By Vida Booysen
Andries Marx of Sewefontein Boerdery in the Burgersdorp district, Eastern Cape, who was named the Voermol Feeds SA National Sheep Farmer of the Year in November 2024, recently hosted a farmers’ day. He farms Dohne-Merinos, continuing the legacy of his father Frans, who founded the FEM-Dohne-Merino stud in 1977.
True to his practical nature, Marx had constructive advice for attendees as he spoke about various aspects of his farming practices and the insights he has gained over the years. His motto is, “Farming is simple – you just have to do the simple things right.” There is not much farmers can do to reduce input costs, he says, but what farmers can do something about is securing premium prices for their products and breeding high-quality genetic stock for the market.
Marx shared these five tips, among others, with attendees:
1. Learn essential skills
My advice to young farmers is to handle as much of the work on your farm yourself wherever possible. Learn essential skills like erecting fences, constructing kraals and managing your veld. In my early years of farming, I attended every practical course I could fit in.
2. Manage stocking rates to mitigate the impact of drought
Successful sheep farming is not about having more ewes, but about “postponing” the impact of drought through proper stocking management. If your veld is overgrazed, it won’t recover well after light rainfall, leaving you without sufficient forage during dry periods.
To improve grazing management, create as many small camps as you can and ensure your fences are in good condition. Subdivide large camps, and provide a reliable water supply to each one. Install pipelines and make use of solar pumps – this technology has made it easier to do.
3. Manage your expenses by drawing up a budget
Farmers tend to avoid drawing up budgets – mainly because they say it’s impossible to do if you don’t know what your income will be. However, your short-term income is a given. The key is to manage your expenses within the budget in a way that allows you to adjust quickly when your income is lower than expected. It’s important to recognise when it’s time to tighten your belt.
4. Improve your breeding stock
Success in farming doesn’t come from the land you work but from your livestock, your sheep, especially your ewes. The productivity of your ewes determines your success. Last year, I began using SA Stud Book and BKB’s Decision Support Services (DSS) data system for flock management to track the productivity of my commercial herd. My goal is to identify the ewes that generate profit – those that perform well in the conditions on my farm. I also use this system to select the best young ewes to add to my stud.
5. Invest a portion of your profits
You can be an excellent farmer and do everything right, yet still struggle if you don’t invest a portion of your profits. The best investment you can make is increasing the gross profit of your small stock units. Use technology such as the DSS data system for flock management to identify and cull unproductive animals. The second-best investment is diversifying your farming enterprise by adding another branch, such as cattle farming or lucerne production.
Keep an eye out for an upcoming article on Andries Marx’s farming operation on africanfarming.com
