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CHAPTER 9
At the Grain Producer of the Year function of 2014 are: (from the left) Antonie Delport (Syngenta), Louw Steytler, Lungelwa Kama (Small-
scale Farmer of the Year), Ralph Swart (Grain SA/Absa New Era Commercial Farmer of the Year), Jannie de Villiers and Enoch Khumalo
(Subsistence Farmer of the Year). In front sits Richard Hobson (Grain Producer of the Year).
more credibility. Prof Alan Bennie, former professor in Soil Science at the University
of the Free State who was named Researcher of the Year in 1989, is of the opinion
that his nomination in part led to him subsequently being appointed to the Grain
Producers’ selection panel.
CRITERIA
Judging criteria for grain producers include the following: Business involvement
outside of agriculture, production and tillage practices, fertilisation policy, cultivar
choices, pest and weed control, financial management, mechanisationmanagement,
labour management, community involvement, marketing and hedging of products.
Prof Bennie was part of the selection panel of the Maize Man and Grain Producer
of the Year competitions for 22 years. He said that selectors visited the nominees
on their farms and awarded marks according to the list of criteria. The three top
candidates were then selected, after which each of the members of the selection
panel cast a secret vote. It was only at the awards ceremony that they knew who
the winner was.
Dr Dreyer thinks that one learns from the process over the years which skills and
characteristics producers should have to be successful. According to him it is
essential for the producer always to be in control, creative and passionate.
Dr Jan Dreyer