Between the vast lands of the Christiana and Vryburg districts lies the heart of Leeuwheuvel Farm, a family-run operation where farming is not just a profession, but a way of life that runs deep in the blood of three generations.”
“My father, my brother, Schalk, and I farm together, and I am one of the three directors of Leeuwheuvel Farm,” says Henno van der Merwe, co-director of Leeuwheuvel Farm. “We’re the third generation farming on Leeuwheuvel. My grandfather bought the land in 1949, after which my father took over in the late seventies and early eighties. My brother and I started farming with him in 2010.”
While Henno’s grandfather started with livestock and later added crop farming, the next generation further expanded on farming activities. “My father began planting potatoes in 1982 and cultivated seed potatoes for the first time in 1983,” says Henno.
“Today it remains the core of our farming operations.”
The Van der Merwes see it as a great privilege to farm together as a family and carry on the legacy of previous generations. “Farming runs in a family’s blood,” says Henno.
“Fortunately, we have managed to complement each other well on the farm. Even my sister joined us recently, and it’s an incredible privilege for all of us to build on what my grandfather and father established.”
Driven by a passion for quality, Leeuwheuvel Farm’s focus is clear: to deliver top-quality seed potatoes to the market. “Every morning when I get up, and every night before I go to sleep, it’s the first thing I think about: producing the best possible seed we can.”
Today, Leeuwheuvel is a diversified farm with two main branches – the unit in Christiana, located on the Free State side of the river in the Boshoff district, and a second unit in Vryburg, in the Louna Coetzer dam area. Seed potatoes are cultivated on both units, while they’re also proud of their Bonsmara stud, which forms the cattle branch of the operation.
Within the farm, a well-structured management model ensures efficiency. “We have top-level management, middle management and junior-level management,” Henno explains.
“My father, my brother, and I form the top level, where we make the long-term and financial decisions. Schalk and I work with our four production managers at the middle level, where daily decisions are made, while our junior managers are the ones who ensure that the work gets done on the ground. After all, a farm or business is only as strong as the team that supports you.”
Nothing beats a Massey tractor in action when the soil is being prepared and fumigated for the upcoming potato planting season.
Healthy soil, healthy yield – fumigation and crop rotation as core strategy
For Henno and his team, healthy soil is the beginning and end of every successful production season. Since eelworms are one of the biggest challenges for seed potato farmers, Leeuwheuvel has, over the years, developed a thorough and sustainable strategy to keep this pest under control.
“We operate with an average seven-year crop rotation programme on our potato fields,” says Henno. “We start the cultivation process approximately 14 months before we plant potatoes. This gives us enough time to prepare the soil and to limit soil-borne diseases, especially eelworms.
“Fumigation is an important part of this process. “We mainly fumigate for eelworm control,” he says. “Although it’s not the only practice we use, it remains a core component of our production management.”
At Leeuwheuvel, every cultivation is carried out with environmental responsibility in mind. “We try to do everything as environmentally friendly as possible. We believe in farming as close to nature as possible,” Henno explains.
“Our crop rotation includes planting winter crops such as black oats and Japanese radish, which are not hosts for eelworm. This creates an environment in which the eelworm simply can’t survive, and at the same time allows us to manage with less chemical use.”
However, these winter crops play a dual role within the farm. In addition to promoting healthy soil, they serve as natural grazing for the Bonsmara herd. “From May to mid-September, our cattle survive on the winter pastures,” Henno says.
“The biological life they bring, especially through their manure, makes our soil even healthier. It’s a natural cycle that works exceptionally well for us.”
Henno van der Merwe and Johnny Scholtz of JBJ Machinery. A strong partnership and excellent after-sales service ensure that the farm’s tractors are always in top condition, so production isn’t interrupted during critical seasons.
Massey in the picture – reliability for a progressive farm
In a production operation of this scale, reliable mechanisation is non-negotiable. For Leeuwheuvel Farm, the choice of tractors was therefore a strategic decision directly linked to their location, soil type, and cultivation practices. “The main reason we chose Massey Ferguson was because of the location of our farming units,” explains Henno.
“In our cultivation structure, we mainly use the larger Massey tractors, ranging between 160 and 200 kW, for primary tillage operations such as soil preparation and fumigation, while the smaller 120 kW models, such as the 6- and 7-series, are used for secondary tillage. They’re suitable for inter-row cultivation, hoeing, fertiliser application, and spraying.
One of the tractors that particularly impressed the Van der Merwes is the Massey 8S series. “The 8S is an incredibly economical tractor, especially when it comes to fuel consumption,” says Henno.
“Compared to its predecessors, we see a 20 to 30% improvement in fuel efficiency, which makes a huge difference at a time when input costs continue to rise.”
Additionally, he adds, the 8S has excellent weight distribution and handling. “The ride comfort, balance, and user-friendliness are excellent. Massey has really done a great job of making the tractor not only more economical, but also more comfortable and technically advanced.”
Technology also plays a key role in their production. “The GPS systems on the tractors are essential for us,” explains Henno. “Because we work with circles, the technology helps to drastically reduce overlap and waste, which is especially important with expensive input products. It ensures that every drop and every granule lands exactly where it should.”
When it comes to support and after-sales service, Henno speaks with great appreciation about their local supplier.
“Our closest supplier is JBJ in Schweizer-Reneke, and we have been on a long journey together, even before we started with Massey. Johnny and his team provide us with excellent service, and that means a lot. They have become like part of the family – you know that your interests are genuinely cared for.”
The Van der Merwes initially came into contact with JBJ through renting tractors from the former BHBW, and when they saw how well the tractors performed, they decided to purchase them.
The first tractor they purchased through JBJ was a Massey Global series 6713, followed by a larger 8S, which they specifically needed for primary cultivation. Afterwards, they expanded the fleet with more Global series tractors as well as the MF 7724 and MF 8727.
Soil preparation is the key to top-quality seed, and the Massey tractors at Leeuwheuvel make light work of primary cultivations such as soil preparation.
JBJ – a long-term partner
Johnny Scholtz, owner of JBJ, proved himself in the agricultural industry from a young age and founded JBJ in 2008 with a focus on earthmoving machinery. Shortly thereafter, in 2009, he obtained the Massey dealership.
“In the beginning, it was difficult to build a customer base,” says Johnny. “The last Massey agency in the area had closed, and we practically had to start from scratch. Fortunately, I grew up here and many friends and family in the area trusted me. Slowly, the brand was rebuilt, and once the tractors started performing, the farmers themselves saw how well the product worked.”
Johnny describes the relationship with the farmers as a long-term commitment. “It’s almost like a marriage when you deliver a tractor. It’s an expensive product that will be used for the next 10 to 15 years. Our focus is not just on completing a transaction; we do 90% of the work for farmers on their farms with service vehicles and mechanics. Whenever serious problems arise, we handle them quickly and professionally.”
For Henno, the success of any product is ultimately only as strong as the service that supports it. “A large part of a farm’s efficiency lies in ensuring that your equipment doesn’t stand idle,” he says.
“When it’s planting season, things have to happen – you can’t afford for a tractor to stand still for days. That’s why fast and reliable service is critical for us. Massey definitely delivers that level of support.”
Henno van der Merwe, third-generation farmer at Leeuwheuvel Farm near Vryburg.
A future full of growth and opportunities
Despite challenges in the industry, Henno is filled with optimism about the future of agriculture. “Currently, agriculture is in a difficult, yet good place,” he says. “There are so many opportunities for expansion, especially for young farmers to make their mark. It takes perseverance to build something from the ground up, but the opportunities are there – you just have to be willing to put in the work.”
At Leeuwheuvel Farm, the focus is clearly on growth – not only in hectares, but also in value, technology and market development. “So far, we’ve mainly expanded horizontally, but we’re now looking at further vertical expansion within the business,” Henno explains.
“We produce seed for Wesgro, and we place a strong focus on introducing new varieties to South Africa – varieties better suited to our climate, soil and consumer needs.”
In addition, the team looks beyond South Africa’s borders. “We already have strong relationships and exports within the SADC region, and we’re exploring new market opportunities in Asia. The expansion opportunities are significant, and this excites us about what lies ahead.”
When the conversation turns to the future of mechanisation and his Massey tractors, Henno smiles broadly. “Working with Massey from day one was a very pleasant experience for me,” he says. “It’s a tractor that I personally enjoy working with. In terms of value for money, it’s an absolute asset for our farm.”
For any inquiries or more information, visit Massey Ferguson’s website or contact JBJ Machinery at (+27)53-963-1832 | https://www.jbj-mf.co.za/
