A livestock farmer need not be a millionaire to be successful. In fact, starting small but with the correct attitude, aptitude, resourcefulness and hard work, he/she can achieve a great deal. Hans Franck is such a farmer.
Despite the urban sprawl slowly invading from Pretoria in the west, his Macarara Simmentaler Stud succeeded in breeding the bull Gamsa LH 12 80, which represented his breed at the national special performance test class for Phase C-tested bulls at the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) National Beef Performers Awards in 2014.
EARLY INSPIRATION
Franck’s family lived in Mozambique in the 1970s when he was a child. As little German was spoken or taught at schools in that country, he was sent as a boarder to the Deutsche Schule (German School), east of Pretoria. During this period, a weekend visit to the Olschweski family, a well-known Simmentaler breeder, on the farm Meerhof, sparked Franck’s burning, lifelong interest in farming and a passion for Simmentaler cattle. When he said goodbye to his hosts before returning to school, he promised Gert Olschweski he would one day also farm Simmentalers.
As the eldest of six children and a fugitive in South Africa from the war in Mozambique, he had to care for his mother and his 66-year old father, who could not find work in this country. With little cash to spare, he worked at the Rembrandt factory while establishing the Macarara Simmentaler Stud, initially as a sideline, in 1984 when he was only 21 years old.
Denne historien er fra Farmers Weekly 1 June 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Farmers Weekly 1 June 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
