The first African Farming Finance for Farmers workshop for 2026, held in Ladybrand in the Free State, drew an impressive turnout, with more than 150 farmers from across the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality braving wet conditions to attend the knowledge-sharing session.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
The Ladybrand workshop underscored a critical message for South African farmers: Long-term success in agriculture depends not only on production but on discipline, collaboration and sound business practices. From managing veld and animal health to formalising finances and planning for the future, the insights shared reinforced the need for farmers to view their operations as holistic enterprises.
The day opened with a thought-provoking presentation by Dr Nicholas Lesia, a Beefmaster farmer from Clocolan, who emphasised that successful livestock farming starts with the land.
“As a beef farmer, you are first a grass farmer,” Lesia told attendees. “Taking care of your soil and veld is by far the most important thing you can do for a profitable beef business.”
Grazing Management and Animal Health
He stressed that grazing management lies at the heart of sustainability, warning that poor veld management undermines productivity in the long term.
Lesia also highlighted the importance of adhering to proper animal health and nutrition programmes.
“Many farmers expect peak performance from their cattle without following basic health and nutritional practices. An unhealthy animal will not produce every year,” he said.
On the issue of genetic improvement, Lesia encouraged collaboration, particularly among farmers sharing communal grazing land.
“We don’t each have to buy expensive bulls individually. Farmers can pool resources, invest in quality genetics and share the benefits,” he said.
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The Challenges of Foot-and-mouth Disease
Animal health concerns were further unpacked by Dr Thabo Lerotholi, state veterinarian for animal health and disease control at the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ladybrand.
Lerotholi addressed the ongoing challenges of controlling foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), pointing to uncontrolled cross-border livestock movement between South Africa and Lesotho as a major obstacle.
“We can only do what we are trained for as veterinarians,” he said. “If those responsible for controlling animal movement are not effective, it becomes very difficult to win the battle against diseases like FMD and also stock theft.”
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Access to Financial Incentives and Funding
On the financial side, Bridgette van der Merwe from Lehumo & Lesedi Financial Services urged farmers to formalise and professionalise their businesses to unlock growth opportunities.
She noted that many farmers still operate through personal bank accounts, limiting their access to financial incentives and funding.
“Registering your farming business and operating through a business account is the first step,” she explained. “With proper bookkeeping, farmers can access benefits such as diesel rebates and VAT claims, and build a financial track record that improves access to finance.”
Also read: Investing in genetics: How Beefmaster farmer Dr Lesia built a thriving enterprise
Discipline, Leadership and Training
Adding a farmer’s perspective, Tseliso Lento, a sheep farmer and chairperson of the Mpepe Faralane Study Group, shared how discipline and strong leadership have driven the success of their cooperative.
The group, which now has 18 members, exports wool through a local agribusiness and has benefited from ongoing training support.
“We started with more than 30 members, but today we are 18,” Lento said. “If you don’t follow the rules, you are out. That discipline is what has kept us successful.”
Entrepreneurial advice came from Thabo Olivier of Let’s Grow Food, who encouraged farmers to start small and build from available resources.
“Too many people want to start big without proving themselves on a small scale,” he said. “If you can’t make it work in your backyard, it will be difficult to succeed on a larger farm.”
He challenged farmers to rethink waste and opportunity: “What do you do with the pumpkin seeds from your kitchen? That’s where farming can begin.”
The Importance of Retirement Planning
Closing the session, Johan Smith of Allan Gray highlighted the often-overlooked importance of retirement planning for farmers.
He outlined the level of savings required to secure a sustainable income in later years, encouraging farmers to treat retirement planning as an integral part of running a farm business.
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