The aim of this study was to vpift the perceptions offarmers regarding efficient and inefficient personnel management .systems on South African farms. For purposes of comparison the farmers (n=219) were requested to compare the personnel management systems on a Likert scale of high-production businesses on the one hand and low-production businesses, on the other. Highproduction businesses are characterized by consultative personnel management systems, whilst benevolent authoritative personnel management systems are characteristic of low-production businesses. Worker productivio,, job satisfaction and farm profitabiliol can be enhanced in a varie0,of farm business Opes if consultative instead of benevolent authoritative personnel management systems are implemented with respect to leadership, motivation, communication, human relations, decision-making, staff control, goal-formulation and work performance. Significant differences in perception exist regarding the opification of personnel management systems of high-production businesses between farmers who regard themselves favourably and the less favourable group of farmers as regards worker productivity, job satisfaction of workers and farm profitability,. The probability of a formal remuneration system being in use depends on the business features of the farm business.