Agricultural Writers announce National Farmer and Agriculturist of the Year
9 November 2007

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The Rossouw Group of Mpumalanga was named National Farmer of the Year and Dr Faffa Malan Agriculturist of the Year by Agricultural Writers SA.

The developing Farmer of the Year is Themba Hinana, a stock farmer in the Ntabathemba district between Queenstown and Tarkastad in the Eastern Cape.

Announcing the winners at Agricultural Writers SA's annual gala dinner in Johannesburg tonight, chairman Nico van Burick said the competition was particularly tough this year as farmers and agriculturists continue to push the levels of excellence in their industry. "This is the thirtieth consecutive year that our association is making these awards and we view this occasion as a milestone in our history. We thank our project sponsors Old Mutual, Nedbank and Mutual & Federal Agri for their continued support."

The Rossouw Group's farming operations in Delmas consist of maize, dry beans, Beefmaster cattle, poultry, citrus and table grapes.

Malan, a leader in veterinary circles in South Africa and abroad, is especially known for the Famacha method for selecting sheep for adaptability against blood sucking parasites.

Nine farmers and nine agriculturists - one each from every province - competed for these sought-after titles.

Van Burick said the provincial candidates all had very interesting stories to tell. "On the menu this evening we have lemons without pips, excellent show animals, thousands of hectares of grain crops and potatoes, as well as two former Springboks!"

This year's provincial nominees for the Farmer of the Year title were Karel Landman of KwaZulu-Natal, Paul van der Walt of North West, the Malleson family of Gauteng, Dr John Williams of Limpopo, the Rossouw Group of Mpumalanga, Philip Barnard of the Free State, Willem de Waal of the Western Cape, Trevor Elliot of the Eastern Cape and Van der Spuy Botes of the Northern Cape.

The nominees for the Agriculturist of the Year title were Dr Tobias Doyer of Gauteng, Trix Trikam of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Driekie Fourie of the North West, Dr Org van Rensburg of Mpumalanga, Dr Faffa Malan of Limpopo, Dr Francois Koekemoer of the Free State, Abraham Bekker of the Northern Cape, Dr Mark Hardy of the Western Cape and Prof Jan Raats of the Eastern Cape.

Agricultural Writers SA was founded in 1977 and today has more than 200 members across the country.

Released by: Martin van Niekerk, Junxion Communications, Tel 012 804 8812

On behalf of: Nico van Burick, Agricultural Writers SA, Tel 012 420 7800 / 083 380 3442

Landbouskrywers kondig Boer- en Landboukundige van die Jaar aan
9 November 2007

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Die Rossouw Groep van Mpumalanga en Dr Faffa Malan is onderskeidelik as Nasionale Boer van die Jaar en Landboukundige van die Jaar deur Landbouskrywers SA aangewys.

Die ontwikkelende Boer van die Jaar is Themba Hinana, 'n veeboer in die Ntabathemba-distrik tussen Queenstown en Tarkastad in die Oos-Kaap.

Tydens dié aankondiging by Landbouskrywers SA se jaarlikse galadinee in Johannesburg vanaand, het die vereniging se voorsitter, Nico van Burick gesê die kompetisie was besonder straf vanjaar aangesien boere en landboukundiges aanhoudend die standaarde in die bedryf opstoot. "Hierdie is die dertigste opeenvolgende jaar wat ons hierdie toekennings maak en ons beskou dit as 'n mylpaal in ons geskiedenis. Ons bedank ons borge Old Mutual. Nedbank en Mutual & Federal Agri vir hul deurgaanse ondersteuning."

Die Rossouw Groep se boerdery op Delmas bestaan uit mielies, droëbone, Beefmasterbeeste, pluimvee, sitrus en tafeldruiwe.

Malan, 'n leier in veeartsenykundige kringe in Suid-Afrika en oorsee, is veral bekend vir die Famacha-metode om skape vir aanpasbaarheid teen bloedsuiende parasiete te selekteer.

Nege boere en landboukundiges - een elk van elke provinsie - het om hierdie gesogte titels meegeding.

Van Burick het gesê die provinsiale kandidate het almal interessante stories om te vertel. "Vanaand het ons suurlemoene sonder pitte, spog skoudiere, duisende hektare graangewasse en aartappels, asook twee oud-Springbokke op die spyskaart!"

Vanjaar se provinsiale kandidate vir die Boer van die Jaar titel was Karel Landman van KwaZulu-Natal, Paul van der Walt van die Noordwes, die Malleson-familie van Gauteng, Dr John Williams van Limpopo, die Rossouw Groep van Mpumalanga, Phillip Barnard van die Vrystaat, Willem de Waal van die Wes-Kaap, Trevor Elliot van die Oos-Kaap en Van der Spuy Botes van die Noord-Kaap.

Die kandidate vir die Landboukundige van die Jaar titel is Dr Tobias Doyer van Gauteng, Trix Trikam van KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Driekie Fourie van die Noord-Wes, Dr Org van Rensburg van Mpumalanga, Dr Faffa Malan van Limpopo, Dr Francois Koekemoer van die Vrystaat, Abraham Bekker van die Noord-Kaap, Dr Mark Hardy van die Wes-Kaap en Prof Jan Raats van die Oos-Kaap.

Landbouskrywers SA is in 1977 gestig en het vandag meer as 200 lede landswyd.

Vrygestel deur: Martin van Niekerk, Junxion Communications, Tel 012 804 8812

Namens: Nico van Burick, Landbouskrywers SA, Tel 012 420 7800 / 083 380 3442