No setback can extinguish Mdibani Masilela’s determination – be it faulty equipment, armyworms, or losing sheep. In this episode of our Farmer Mentor podcast series, we meet this driven grain farmer.
The day Mdibani Masilela stood in his field, gazing at the towering soybean plants – the largest he had ever seen – he knew, at that moment, that he was on the right path.
Based in Delmas, Mpumalanga, this young farmer began his professional journey in 2022 with just 60 hectares of soybeans, though Masilela’s farming knowledge goes back long before that.
“It’s like I was born into farming, like my father. My father had two farms. Since I grew up, going to the farm and doing everything that he does. Most of the time, he was dealing with a lot of cattle.
Growing up on his father’s farm, Masilela gained a deep understanding of farming. After matric, he honed his skills at Buhle Farmer’s Academy, where he explored vegetable production for the first time, shifting from his cattle-focused background.
To further his crop expertise, he attends workshops by Grain SA and the department of agriculture.
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From 60 to 160 hectares
Farming 160 hectares of soybeans is no small task, Masilela admits. He says it is a commitment that demands precision, hard work, and careful planning.
From soil preparation and seed selection to irrigation and pest management, each stage is crucial to ensuring a successful harvest.
“I did not start off with 160 hectares, I started with just 60 hectares of soybeans at first. Then in 2023, it increased to 100 hectares,” he says.
Before planting, 100 hectares of the land lay arable until it was rented out to a neighbouring farmer. Before fully committing to soybeans, the family leased the remaining land to their neighbour, who Masilela would assist with planting preparation and spraying.
“I may be young, but I’m knowledgeable, which is why I decided to branch out on my own,” he says. “To get started, I had to repair my father’s old planter and bull sprayer. My first harvest was so successful that I decided to go all in.”
Innovating old farming equipment
Masilela is a practical problem-solver and makes the most of what he has. For instance, he transformed his father’s old M700 John Deere planter into a four-row no-till machine.
“I took inspiration from my neighbour, who has a large no-till planter. I studied what was needed, made the necessary additions, and it worked perfectly. In 2022, when we planted 60 hectares, we didn’t have strong tractors to prepare the land. With a no-till system, after planting one season, you only need to spray the next – no land preparation required.”
Unable to handle the modifications alone, Masilela enlisted the help of an experienced welder, yet he remained the mastermind behind the mechanisation project.
“Last year, I grew the biggest soybeans I’ve ever seen,” he says, raising his hand high above his head to illustrate their size. He sells his soybeans to Afgri and occasionally processes them into seeds by thoroughly cleaning, packaging, and selling them directly to farmers.
“I produce my own seeds. When I start with original seeds, I plant them for three seasons before switching to new ones, which helps me save costs. Using no-till farming also cuts expenses significantly since there’s no need to prepare the land every season – only once every three years,” he explains
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Battling armyworms
Starting a business is not easy, and Masilela knows this is especially true with soybeans.
“It’s like a strong crop, but the pests are persistent, and the chemicals are costly. The operations costs in soybean production are high. In my first year, I faced an armyworm infestation, but I was able to overcome it.”
Masilela says while he has not made any mistake that has cost him millions, he has certainly had his moments of learning the hard way.
“One season, I didn’t spray properly, and our soybeans suffered. It felt like the weeds were competing with our plants, but at least I learned a crucial lesson, even though I still got something from the harvest.”
When asked about the key factors behind his success, Masilela points to one of his best decisions: venturing out on his own.
“I applied everything I know. If you want to grow the best crop, this is what it takes. I did everything properly and didn’t take shortcuts –- farming and shortcuts just don’t mix,” explains Masilela.
In the next five years, he envisions owning a farm even larger than his current one. Masilela is already working on expanding his farming portfolio by renting additional land.
“I have a passion for cattle, so I’m searching for a farm with lots of pasture for grazing. Even 500 hectares would be ideal for building a strong cattle farming business.
“I like cattle. I want to start breeding now. The breed that I like the most is Red Brahman. I also want to go [into] goat farming because I tried sheep around 2016 but there were diseases that spread and I lost about eight of them. Then I decided to sell everything before they die,” Masilela shares.
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