Roubel Thomas Sets Record in Irrigated Soybean Yields at Riviera Farm
Farmers Magazine | 10.02.2026 17:04
Roubel Thomas manages grain production at Riviera, one of Sitrusrand’s farms near Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape. While Sitrusrand is best known for citrus in the Sundays River Valley, its grain operations are thriving. Thomas participated in the Groei for Goud yield competition for the first time this year and set a new record in the irrigated soybean division, achieving a first-place yield of 7.7 t/ha with the Agricol Don Mario variety DM 53i54 RSP IPRO. The margin between first and second place exceeded 1 t/ha, highlighting the exceptional results of his management practices. Having grown the predecessor DM 5953 RSF for seven years, transitioning to the Intacta technology in DM 53i54 RSP IPRO was seamless and provided additional insect control against a high bollworm burden in the region.
