Farmers' Days provide farmers with valuable insights into the latest advances in crop production, disease and pest control and agricultural technologies. These events also offer farmers the opportunity to network with peers, suppliers and industry experts, which can lead to useful partnerships and joint solutions to common challenges.

This year, Grain SA organised four Farmers' Days. Two of these were held in the Limpopo province. The first event took place on 8 May in Diphagane and was attended by 80 farmers from the surrounding villages. The second event took place the following day in Dlamini and was attended by 60 farmers. The other two events took place in the Mpumalanga Province, the first in Ngodini on 25 July, attended by 72 farmers from 14 surrounding villages. The last farmers' day took place on 2 August inLuphisi near Nelspruit and was attended by about 78 farmers from eight surrounding villages.

FABI was represented at these farmer days by Mr Lawrence Mataha, Field Extension Officer of the Grain Research Programme Pest and Disease Extensions and Diagnostic Clinic. Take home messages of his presentation included:

• The GRP pest and disease extensions and diagnostic clinic offers a wide range of services to grain producers
• The importance of disease diagnostics and how they can impact the export markets
• We are beginning to establish knowledge on what pests and diseases affecting crop production
• The identification of common diseases are possible on their farms, but confirmation with the clinic remains important
• The Information Hub at the University of Pretoria offers an easy method of contacting the clinic and submitting samples

The clinic would like to thank the Grain SA team for the invitation and every other party involved.