Grain Producers of the Year
Grain SA
November 2013
26
Grain producer of the Year
climbs straight into the value chain
RUTH SCHULTZ, SA GRAAN/GRAIN CONTRIBUTOR
Always being on top of things, quickly adapting where needed and
moving right into the value chain, contribute to the success of the Rhys
Evans Group which was announced as the Grain SA/Syngenta Grain
Producer of the Year on 11 October.
The Rhys Evans Group has a strong family farming history. After
Mr Anthony Evans finished his studies at
inter alia
Rhodes, Oxford and
Harvard Universities, he started farming with his father, Rhys Evans,
during 1968 on the farm Huntersvlei, near Viljoenskroon. Anthony’s son,
David, is the next generation Evans to have joined the business.
Their business consists of Sussex cattle, a huge piggery, crop farming
and a groundnut processing factory. Groundnuts were first planted on
Huntersvlei in 1948 and today it still forms part of their rotation system.
With the deregulation in the 1990’s, they saw the opportunity to start
with the processing of groundnuts. Since erecting the groundnut shelling
factory, they quickly became a very big role-player in the groundnut
industry. The group also moved into the meat value chain through their
investment in an abattoir.
“We are on the brink of another major change and that is to move from
conventional tillage to no-till. We see this as a very exciting opportunity
in going forward and we believe it will result in more profitable farming.
Hopefully there will be no decline in yields, but rather a slight incline,”
Anthony said during a DVD presentation at the gala dinner.
By introducing precision farming about ten years ago, the Rhys Evans
Group has seen a major turnaround in production. Maize is their main
crop and is planted in a rotation system with groundnuts, sunflower
and soybeans, while pasture crops help to counter wind erosion after
groundnut harvesting.
They are widely known for their superb Sussex stud and along with a
commercial herd, the cattle are not only valuable assets, but contribute to
the crop farming through a well-organised compost processing system.
The manure of the cattle and pigs are mixed with groundnut shells and
straw for fertilisation.
Acknowledgements
Anthony expressed his gratitude to his co-producers and Grain SA. “I
would like to thank Stephen Kruger who nominated us; our co-producers
from Viljoenskroon (under the able leadership of Cobus van Coller) for all
their support; my team: Arno Cronjé and my son, David, who deserve all
the credit; as well as Louw Steytler of Grain SA, who persuaded me to
put our name forward.
“I owe Grain SA a debt of gratitude for the remarkable job that they are
doing, especially among our developing farming community.”
1: “This award is not only applicable to me or our group. It celebrates the
success of all grain producers in South Africa, particularly that of our fellow
nominees,” Anthony Evans said during his appreciation speech.
2: According to Arno Cronjé (left), general manager of the Rhys Evans Group,
farmers should be pro-active and stay informed on the latest technology.
“International visits are important; to learn from farmers in other countries
about certain aspects.” With him is Anthony Evans, middle, and Anthony’s
son, David.
3: At the back: Louw Steytler (chairman: Grain SA), Anthony Evans and
Jannie de Villiers (CEO: Grain SA). In front: Arno Cronjé, David Evans and
Antonie Delport (managing director: Syngenta South Africa).
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