At the Pleroma family farm in the heart of Brits in the North West province, Pieter du Preez farms with his son, Herman, son-in-law, Martin Greyling, and his daughter, Janita Greyling.

Pleroma has its own packaging facility – and with variable rainfall and unskilled labour, they were looking for a solution for their vegetable crops. The family dynamics were continued by the father and son Reinke team, who successfully installed two Reinke vectors for the Pleroma Farm.

Pleroma: A farm and a business

Pieter du Preez has been farming on Klipkop for the last 38 years. Today, this farm is known as Pleroma. The name means “due to the goodness and mercy of God”. The farm mostly comprises vegetables and it has two production lines: a winter and a summer production.

“I’m the fourth generation farming here, and Herman and Martin are the fifth generation. They have three sons who are already representing the sixth generation. A family farm is great, but it can be challenging. We believe everyone should have a role, and at Pleroma, everyone knows what their responsibilities are,” Pieter explains.

He runs Pleroma like a business and applies business principles in farming. “But after work, we’re a family, and that’s the most important thing for me: that we can still braai together and talk about things besides farming.”

Pleroma’s water system and challenges

On Pleroma, they farm under the Hartbeespoortdam water scheme. The

54 km canal runs from the Hartebeespoort Dam to the Rooikoppies Dam. Pleroma has to apply for the water they need for the following week every Thursday.

“Water is life. Without water, you can’t farm, and that becomes a problem. That’s why we switched over to vectors – it’s more effective and you can irrigate night and day.”

Challenges include the high labour costs of drip irrigation, the climate, and variable rainfall.

Pieter says the weather has changed drastically ever since he started farming more than three decades ago. “The weather is very unpredictable. Where we received hail in the afternoons, we’re suddenly getting it in the evenings. Sometimes it becomes dry, and even though the weather predicts rain, it simply doesn’t fall.

Their vegetables are cultivated under nets that don’t protect against hail and sun, and Pieter says nobody wants to ensure the vegetables. Therefore, they’re at nature’s mercy. Despite these challenges, farming remains his passion.

He is proud that he can farm with his children. “It’s incredible how things have changed in 38 years. I don’t know what’s going to happen by the time my grandchildren take over, but I’m excited about the future,” he says.

Pleroma vegetables grow well under Reinke

Fifteen years ago, Martin Greyling joined his father-in-law’s farm and has been involved with production management, irrigation, and land and crop planning. He says Reinke’s good name convinced the family to buy vectors from them.

“Since Reinke is known for their excellent service and reliability, as well as the technology that comes with it, we were convinced. It was a big decision,” Martin says.

They added two Reinke vectors and cultivate sugar maize, seed maize, green beans and spinach in the summer. Another two vectors are being planned in the future.

“From day one, we received excellent service from Reinke.”

Martin says Werner and Mario Wolvaardt installed the vectors in time and optimised the pressure and layout. “It was remarkable having the work done by a father-and-son team who not only understand business, but farming and family too.”

The vectors resulted in smoother irrigation and better vegetable quality. Now they can apply the correct amount of water per crop, which has led to marked water and cost savings. “I’d definitely recommend Reinke. Their service and technology can improve any farm,” Martin says.

A Reinke winning team

Werner, technical manager of Reinke South Africa, and his father, Mario, were the masterminds behind Pleroma’s new vectors.

After Martin and Pieter showed interest, Werner and Mario quickly did the calculations, determining the best position in order for the vector to form a full circle and cover the most hectares. They also calculated the pump and pipeline requirements and presented the plan to the Pleroma farmers.

Werner and Mario regularly visit Pleroma to ensure that everything functions correctly. “We make sure the sprayers are clean, the vector runs smoothly and that the technology is fully utilised,” says Werner.

He says Reinke is a family business, and therefore, they enjoy working with family farmers. “We become part of the community where we install vectors. It’s not just about technique, but also the impression we leave with people and their farm.”

He describes Pieter and Martin as honest, innovative people who always deliver their best.

Reinke’s impressive father-and-son team: Werner and Mario Wolfaardt.

The consumer difference

Pleroma Farm also has a packaging facility and runs its own fleet. Herman du Preez is responsible for the packaging facility, marketing, price competitiveness and fleet management of the farm.

At Pleroma, crops are spaced in such a way that they can be harvested and delivered daily. “We deliver to various supermarkets and shops, as well as wholesalers,” Herman says.

The farm cultivates a variety of crops: from large, round tomatoes to small ones; mini and cherry plums, spinach, green chili, sweet maize, green beans and watermelon. “Generally, our product quality is better when it’s cultivated under irrigation,” Herman explains.

He says Reinke delivers a phenomenal service and that the father-and-son combination makes it easier to work together.

“In my experience, they’re a valuable addition to our farming activities,” says Herman.

If you’re interested in seeing how a Reinke vector can benefit your crops, kindly visit the website www.reinke.com