Personalised banking relationships are essential for farmers

Sponsored by Nedbank

Tsitsikamma dairy farmer, Nigel Lok, has 920 Holsteins producing 25 000ℓ of milk per day, and a total herd of 1 800 cows.

Personalised banking relationships are essential for farmers
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‘Nedbank helped me to finance my farm in 1997, as well as all the systems and improvements on the farm. I have now been with Nedbank for 21 years, and I have a 15-year relationship with my Nedbank business manager, Anton du Preez, who knows my farm and my family. He’s based in Humansdorp, and I’m in contact with him weekly,’ says Lok.

‘My philosophy is I don’t want to owe money to 10 different institutions. All my debt is with Nedbank. I only have to make one call to Anton when I’m looking to expand or invest in new technology, and this will continue into the second generation when my oldest daughter, Tanya, an attorney with a love for dairy farming, takes over from me.’

Nigel uses a computerised herd management and feeding programme he helped to develop, which has increased milk production by 30% with the same cost input.

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He’s on top of biosecurity and preventive medicine, including dipping, dosing and inoculating.

‘Animal health and hygiene are paramount. You have to be so careful with every procedure, and I’m really proud to say that South African milk is up there with the best in the world.’