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February 2022
Farming must be one of the hardest but greatest jobs on earth. It takes a very special type of person to be a good farmer. Liking the outdoors or fixing things is certainly not enough anymore! A true farmer needs to be a ‘jack of all trades’.
As knowledge is power, to make informed decisions you need accurate and farm specific information at your fingertips on agronomy, plant health, seed, chemicals, fertiliser, mechanisation, budgeting, financial management, tax, marketing, human resource management, the weather and much more. Let’s be honest, there are very few farmers in the world who are good at all of these things.
However, the awareness and acknowledgement of your strengths and weaknesses is absolutely crucial. Pride can be your worst enemy.
To achieve growth, it is important to surround yourself with people who are good at the things that are not your strengths. Invest your time in forging long-lasting relationships with professional input and service providers, cooperatives and reliable industry role-players with a sound track record.
Always aim to use the same contacts as your commercial neighbour or closest commercial farmers in your area. Know that every successful commercial farmer is also very reliant on the advice of these industry role-players!
As we are now half-way through the season, I wish you all the best! If you keep your head down, work hard, do the right thing at the right time, the odds for a good yield will be in your favour.
Follow the South African golf legend, Gary Player’s advice: ‘The harder you work, the luckier you get’.
Publication: February 2022
Section: Pula/Imvula
