Haymaking is becoming increasingly important to farmers and the Balfour Hay Day on 16 January wants to help them produce quality fodder.
The organisers of the Balfour Hay Day hope to welcome 2 000 visitors this year to this important demonstration day of agricultural equipment.
“We want to make it the biggest year yet,” says Dawie Brits, chairman of the Balfour Farmers’ Association, which is hosting the day in collaboration with AFGRI. Part of their motivation is that hay and fodder production is now more important than ever in a region that suffered from drought last year.
“Many people forget how important hay is, but in a drought year everyone is looking for hay. Then we realise what an essential part of agriculture hay and fodder production is.”
For this reason, the Balfour Hay Day programme is changing this year with the addition of speakers who will address farmers in the tent from 09:00 to 10:00. “They are going to talk about precision farming for hay. How to look after the health of the grass and the soil, and what nutrition is needed so that you can make better hay,” says Dawie.
Gert Kriek, chair of the Balfour Hay Day Committee, says in this way they can help farmers who have planted pasture to increase their kilograms per hectare so that it makes economic sense for them.
“Because fertiliser is so expensive, planted pasture or the quality of the bales is sometimes a side issue for farmers. We want to change their view on this.”
Gert, with the support of Wilhelm de Koker, agriculturalist from Omnia, and Lourens van Rensburg from Elim Fertilizer, planted trials on the site and surrounding land.
“Wilhelm helps us to look at the soil health, what the status of the soil is and how to correct it,” says Gert. Lourens, in turn, makes sure the plants are healthy through the right foliar spray and nutrition for the roots.
During the Balfour Hay Day, Wilhelm and Lourens will talk to farmers about how to improve the quality of their planted pasture.
Norman Celliers, CEO of AFGRI, will also address the farmers during the discussion session.
It is this emphasis on the needs of farmers that makes the Balfour Hay Day a leading platform for innovation and knowledge transfer.
“Most farmers with a mixed farm have a livestock element. Haymaking has therefore moved more to the fore because these farmers have a need for quality feed.
“This means the Balfour Hay Day has also become more popular because farmers want to see what technology is available,” says Etienne Meyer, marketing manager of AFGRI Equipment. For AFGRI, who is the main sponsor, the Balfour Hay Day is also an opportunity to connect directly with its customers and answer their questions.
“It is a great privilege for us to be involved in a day like the Balfour Hay Day. It is not only good for the farmers, but also for the entire community.”
AFGRI will be showcasing its John Deere implements, and Rovic Leers will be demonstrating haymaking equipment, such as Krone balers and Kuhn hay rakes. Other companies that will be showcasing their implements include New Holland from Agriquip in Heidelberg, Case IH from Balfour, Claas and Landini from Balfour Trekland, Massi and Fendt from JWL in Standerton, Valtra from Parys, and Orbach Agri. The companies will be demonstrating their equipment on site from 10:00. Dawie says there will also be more than 60 static exhibitors.
As always, schools and churches from the community will be there with their food stalls for people who want to buy food, and there will be 30 sheep on the spit braai. The Balfour Hay Day will be held on 16 January opposite the AFGRI Palmietfontein bunker at PJ Kriek and Sons.
The entrance fee at the gate is R100.
