Egon Zunckel, a mixed grain and oilseed farmer from Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal, says there are still opportunities to improve efficiency.
“You have to sharpen your pencil when planning and look at more efficient production systems and input use. You must use as much information as possible to guide your planning for the next couple of seasons,” he said.
“By adopting climate-smart practices, improving soil health, leveraging modern technology, and investing in infrastructure, we will do our best to weather the storm.”
Egon also pointed out that soil health remains one of the cornerstones for optimising production.
“We focus on our soil and have been able to use less fertiliser by focusing on soil health, planting cover crops, and practising regenerative agriculture.”
He said he sees opportunities in the grain market through next-level technologies, on-farm value addition, and identifying gaps in the market.
“If you can use Safex to your advantage, this will help to mitigate volatility. One must accept that today, the only constant is the volatility in the market.”
Adding to this, Egon’s son Tyson said they are considering planting canola in the coming season instead of wheat, as they cannot see a way to remain profitable with wheat.
“We cannot compete with all the wheat imports,” he explained.
Opportunities for diversification in sunflower
South Africa’s sunflower industry also presents opportunities for farmers who want to diversify and increase their income. With demand for sunflower oil on the rise, producers should consider tapping into this market by planting high-oil-content hybrids.
According to Willem Venter, who farms in Petrusburg in the southern Free State, the new Sensako sunflower hybrids may push the boundaries of sunflower production and help farming operations remain profitable.
“We still have to navigate the weather and diseases in the southern Free State, but with the opportunities opening up in sunflower production, the future does not seem so grim. The higher oil content in the sunflowers can mean better income without additional inputs,” he said.
Farmer Tsaats Hattingh from Heilbron in the Free State added that producers should also consider adjusting their management practices.
“If I have to adapt some practices to increase the oil content of my sunflower crop, as we recently saw the Argentine farmers do, and I can realise a couple of percentage points more oil from the same cultivars, that will be a great opportunity. We have set ourselves the challenge of obtaining high oil percentages,” he said.
Tom van Rooyen, who farms near Potchefstroom, added that there are opportunities in diversification.
“One option is to diversify outside of agriculture, but one can also consider activities that complement or support your current business. However, it remains crucial to do your homework before diversifying and to calculate all risks involved.”
Key practices for strengthening farm resilience
The farmers agreed that the following practices can play a role in mitigating some of the challenges in the agricultural sector and, ultimately, keeping them and the next generation on the farm.
- Adopt climate-smart agricultural practices
Implementing such practices can help mitigate not only the effects of climate variability but also market fluctuations. Conservation and regenerative agriculture, integrated pest management (IPM), and variable fertiliser application and planting rates can enhance resilience and sustainability.
- Manage soil health
Focusing on soil health through crop rotation, variable fertiliser application, and cover cropping can help to restore soil fertility, improve water retention, and increase yields.
- Use technology and innovation
Although new technology comes at a price, it is still worthwhile to assess what is affordable and implementable on your farm. The farmers said that anything that can increase efficiency should be investigated and considered.
- Add on-farm value
On-farm value addition can help boost income. This may include producing seed for seed companies or focusing on high-value attributes such as high oil content in sunflower crops.
- Diversify
Not putting all your apples in one basket may help mitigate risk. However, it is still important to do thorough research and planning before diversifying.
- Improve management practices and financial health
Practices such as implementing an IPM programme and scouting can reduce input costs and help improve yields, contributing to higher profitability and return on investment.
- Protect your financial health
Financial health depends on planning to ensure commitments can be met when conditions change.
