The Wiggill family has made significant progress in optimizing their family farm with the use of Massey Ferguson tractors and technology. Starting with their first MF 135, which was employed to transport tomatoes, they now have several electric red machines on their farm situated between Vivo and Alldays in the far north of South Africa’s Limpopo province. Clive and his daughter, Cliffed, cultivate potatoes and butternuts that are supplied to two major chain stores. The farm’s financial management is handled by Cliffed’s wife, Theressa, keeping it all in the family.
The Wiggill family’s journey began when Clive and his wife Marietjie purchased the farm in 1992 as a beef operation, which has gradually expanded to include crops and a wildlife section. Today, three generations proudly live on the farm. At the age of 70, Clive plans to retire and hand over the reins to his son, serving as a guiding hand and providing advice whenever needed.
Cliffed shares her fond memories of growing up on the farm, stating,
“I have had the privilege of growing up on the farm and being close to nature.”
The Wiggill Farm irrigates approximately 300 acres of potatoes three times a year, and butternut trees are planted from December to March during the summer. To ensure the soil remains healthy, potatoes are rotated with sorghum every four to five years.
The success of such a complicated arrangement relies heavily on dependable tractors. Wiggill’s primary choice for plowing are his two MF 8737s, each boasting 370 horsepower and ample torque to ready the fields with a ripper. The other tractor is fitted with a high-speed disc cultivator. Wiggill has an MF 7720 specifically designed for seedbed preparation for potatoes, while an MF 6711R is utilized for planting potatoes and butternuts.
Cliffed acknowledges the advanced telemetry technology found in MF tractors, including MF Connect, which enables him to save money by conducting preventative maintenance and receiving notifications about any issues.
MF Connect is an equipment management solution that facilitates real-time remote monitoring of tractors using any device, such as a computer or mobile device. It enables the use of machine data to make informed decisions about equipment performance, ensuring that preventative maintenance is carried out on schedule.
Clive reminisces,
“Back in my day, we didn’t have all these technological advancements.”
He acknowledges that the younger generation has grown up with it and that it’s essential to keep up with agricultural technology in order to remain competitive.
“The implementation of technology has made running the farm easier,” he adds.
Cliffed highlights the continuous evolution of MF technology, which has significantly transformed farming practices on the Wiggill farm. He notes that the MF tractor line is continually expanding and that new technologies are constantly being developed.
Tractor Field Services (TFS), South Africa’s northernmost MF tractor dealer based in Louis Trichardt, provides service to the Wiggill Farm. TFS presently has four fully qualified mechanics and offers extensive operator training. George Fogwell Sr., the owner, has a longstanding relationship with the farm and had been servicing Clive’s tractors even before TFS was established.
“I fixed Clive’s MF 165 and 135 tractors back in 1994,” George Sr. reminisces.
Meanwhile, George Fogwell Jr. has taken over the dealership’s leadership role.
George Sr. instilled the belief that service is paramount, not just selling tractors. He states,
“Service brings respect to the customer. If he sees you working hard to keep his equipment in good condition, it makes him happy and saves him money. Then they will continue to use your service. The effort you put into it strengthens that relationship.”
In addition to providing support and service to the Wiggills, TFS caters to a large customer base in Limpopo province. They offer the popular MF 200 Xtra Series tractor (26 kW to 60 kW), which has almost 50 years of heritage and is highly trusted by many customers, particularly those in the emerging sector. For medium-sized farms, TFS provides the option of the MF Global Series.
This range of tractors (61kW to 98kW) boasts long service intervals of up to 500 hours and has reliable and cost-effective parts and services supported by AGCO, not only in Limpopo but worldwide. Lastly, for larger farms like the Wiggills, which require greater economies of scale and efficient operation, TFS offers the high-powered range of MF tractors, considered the cream of the crop.
Cliffed acknowledges that Wiggill Farm has formed a mutually beneficial partnership with TFS. He notes that the customer service is always exceptional, and George, the owner, is highly responsive. One can even reach him on a Saturday, and he’ll answer his cell phone. Moving forward, Cliffed plans to modernize the Wiggill farm even more with the aid of TFS and Massey Ferguson, ensuring that the family farm remains red for generations to come.