Voorwoord/Preface
Hallo almal,
Planttyd is in volle swang. Oral waar ’n mens deur die Swartland en die Suid-Kaap ry, staan die stof so agter die planters. Dit is ’n pragtige gesig en regtig wonderlik dat ons weer by hierdie tyd van die jaar is. Nou hoop en vertrou ons net die reën sal kom. Die afgelope paar weke was bittersoet. Ons moes ongelukkig vir Kobus Wessels van die plaas Schildskloof naby Caledon groet – hy is op 27 April skielik oorlede. Kobus was onder andere in 2007 Graan SA se Graanprodusent van die Jaar en ’n pionier op die gebied van presisieboerdery. Hy was altyd bereid om ons op die plaas te verwelkom en te gesels oor waarmee hy in daardie stadium besig was. Ons gaan hom baie mis.
Op ’n vroliker noot is dit egter lekker om aan te kondig dat die Langgewens-langtermynproef nie net ’n nuwe baadjie aangetrek het nie, maar ook ’n nuwe naam gekry het. Hierdie proef sal voortaan as die Dr. Hardy-langtermynbewaringslandbouproef bekendstaan. Dr. Mark Hardy het dié proef in 1997 begin bestuur en in 2012 afgetree. Ons het dit goedgedink om die proef wat hy destyds begin het, na hom te vernoem om hom sodoende vir sy werk te vereer. Alle sterkte met die plantseisoen!
Hello everyone,
Planting season is in full swing. Wherever one drives in the Swartland or the Southern Cape, the dust is visible behind all the planters. It is lovely to see and wonderful that we have reached this time of the year again. Now we just hope that we will be blessed with rain. The past few weeks were bittersweet. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to Kobus Wessels from the farm Schildskloof near Caledon – he passed away on 27 April. Amongst other things, Kobus was Grain SA’s Grain Producer of the Year in 2007 and a pioneer in the field of precision farming. He was always prepared to welcome us on the farm and to discuss whatever projects he was busy with at the time. We will miss him dearly.
However, on a lighter note: It is a privilege to announce that the Langgewens Long-term Trial not only got a facelift, but also a new name. From now on this trial will be known as the Dr Hardy Long-term Conservation Agriculture Trial. Dr Mark Hardy managed this trial since 1997 and retired in 2012. We thought it best to name the trial that he started after him to honour him for his work. Best of luck with the planting season!