The 12 months was once characterized by way of a roller-coaster experience of highs and lows for farmers. We spoke to a bunch of Farmer’s Weekly readers to get their tackle 2023 and the street forward.
Ipeleng Kwadi, farm animals farmer and mentor in North West and chairperson of Formative years in Agriculture and Rural Construction Organisation (YARD)
In comparison to reflections on earlier years, 2023 was once a troublesome 12 months, however no longer with out its highlights. Emerging gas prices had a detrimental have an effect on on our day-to-day operations. 
The North West Division of Agriculture donated a Bonsmara stud bull to my industry in order that I may just expand my herd additional, however 8 weeks later it died from heartwater. The revel in taught me so much in regards to the significance of treating animals that come from heartwater-free spaces.
Thankfully, the bull was once put to just right use earlier than it died and my cows are these days calving with that bull’s offspring.
This 12 months I noticed first hand how vital it’s to community, and the way the media can play a task in linking farmers to markets. I took phase in numerous panel discussions at occasions the place I had the chance to have interaction with decision-makers within the business and in addition convey non-public stakeholders nearer to farmers.
I used to be lucky to be amongst a workforce from the Agricultural Analysis Council doing analysis on how local weather exchange is affecting farmers and arising with mitigation practices. This was once a large spotlight as I used to be no longer simplest ready to give a contribution a lot from a farm animals farmer’s viewpoint, however learnt so much too.
At YARD, we controlled to release branches in any other 8 provinces with the similar imaginative and prescient of being the voice for younger people who find themselves at the floor, developing alternatives for them within the mainstream economic system, and being a part of coverage and decision-making within the agriculture sector. I’m having a look ahead to launching our nationwide construction early subsequent 12 months.
Ben Otukile, proprietor of Otukiles Bonsmara stud and farm animals farm in North West 
Having a look again over the last 15 years I’ve spent farming, 2023 was once by way of a long way probably the most attention-grabbing. At the grain aspect, the demanding situations began early on when heatwaves in January ended in a discounted maize yield. The continual load-sheddding, gas will increase and coffee costs for our harvest made for an uncongenial begin to the 12 months.
This has been compounded by way of the loss of rain firstly of the planting season in spring. In Lichtenburg we normally get started planting round 20 November, however lets simplest get began on 12 December because of the overdue rain. So it was once a tricky 12 months at the crop aspect.
The cattle aspect fared a long way higher. I registered my stud and over 90% of my cows have been registered at SA Stud E-book. I additionally registered my Kalahari Crimson goats. The lengthy dry season and a veld fireplace that fed on 50ha of grazing did push up the feeding prices, however we’re nonetheless alive and proceeding farming, in order that is one thing to be sure about.
Achmat Brinkhuis, proprietor of Chamomile Boerdery within the Western Cape
It was once a tumultuous 12 months within the poultry business with the outbreak of chook flu. To mention that there have been devastating penalties for the business is an underestimation. The business suffered large losses and lots of large firms got here just about remaining their doorways.
Small-scale farmers have been even worse off, and the encircling communities, as chook flu has a series response. Other people lose their jobs and households move hungry when farms and companies shut down.
However we as South African farmers are robust and resilient. Our farmers are international magnificence and I consider that the business as a complete will continue to exist this disaster.
For the 12 months forward, my hope is that govt will paintings extra carefully with small-scale farmers to lend a hand them in beginning operations and ultimate afloat. The access stage prices have skyrocketed considerably, and if farmers don’t stay alongside of generation, they’re left in the back of.
The partnership between the small farmer, their mentor and govt is due to this fact crucial to verify new farmers are established and get the correct recommendation.
Sophy Litshani Musabeni, proprietor of Vhegies in Gauteng
My largest spotlight for the 12 months was once receiving a tractor and chilly room amenities. I used to be additionally ready to plant 25ha of greens to provide my consumers all 12 months spherical. I additionally won a lot of awards the place my exhausting paintings was once recognised.
The bottom level was once the emerging enter prices and the consequences of local weather exchange on my farm. Even supposing it affected my margins, I consider that by way of increasing manufacturing I will be able to have a greater likelihood to mitigate those demanding situations. Subsequent 12 months, I’m having a look ahead to including price to my produce to provide the variability of consumers I’ve already procured. My long-term objective is to extend manufacturing to 300ha.
Phiwokuhle Shabangu, director of Mokoka Shabangu Farming and Poultry in Gauteng 
The 12 months was once fairly a curler coaster for me as I used to be busy with an software for investment for 10 rooster properties, which was once fairly a frightening process. The spotlight got here once I won investment approval from the Business Construction Company.
Within the new 12 months, I’m having a look ahead to the development undertaking, seeing all 10 properties finished, and the day that we position our first 450 000 day-old chicks within the properties and get started working.
Org van Rensburg, macadamia farmer at Anro Boerdery, Mpumalanga
Surely the low level of the 12 months was once the low macadamia nut costs. It was once an excessively difficult 12 months for macadamia farmers, as that is the bottom I’ve observed costs fall in 18 years of being a macadamia farmer. Emerging enter prices akin to diesel, labour prices and tool contributed to the force felt by way of macadamia farmers. 
The upside was once that enter and fertiliser costs have been fairly strong. For me it was once very rewarding to paintings with the correct other folks in relation to who I delivered nuts to, and who offered me with chemical substances, fertilisers and diesel at the most productive costs and just right price for cash.
More than likely the most important spotlight was once the file harvest I had on my farm, and the great high quality and prime crackouts. This a minimum of softened the blow from the low general costs.
For 2024, I’m maximum having a look ahead to an building up within the costs and the manufacturing of even higher high quality nuts. I’m assured that 2024 shall be a greater 12 months than 2023.
Demanding situations apart, I nonetheless stay thankful to my Heavenly Father who provides me the chance with the intention to farm, as a result of it doesn’t matter what is going fallacious, it’s nonetheless rattling just right to farm!
Nicolas Balcomb, blueberry farmer within the Western Cape and Mpumalanga
Emerging enter prices have been difficult, which integrated load-shedding mitigation and salary will increase. Berry farming may be very labour in depth and we’re pressured to place excessive productiveness measures in position to make the industry possible. 
From a manufacturing viewpoint we had a nasty 12 months as two flood occasions broken portions of the crop. However costs made up for losses as export costs have been on moderate 80% upper than the former 12 months.
This was once basically because of the weakened rand, and prime call for because of a short-supplied marketplace as plants in Peru and Chile have been down. South African farmers rose to the problem of supplying remarkable high quality fruit to export markets, which expectantly cemented a forged portion of this marketplace percentage in every area.