Media & events 

• The APA will be hosted by PSA during December 2010 in South Africa. More details will be made available soon.
• Eastern Free State Potato Workgroup is hosting a rally on 18 February 2010. Phone Attie van den Berg on 082 388 4035.
• Petrus Steyn Golf Day: 5 March 2010. Enquiries: Dr Andrè Meiring 082 824 9995.
• Petrusburg potato festival: 17 April 2010. Enquiries herman Haak at 082 440 4716.

Breaking news:

Potato farmer is the 2009 Toyota SA/Agri SA Young Farmer of Year

Tony da Costa, from Nigel, Gauteng has been named the 2009 Toyota SA/Agri SA Young Farmer of the Year. Tony is responsible for the planning, implementation and control functions of potato and maize crops and the Manjoh beef feedlot and beef stud. The crop rotation system include potatoes, maize, dry beans, soy beans, sugar beans. Cultivated pastures are planned and executed to perfection. The feedlot with a capacity of 22 000 cattle is run in an economically sustainable manner, with the focus on the purchasing of suitable animals, proper diet and disease management, and efficient marketing of the end products. He excels in the fields of agricultural production, marketing, financing and personnel management and his decision-making processes incorporate all the relevant biological, economical and socio-economic factors as well as the constantly changing climatic conditions.

Marius Vorster, Vice President for Marketing Communications and Planning at Toyota South Africa in presenting Tony da Costa with his prize stated that their sponsorship of the Young Farmer of the Year competition allows them to express their appreciation for the agricultural sector’s support and to acknowledge the critical role played by farming, not only to the nation’s economy, but also to the company. The market leadership that Toyota has enjoyed for the past 29 years has been made possible by the support of the farming community.