Most established farmers will say it would be near impossible to farm out their land [pay for the farm with revenue from production] under current production and market conditions. The odds, then, would be even lower for those not born into a farming family and their support network to offer guidance on production.
And yet, there are always outliers, like Dirk Louw, owner of Silver Moon Investments, who prove that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Louw was born in Opwag and grew up in Topline near Groblershoop in the Northern Cape. He started out as a general worker at a small shop in Hanover Park in the Western Cape after matriculating in 1995, but left the job after three years to look after his father, who had fallen ill. Louw struggled to re-enter the job market thereafter, but his fortune changed when he started doing seasonal work for André Smith at Malmaison, a farm near Groblershoop. Smith farms dried grapes for raisins, and also pecan nuts, maize and sheep.
“André called me in after the season and inquired about my plans for the future. He then committed to better equip me for the industry through skills development and training if I stayed on the farm,” Louw recalls.
He began attending various table grape production courses and in 2002 acquired a driver’s licence, which opened new career opportunities on the farm. He worked hard and proved a fast learner, and within a year was promoted to supervise the people under whom he had started out.
From there, he became more exposed to the management side of the farm, by dealing with staff affairs, and later also production management.
Denne historien er fra Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020-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.
