Free State rain a gift from above

Maize farmers are very relieved about the rain and said it came just in time to prevent serious damage to the crops.

Arno Cronje, general manager of the Rhys Evans Group in Viljoenskroon, said in excess of 30mm had fallen on the Evans farms since yesterday. Ben Otto from the farm Groot Brittanje in Wesselsbron received between 45mm and 70mm rain on his land.

Chairperson of the Molopo West District Farmers Union, Nicol Muller, said up to 70mm had fallen at Gemsbokvlakte and between 40mm and 50mm in Bray.

As of Friday morning (31 January), it was still raining heavily over the western parts of the summer grain production area.