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AgriMP Kongres 2025 Met die tema, Hier om te Bly, het Agri Mpumalanga op 5 Junie 2025 ’n uiters suksesvolle  kongres aangebied wat gekenmerk is deur eerlike gesprekke, strategiese insette en inspirerende leierskap. Die kongres het produsente, rolspelers en besluitnemers vanuit die hele provinsie bymekaar gebring in ’n tyd waar die landbousektor voor groot uitdagings en geleenthede staan. Die kongres is geopen deur Ds Thinus van Staden, wat die toon van die dag gestel het met ’n sterk boodskap oor die belang van eenheid, aanpassing en volgehoue betrokkenheid in landbou. Hy is ook die stigter van die Trauma Netwerk met wie ons ‘n pad stap om boere by te staan. Een van die kernsprekers was Michael Peters, wat ’n direkte en realistiese gesprek gelei het oor die realiteite van die huidige landbousektor. Hy het kwessies soos ekonomiese druk, beleidsonsekerheid en klimaatsverandering aangeraak, maar ook gefokus op die oplossings en geleenthede wat boere tot hul beskikking het. Jaco Minnaar, die president van Agri SA, en Johann Kotzé, uitvoerende hoof van Agri SA het ook waardevolle insette gelewer. Hulle het beide beklemtoon dat georganiseerde landbou steeds ’n kritieke rol speel in die bevordering van voedselveiligheid, grondbesitbeskerming en beleidsbeïnvloeding op nasionale vlak. Lion du Plessis, president van Agri MP, het die dag afgesluit met ’n inspirerende toespraak waarin hy landbouers aangemoedig het om mekaar te ondersteun en in hul strukture betrokke te bly. Hy het verwys na die belangrikheid van streeksorganisasies soos AgriMP om die stem van boere hoorbaar te maak in ’n veranderende Suid-Afrika. ’n Hoogtepunt van die dag was die aankondiging van Hendy-Hein Mathews as Jongboer van die Jaar 2025. Sy toewyding, innovasie en passie vir volhoubare landbou het hom die titel besorg – ’n trotse oomblik vir sy familie en gemeenskap. Die kongres van 2025 het nie net teruggekyk op die afgelope jaar nie, maar het ook ’n duidelike visie geskets vir die toekoms van landbou in Mpumalanga en Suid-Afrika. Ons is hier om te bly…

YOUNG FARMER OF THE YEAR WINNER 2025 We are proud to announce that Mr. Hendy-Hein Mathews is the winner of our 2025 Young Farmer of the Year competition. The announcement was made at a special ceremony held on Saturday evening, 5 June in White River after AgriMP’s annual congress. He was recognised for his outstanding achievements, innovation, and dedication to sustainable farming. Mr Mathews is the livestock manager at Janvos Landgoed in Davel, Mpumalanga. He heads up the commercial sheep, commercial cattle, and Boran stud divisions on the farm, and plays a key role in the management team of the dairy division. He also believes in empowering everyone on his team to reach greater heights together by utilising each worker’s strengths. By winning the provincial title, Mathews automatically qualifies to represent Mpumalanga in the national ToyotaSA/AgriSA Young Farmer of the Year competition. The national contest, taking place in October, will bring together top young farmers from across the country to compete for the prestigious title. After receiving the award, Mathews expressed his gratitude, stating that it was an honour to be recognised among such dedicated peers. He emphasised that agriculture is not just his profession, but his passion. Looking ahead to the national competition, he said he is eager to represent Mpumalanga on a larger stage and remains committed to learning, growing, and contributing to the future of farming in South Africa. Mathews believes that while many of the challenges faced by this generation are unique, farmers will overcome and continue to produce food, just as their forefathers did. We are incredibly proud of Hendy-Hein’s achievement. As Mathews said: “It’s not a job, it’s a pleasure!” Photo credit: Susan Marais

Agri Mpumalanga Hosts Successful Golf Day at Highland Gate Agri Mpumlanaga hosted its very first golf day on 27 March 2025 at the stunning Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate — and it was a resounding success! The event brought together farmers, agricultural businesses, and industry leaders for a memorable day of networking and collaboration. The fourball tournament saw excellent participation and great sportsmanship throughout the day. This event was a testament to Agri Mpumalanga’s commitment to fostering strong relationships within the agricultural community. A special thank you to all our sponsors — we couldn’t have done it without your support. Our gratitude also goes to our main sponsor, Bayer for playing a key role in making the day such a success. More than 20 top-performing teams were recognised during the prize-giving ceremony, rounding off a great day with a celebration. We look forward to hosting future events that continue to support and celebrate the agricultural industry.

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected executive committee of Agri Mpumalanga. Under the leadership of President Lion du Plessis, we are confident that the committee will steer the organisation towards greater achievements and continued success in advocating for the agricultural community. A special congratulations to our Vice Presidents, Francois Martins (Highveld), Moorrees du Toit (Lowveld), whose experience and dedication will be invaluable in addressing the unique challenges and opportunities within their respective regions. These three Agri Mpumalanga presidents are also representatives at AgriSA’s Provincial Chamber. Congratulations to the rest of the executive team: Your collective expertise, dedication, and vision will undoubtedly lead Agri Mpumalanga to new heights. We look forward to witnessing the positive impact your leadership will have on the agricultural sector, fostering growth and sustainability for all. Congratulations once again to the entire team. Here’s to a successful and bright future for all members of Agri Mpumalanga!

Agri Mpumalanga is trots om die verkiesing van hul nuwe president aan te kondig: Lion du Plessis, ‘n dinamiese en toegewyde boer met ‘n passie vir die landboubedryf. Lion bring ‘n rykdom aan ervaring en visie na hierdie leiersposisie, wat ‘n nuwe era van groei en innovasie vir die organisasie inlui. Lion du Plessis is bekend vir sy toewyding aan volhoubare boerderypraktyke en sy onwrikbare visie vir die toekoms van landbou. Sy leierskap word gekenmerk deur ‘n diep begrip van die uitdagings en geleenthede wat die landbousektor in die gesig staar. Met ‘n sterk fokus op vooruitgang en ontwikkeling, is Lion gereed om Agri Mpumalanga na nuwe hoogtes te lei. Lion spreek sy dankbaarheid uit teenoor die lede van Agri Mpumalanga vir die vertroue wat in hom gestel is. Hy het beklemtoon dat samewerking en gemeenskaplike doelwitte die kern van sy leierskap sal wees, en hy is vasbeslote om die belange van alle lede en die breër landboubedryf te bevorder. “Ek is geëerd om hierdie posisie te aanvaar,” het Lion gesê. “Ons staan voor baie uitdagings, maar ek glo vas dat ons die landbousektor in Mpumalanga kan versterk en laat floreer. Agri Mpumalanga is toegewyd om ons produsente te ondersteun deur hul belange te beskerm, beste praktyke te bevorder, en om op nasionale vlak ondersteuning te bied saam met AgriSA. In samewerking met regeringsinstansies en ander belanghebbendes streef ons daarna om die ontwikkeling van die landbousektor te bevorder en ‘n positiewe impak op gemeenskappe en die ekonomie te maak. Dankie aan elke lid van Agri Mpumalanga wat deel in die oplossings van ons kosbare industrie.” Die aanstelling van Lion du Plessis as president van Agri Mpumalanga word verwelkom met groot entoesiasme. Onder sy bekwame leiding sien die organisasie uit na ‘n tydperk van dinamiese groei en positiewe verandering. Ons stel binnekort die nuwe Dagbestuur onder leiding van Lion bekend. Die bestuur en lede van Agri Mpumalanga wens Lion du Plessis alle sukses toe in sy nuwe rol en sien uit na die jaar wat voorlê.

Ons is trots om die twee Jongboer van die Jaar finaliste aan te kondig: Kobus Pieters van Kiepersol Boerevereniging en Tommie Steele van Leeuklip Boerevereniging. Baie geluk en sterkte met die kompetisie vorentoe! Spesiale dank aan:– Santam Agri en Toyota SA vir die finansiële bydrae tot ons provinsiale kompetisie.– Ermelo Toyota vir die voertuig wat beskikbaar gestel is vir die besoeke aan die finaliste.– Ons beoordeelaars: Stoffel Coetzer, Johann Weber, en Ben Greyling. Die wenner van ons Mpumalanga Jongboer van die Jaar, sal tydens ons jaarlikse Kongres aangekondig word op 23 Mei 2024.

Dit was ‘n besonderse insiggewende dag met proewe, sprekers, uitstallers en vele meer.  Die gasspreker, Prof Ferdi Meyer van BFAP, het sake rakende die wêreld ekonomie wat onderdruk is aangeraak, maar ook uitgewys hoe die landbousektor vinnig aanpas by omstandighede. Prof Meyer is van mening dat uitvoere die resep vir suksesverhale van die landbousektor is, en die kommoditeite wat beste vaar met uitvoere is: – Sitrus – Mielies – Vrugte – Suiker Elke geleentheid waar boere saamstaan vir ‘n toename in kennis dra dit by tot die toekoms van die landbousektor.

The South African Sheep Shearing Federation (SASSF) held its provincial championships at Japie Cilliers Boerdery on 5 March 2024. NC Shearing Services and Simunye Shearing Services took on the challenge with sheep provided by Randell’s Ranch. With great attendance on the day, everyone enjoyed the competition between the shearers. The competitive aspect of sheep shearing is also important for the industry. It provides shearers with the opportunity to measure their skills against others, ultimately leading to the advancement of techniques and standards in the industry. Additionally, such championships promote a healthy spirit of competition and collaboration among participants, which can lead to growth and innovation within the industry. Proud sponsors of the day included TWK, Zoetis, BKB, OVK, Molatek and NWKV MP.

Op 14 Maart 2024 het boere en besighede saamgekom by Zonnebloem Boerdery vir die Middelburg Gewasdag, ‘n uiters belangrike geleentheid in die landbougemeenskap van Mpumalanga. Hierdie geleentheid was nie net ‘n platform vir kennisdeling en nuwe ontwikkelinge in die landboubedryf nie, maar ook ‘n herinnering aan die belangrike rol wat menslike verbindings speel in ons persoonlike lewens en in die landbou sektor self. Een van die hoogtepunte van die dag was die inspirerende spreker, Lynette Beer, wat die aandag van die gehoor vasgevang het met ‘n boodskap wat veel dieper gegaan het as slegs landboukwessies. Lynette het die uniekheid van mense beklemtoon deur te benadruk dat hulle nie implemente is nie, en moedig mense aan om ander en hulself te verstaan as ‘n sleutel tot vervulling in die lewe. Dit vereis ‘n bewustheid van jou eie identiteit en selfliefde om ‘n ware verbinding met ander te kan vorm. In die konteks van die landbou, is hierdie boodskap van onskatbare waarde. Boere staar dikwels verskeie uitdagings in die gesig, van klimaatsverandering tot ekonomiese druk. Maar deur ‘n gemeenskap te skep waarin elke lid waardeer word vir hul uniekheid en bydraes, kan die landboubedryf floreer te midde van die uitdagings. Met hierdie Gewasdag, kyk ons vorentoe na ‘n pad waar die landboubedryf elke dag versterk en verbeter word. Vir meer inligting kliek hier: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2778977835589305

Agri Mpumalanga’s Young Farmer of the Year entries are open! The Young Farmer of the Year competition is open for all farmers younger than 40 years of age. We want to provide recognition to farmers in Mpumalanga, highlighting the candidates’ dedication, innovation, and success in agriculture. This competition provides great networking opportunities as it provides a platform to network with other farmers, agricultural experts, industry leaders, and potential investors. Building such connections can open doors to new partnerships, collaborations, and access to resources. We also encourage young farmers to take part in this process to continuously improve their skills and knowledge in various aspects of agriculture, including crop production, livestock management, sustainable practices, and many more. Competing against peers and receiving feedback from judges can also help identify areas for growth and development, fostering continuous learning and improvement. This exposure will also allow candidates to learn from the successes and challenges of others, adapt relevant strategies to their own operations, and stay updated on the latest trends and advancements in agriculture, ultimately contributing to the overall improvement of the farming community. Besides going to Nationals with a chance to win a new Toyota Hilux, being a finalist or winner in the competition provides farmers with a powerful marketing and branding opportunity. It enables them to showcase their farm products, practices, and values to a broader audience. Entries close on 5 April 2024 – don’t miss this opportunity!