In the fifth forecast for winter crops, released by the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC), the forecast for the commercial production of wheat is just over 1,5 million tons – 0,27% (4 100t) less than the previous forecast.
Of this wheat crop 208 000t (14%) are in the Free State, 259 200t (17%) in the Northern Cape and 713 000t (47%) in the Western Cape. The expected average yield for commercial wheat is 3,11t/ha.
The expected production in the Free State decreased by 7,14% (16 000t), while the Northern Cape’s expected production decreased by 1,37% or (3 600t). This decrease is mainly due to the relentless onslaught of the current drought.
However, the production forecast in the Western Cape increased by 2,22% (15 500t) on account of farmers in some areas harvesting slightly better yields than expected.
The production forecast for malting barley has been adjusted upwards by 2,29%, to 349 487t while the expected canola crop decreased by 3,7% to 101 500t.
