6 Every year NCT recognises the efforts of their members by awarding the Commercial Tree Farmer of the Year award to a member who fulfils the following criteria: • Environmental management, including monitoring of TOPS species. • Good silvicultural and harvesting practices, including roads and fire protection. • Social responsibilities. • Other land management with regards to nontimber products. The finalist for 2024 proved that they were all worthy nominees with well-run operations showing passion for their farms and the future in forestry. The winning member for 2024 is Delft Forestry (Pty) Ltd, a family-owned and well-run business in the Piet Retief area. Tito and Desire Vorster along with their daughter Monique and her husband Andre De Waal run a well-oiled and maintained business comprising two farms known as Delft and Lodewykslust Estate. The farms total 4 500ha in size with 2 400ha planted to Eucalyptus grandis, dunnii, smithii and grandis x nitens clones (600ha at Lodewykslust Estate) and 1 800ha to Acacia mearnsii. Numerous attempts have been made at Commercial Tree Farmer of the Year for 2024 – Delft Farming (Pty) Ltd establishing Eucalyptus species at Delft to no avail, Black Wattle is the only species that will grow at Delft, which Andre notes is assisting with fire management due to the distance between the farms and the time taken for more crews and equipment to arrive in the event of fire. In addition to the timber at Lodewykslust Estate there is an essential-oils plant where 200ha has been planted to Tea Tree, Eucalyptus radiata and E. smithii for oil Production as well as 150ha of arable land under pivot. The arable land under pivot was the saving grace for Lodewykslust Estate after the entire farm burnt down shortly after being purchased and became the sole income for the farm survival. Today, Lodewykslust is a productive wellmanaged farm. If you didn’t know of the farm’s history, you wouldn’t believe that the entire farm was burnt when driving around. Although forestry is the primary activity for Delft Forestry, the introduction of essential oils and the Simbra herd in recent years have added value to the operation, so much so that 37 permanent staff positions were created for the essential-oil business alone. The essential oils are part of the Fair for Life certification programme for organic growers, André de Waal, Tito Vorster and Hayden Hutton
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