The 2026 Grain SA/Omnia Farmer Patent competition was recently held at Nampo Cape in Bredasdorp.
The competition included divisions for modified machinery, implements and agricultural equipment; tools; home and garden; an open division; schools; and a commercial category.
Cornel Uys took first place in the modified machinery and equipment division with his Bobcat Tracks, while Michris J Rensburg won the tools category with his Monster pump. Stian Thompson won the home and garden division with his Grassy Trekker, and Niel du Toit took first place in the open division with a hunting box.
The schools division included entries from HTS Drostdy and Oakdale across welding and metalwork, fitting and machining, construction, woodwork and agricultural engineering.
Winning entries included projects by Anton Joubert, Ninke Olivier, Christopher du Toit and Luaan van Rensburg of HTS Drostdy, and Adam Fourie of Oakdale.
Other school entries included a water cart, fishing trolley, catching pen, gun safe, combination hammer, shearing cabinet and rocket stove.
Richard Botes took first place in the commercial division, while Jacques Smit received the special prize for the Turbostraw, which he developed with Willa Rossouw.
Donald Brink, Omnia sales manager and organiser of the competition, told Farmer’s Weekly that the Turbostraw was one of the entries that stood out to him this year. He said the implement was built from scratch specifically to incorporate wheat stubble into the soil.
“It is a very unique implement, designed for a specific purpose and with a number of new features,” Brink said.
Brink said there had been more school entries this year and that organisers wanted to build on this in 2027.
“We want to work hard next year to involve more schools and almost create a type of interschools competition,” he said.
