained are indicative of South Africa’s grain farmers’ ability to adapt. Our farmers can compete with the best in the world,” Corné Louw, Head of Applied Economics and Member Services at Grain SA, said at the event.
Grain producers were honoured for their outstanding record maize, wheat, and soya bean yields despite climatic challenges, with this year’s winners coming from KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Highveld, Free State, North West, and irrigation areas.
Maize
Astonishingly, six regional maize categories achieved new records, indicating favourable seasonal conditions in key production areas, as well as the impact of precision farming practices and advanced genetics.
The winners in the maize categories were:
KwaZulu-Natal region: Brian du Toit from Dundee took first place with Pioneer P1225PW, achieving a record yield of 18,3t/ha. Last year’s winner, Bruce Gibbings from Winterton, came second with 14,75t/ha of the Pioneer P1197 variety. Tyson Zunckel from Bergville came third with his 14,66t/ha yield of Pioneer hybrid P1225.
Eastern Highveld region: Danie Bester from Balfour obtained first and the second place in this category. The winning block, planted to P1197PW, a Pioneer hybrid, yielded a whopping record 20,05t/ha. The second-place block, planted to the same variety, yielded 19,01t/ha. Martin van Jaarsveld from Greylingstad came third with the Bayer DEKALB hybrid DKC72-66BR at 12,07t/ha.
Eastern Free State region: Neul Menesis from Reitz, planting Pioneer P1975PW, won with a competition record yield of 14,79t/ha. JZ Scheepers from Fouriesburg also planted a Pioneer hybrid, P1225PW, and his yield of 14,25t/ha placed him second. Adriaan Odendaal from Petrus Steyn came third with a Pioneer hybrid P1975 yield of 13,99t/ha.
Central region: Emje Ferreira from Bronkhorstspruit planted the DEKALB hybrid DKC65-72 from Bayer and a new competition record yield of 16,02t/ha landed him in first position. Stephan Potgieter from Heidelberg was second with a yield of 15t/ha with the Pioneer hybrid P1197PW. A yield of 12,65t/ha with the DEKALB hybrid DKC64-54BR from Bayer secured Jan Basson from Bapsfontein the third position.
North West region: PG van Zyl from Schweizer-Reneke planted the DEKALB hybrid DKC75-65BR and achieved a competition record yield of 14,25t/ha, securing himself first place. Jannie du Rand from Mareetsane came second with a yield of 13,73t/ha with the Agricol hybrid VP8405BR. In third was Janna du Rand, also from Mareetsane, with a yield of 13,47t/ha with the Pannar hybrid PAN 5R-891BR.
Water Table region: Jan Botma (IBOT Boerdery) from Bothaville was first with a competition record yield of 14,71t/ha by planting a DEKALB hybrid, DKC76-77BR. Second was JT Ferreira Boerdery of Bultfontein with the same hybrid, achieving 11,28t/ha. MP Bredenkamp, also from Bultfontein and planting DKC76-77BR, came third with a yield of 11,19t/ha.
Irrigation maize: Braam du Plessis from the Hofmeyer area came out tops with a yield of 21,9t/ha with the DEKALB hybrid DKC65-60BR from Bayer. Eduard Snyman from Brits came second with the same hybrid and a yield of 19,76t/ha. In third place was Attie Scholtz from Douglas, with a yield of 18,9t/ha planting the Pioneer hybrid P1197PW.
Soya bean
Producers achieved three new records, with exceptional yields reported across irrigation and dryland regions.
The winners in the soya bean categories were:
KwaZulu-Natal region: Kobus Louw from Paulpietersburg came first with a yield of 5,74t/ha with the Agricol DM 61i63 variety. Last year’s winner in this category, Bertie Pretorius from Newcastle came second, obtaining a yield of 5,2t/ha with the Pioneer variety P51T42R. The 4,829t/ha put AL-DI Agri from Dundee, who planted Agricol DM 59i60 RSF IPRO, in third position.
Eastern Highveld region: Dawie Brits from Balfour won with a competition record yield of 7,12t/ha by planting Agricol DM 53i54 RSF IPRO. Danie Bester, also from Balfour and the 2024 winner, came second with a yield of 7,06t/ha with Agricol DM 5351 RSF. In third position was Rian Maree from Piet Retief, who obtained a yield of 6,72t/ha with Agricol DM 61i63 RSF IPRO.
Eastern Free State region: Daniel Slabbert from Harrismith won this category by planting the Pioneer variety P64T39R, achieving a yield of 5,55t/ha. Wessel Heymans from Reitz secured second and third place with a Pioneer variety, P64T39R, with a yield of 5,42t/ha (second), and Agricol DM 59I60 RSF IPRO, with a yield of 5,139t/ha (third).
Central region: A competition record yield of 6,46t/ha with the Pioneer cultivar P52T52R secured Johann Pistorius from Nigel first place. Mike van Niekerk from Derby was second with the Agricol DM 61i63 RSF IPRO cultivar and a yield of 6,02t/ha. Van Niekerk also took third place with a yield of 4t/ha with the Pioneer cultivar P64T39R.
North West region: Theodor van Rensburg from Delareyville secured first place with a yield of 5,37t/ha with the Agricol DM 61i63 RSF IPROPG variety. In second was Henro Pieterse from Biesiesvlei with a yield of 4,83t/ha with the Agricol DM 61i63 RSF IPRO variety. Hector van Wyk from Gerdau secured third place with a yield of 4,71t/ha with the Agricol DM 61i63 RSF IPRO variety.
Water Table region: Greyling van Niekerk from Makwassie planted an Agricol Don Mario variety, DM 6.8i RR, and yielded 6,06t/ha to clinch first place. Warrie Cilliers from Bultfontein came second with his Agricol DM 61i63 RSF IPRO variety that yielded 5,21t/ha. Arno Wessels from Wesselsbron planted the Agricol Don Mario variety DM 61i63 RSF IPRO and came third with a yield of 4,93t/ha.
Irrigation: Roubel Thomas from Cookhouse came first with a record yield of 7,7t/ha of the Agricol DM 53i54 RSP IPRO variety. Pieter Becker from Warden planted Agricol DM 53i54 RSF IPRO and yielded 6,52t/ha to take second position. Ross Braithwaite from Bergville was third with a yield of 6,3t/ha with the Pioneer variety P55T86R.
Sunflower
The winners in the sunflower categories were:
Grain yield/ha: Ernst Jonker from Makwassie came first with a yield of 3,33t/ha with the Agricol AGSUN 5106CLP hybrid. He also secured first place in the oil yield/ha division with 41,3% oil (1,38 oil yield/ha). PE Kotze from Delareyville placed second with a yield of 2,755t/ha with the same hybrid. He also secured second place in the oil yield/ha division with 39% oil (1,07 oil yield/ha). Kotze also came third in the yield/ha competition with another Agricol hybrid, AGSUN 5111CLP, yielding 2,67t/ha. He also placed third in the oil yield/ha division with 38,5% oil (1,03 oil yield/ha).
Wheat
The Northern and Southern Irrigation categories saw new record yields being set, underscoring improved cultivar choices and management practices.
The winners in the wheat categories were:
Northern irrigation region: Willem Kruger from the Loskop North irrigation scheme obtained the first position with a record competition yield of 11,345t/ha with the Sensako variety from Syngenta, SST 8205. Neels and Joseph Swanepoel from Koedoeskop came second with a yield of 10,61t/ha with the Agricol variety IS TORDO. Sitrusrand Boerdery from Hofmeyr was third with a yield of 10,33t/ha with the Sensako variety from Syngenta, SST 8205.
Southern irrigation region: Hannes Bruwer from Hopetown received top honours with a yield of 13,96t/ha of the Agricol IS TORDO variety. In second place was JH Maree from Prieska with the same variety and a yield of 13,3t/ha. In third place was Joël le Roux from Hopetown with SST 8227, a Sensako variety from Syngenta, with a yield of 11,57t/ha.
