Farming teaches us the hard way that what you put in will not always be what you get out. We grow up with the idea that if we work hard and put in the extra effort, we will be successful. Unfortunately, this is not always the case with farming. There are many variables that are changing constantly, and sometimes things go wrong. Farming and uncertainty go hand in hand. All businesses have to manage uncertainty, but farming faces a unique set of challenges:

• Climate events and adverse weather conditions
• Disease
• Market and price changes
• Rising input costs such as fuel and fertilisers
• Shifting consumer demands
• Socioeconomic and financial constraints
• Policy and regulatory risk

Some risks, such as a dry season, can be anticipated and planned for. But as recent events have shown us only too clearly, some events, such as pandemics and wars, cannot. These unanticipated global changes affect every aspect of farming: from planting seeds to exporting produce. It is important not to view such changes in isolation. Every factor is part of an interrelated system where a single change can set off a chain reaction. Here, we can point to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example. Lockdown measures reduced access to labour and to inputs, which slowed operations, which in turn affected the quality and quantity of produce. This reduction resulted in profit losses and smaller income for food producers, which might affect the long-term sustainability of the agricultural system. Such cascading changes necessitate innovative anticipation and planning strategies. Farmers are no newcomers when it comes to innovating in the face of change. You must have ingenuity to survive in this ever-changing landscape. More than that, to manage a farm in the face of constant and often unpredictable change, you have to be willing to adapt to change to deal with a steady stream of obstacles. In a word, you must have grit.

Managing uncertainty takes grit

Grit is a passion for and dedication to meaningful long-term goals. If you have grit, you can envision a future goal and work towards it, no matter what the circumstances are. The farmer with grit stands firm when times are tough, keeps moving ahead by setting interim goals and works steadfastly to improve their chances of success. Grit means that you choose to be mentally resilient. This then becomes an important character trait: you possess the mental flexibility to respond proactively to the uncertainty inherent in farming. If you have grit, you are dedicated to putting in the hard work. But to be really successful in the face of uncertainty, you also need to work smart. Working smart means having the optimal support system in place to help you deal with unexpected change. In these highly competitive times and rapidly changing circumstances, it is crucial to have a responsive support system in place that allows for agile control. With the right support system, passion and dedication, you can become an innovative problem solver.

The right support enhances your grit

A key characteristic of the right support system is that it ensures that you know as much as possible to plan as proactively as possible. In this light, Agrigistics’ data-driven farming approach allows you to determine the different variables that affect your yields and the costs involved.

As a farmer, you cannot control global oil prices or a weak exchange rate. What you can control is the data you have available and how you use it. Agrigistics helps farmers to optimise processes and eliminate wasteful practices.

Contact Agrigistics

To remain resilient in the face of change, you need to be able to rely on a team that will support you with the same grit and passion that you put into your farming operation. Contact Agrigistics today to make sure you have a robust support system in place to overcome your challenges.

• Written by Sulette Ferreira
• Edited by Menitza Botha