Young Egg Producer Plays In The Big Leagues
FarmBiz|February 2020
It is plain to see why last year’s Western Cape Young Farmer of the Year, Johan van der Schyff, was named the 2019 Toyota Agri SA National Young Farmer of the Year. His farming operations set him apart from the other finalists in the competition, who were all top farmers in their respective provinces.
Carin Venter
Young Egg Producer Plays In The Big Leagues

The importance of teamwork

Johan regards teamwork as one of the key aspects making Dagbreek Eiers, his egg farming enterprise near Plettenberg Bay and Humansdorp, a success. This enterprise also includes an egg distribution depot in Kraaifontein near Cape Town. Effective communication is another essential component of operations at Johan’s enterprise near Willowmore, where he runs an Angora goat stud and Merino sheep farming venture in partnership with Johan du Plessis.

Johan believes that each person in his team is given a talent or qualification with which to excel. “A good team consists of people who pool their efforts and unique talents, making it a formidable group of individuals working together well,” he said to his employees upon his return from the awards ceremony. He regards being crowned as Toyota Agri SA National Young Farmer of the Year, an incredible experience and honour.

Looking to the future

The thought of being able to spend his days farming, makes it easy for Johan to get up every morning, and he is excited about what lies ahead. “In terms of what I would like to accomplish in future, I wouldn’t necessarily want to become a bigger producer, but I would like to farm more effectively and smarter, and employ more of the technology at hand,” he says.

His mission is to become the preferred egg supplier in the Eastern and Western Cape, always delivering quality products and being known for outstanding client service.

This story is from the February 2020 edition of FarmBiz.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2020 edition of FarmBiz.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FARMBIZView All
Hauling In A Full Net: Reaping The Benefits Of Processed Fish
FarmBiz

Hauling In A Full Net: Reaping The Benefits Of Processed Fish

As local and global governments deal with the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, producers are now more than ever searching for new options for expanding their businesses. That said, farming and value addition to produce does not have to be limited to landlocked food sources.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2020
Grow Produce Year-round With Tunnels And Greenhouses
FarmBiz

Grow Produce Year-round With Tunnels And Greenhouses

Climate change is an inescapable reality and can wreak havoc in open-field production systems that rely on the right weather patterns to produce good yields. For this reason, many producers worldwide have turned to growing crops in tunnels or greenhouses. These production systems offer protection from changing weather patterns, allowing them to grow crops throughout the year.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2020
Saving Soil: Harnessing The Microbiome
FarmBiz

Saving Soil: Harnessing The Microbiome

We live in unprecedented times.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2020
Summer Grain Production: A Producer's Perspective
FarmBiz

Summer Grain Production: A Producer's Perspective

The 2020 planting season for producers in the summer rainfall areas is here and most of them are looking forward to the first summer rains so that they can plant their crops. FarmBiz spoke to Jaco Minnaar from the farm Uitsny near Henneman about the new season. Jaco is vice-chairperson of Agri SA and currently serves on the Senwes board.

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2020
Electronic Auctions: The New Normal?
FarmBiz

Electronic Auctions: The New Normal?

The South African livestock industry has suffered a tremendous setback with challenges posed to physical auctions. However, the industry is nothing if not resilient. The first ban on livestock auctions was imposed during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 2019.

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2020
Oxygen Types That Damage Crops In Extreme Weather Conditions
FarmBiz

Oxygen Types That Damage Crops In Extreme Weather Conditions

Oxygen is best known as a life-giving gas without which life as we know it, would not be possible.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2020
Asia's Maize Imports Likely To Grow
FarmBiz

Asia's Maize Imports Likely To Grow

In 2019, the Asian maize market was finally on the rise to reach US$204,4 billion after two years of decline. The total consumption indicated buoyant growth from 2009 to 2019. Its value increased at an average annual rate of 5,1% over the last decade.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2020
Cultivated grazing: Fertiliser is the key to success
FarmBiz

Cultivated grazing: Fertiliser is the key to success

Nowadays everything in agriculture has to be done on a larger scale. Cultivated grazing has also become a science, with producers forced to think bigger to get more out of their grazing – all at the most economical cost.

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2020
Industry Giants Comment On Special Adjustment Budget
FarmBiz

Industry Giants Comment On Special Adjustment Budget

Prof Johan Willemse, an independent agricultural economist, says the supplementary budget delivered by the minister of finance on 24 June was a real shocker. According to him, the government is spending an additional R145 billion on the COVID-19 issue. The real issue, however, is a record budget shortfall due to the economic meltdown, with wrong policy choices and corruption on the cards.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2020
Rethinking The Conversion Process Of Poultry Litter To Biogas
FarmBiz

Rethinking The Conversion Process Of Poultry Litter To Biogas

The poultry industry is generally comprised of broiler chicken production, egg production, day-old chick suppliers and other poultry. While micro-enterprise businesses are gaining prominence as a means to address the challenges of job creation, economic growth and equity, the industry has future challenges concerning poultry litter management.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2020