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SOUTH AFRICAN YOUNG
FARMER OF THE YEAR
2009
Tony da Costa has had farming firmly in his blood since childhood.
A mere ten years after he graduated from the University of
Pretoria he was elected as the Toyota Young Farmer of the Year for
2009 – an outstanding achievement.
As a toddler Tony “farmed” with his toys on the lounge carpet. In
his grade seven year he became actively involved with the
Beefmaster stud of the Da Costas on Manjoh Ranch near Nigel in
Gauteng. By grade ten he was virtually in charge of the stud.
After school he went to Tukkies and in 1999 obtained his B.Sc.
Agric. degree in agricultural economics. His full-time involvement
as farmer started in 2000.
Today Manjoh Ranch runs a cattle feedlot with a capacity of 22 000
animals and the Beefmaster stud has 1 600 breeding females. The
stud is run as Beefmaster Alliance in conjunction with Messrs Paul
Yiannakis and Gideon Brits of Compa Beefmasters (Delmas and
Moloto) to provide a broader gene pool.
The Da Costas also cultivate 1 850 ha maize, 650 ha soybeans and
190 ha sugar beans. In addition they plant potatoes on 90 ha. A
maize mill on the farm has a capacity of 3.5 tons/hour and their
own grain silos can store 7 000 tons of maize. |
SUID AFRIKAANSE
JONGBOER VAN DIE JAAR
2009
Boerwees is van kindsbeen af in Tony da Costa se bloed. Net tien
jaar nadat hy aan die Universiteit van Pretoria gegradueer het, is
hy aangewys as Toyota se Jongboer van die Jaar vir 2009 – ‘n
besondere prestasie.
Tony het as ‘n pikkie al met sy speelgoed op die sitkamermat
“geboer”. In sy graad sewe-jaar het hy aktief betrokke geraak by
die da Costa’s se Beefmasterstoet op Manjoh Ranch naby Nigel in
Gauteng. Teen graad tien was hy feitlik in volle beheer van die
stoet. Na skool is hy Tukkies toe en behaal in 1999 sy
B.Sc.Agric-graad in landbou-ekonomie. In 2000 raak hy heeltyds by
die boerdery betrokke.
Vandag is daar ‘n beesvoerkraal wat 22 000 beeste kan huisves op
Manjoh Ranch en die Beefmasterstoet het 1 600 vroulike teeldiere.
Die stoet word as Beefmaster Alliance in alliansie met mnre Paul
Yiannakis en Gideon Brits se Compa Beefmasters van Delmas en
Moloto bedryf ten einde ‘n groter genepoel te bied.
Die Da Costas saai ook 1 850 ha mielies, 650 ha soja, 290 ha
suikerbone en plant verder 90 ha aartappels. ‘n Eie mieliemeul kan
3.5 ton per uur maal en eie graansilo’s kan 7 000 ton mielies
berg. |
