Nelius Ferreira, the Free State’s Top Young Farmer for 2018, focuses on quality production in a global marketplace. Sabrina Dean visited him on his farm near Harrismith to learn more.
Nelius Ferreira, 37, this year’s Free State Agriculture’s Young Farmer of the Year, says there are numerous elements that feed into the success of a family business. But at Ferrero Bonsmaras, which was featured in Farmer’s Weekly earlier this year in the 23 February issue, the focus is undoubtedly on quality production.
Ferreira studied as an engineer before joining the farming operation in partnership with his father Kiewiet and brothers Theo and Johan.
The business, located on the farm Grootdraai near Harrismith in the eastern Free State, comprises six separate farm units and practises various types of cropping, as well as beef cattle production and apple farming.
The cropping component, managed by Ferreira’s father and brothers, remains the largest part of the business. It produces maize and potatoes, as well as sugar beans, soya beans and a small quantity of wheat.
The cattle component is his responsibility. It consists of the Ferrero Bonsmara stud, a large commercial operation, a feedlot, and a back grounding system. He is also responsible for the family’s fruit farming interests, which comprise 32ha of apple orchards.
Cattle numbers vary according to grazing capacity, production phase and market conditions, but number several thousand at any given time. His feedlot has a standing capacity of 1 350 head of cattle, and there are plans to expand this. The stud herd numbers about 1 300 animals.
Ferreira adds value to his commercial stock by placing weaners in the feedlot and buying in feedlot or back grounding stock at good prices. Feedlot animals are marketed to an abattoir. Commercial production and stud sales are also held on the farm.
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