Many a farmer’s prayers were answered by the widespread rain over the country over the 10 days to 10 November. “Welcome rain brought relief over most of the maize-growing areas,” said Louis Botha, a Grainvest Futures weather analyst. “The rainfall was above normal over most of the area and the rainfall was only below normal in a small area around Standerton. Information indicates that maize planting is on track over most of the eastern parts of the country.”
Small pockets of the country had heavy rainfall of over 100mm, including Parys, Senekal, Wonderfontein and Reddersburg. Most of Gauteng and parts of the Free State received 50ml to 100ml. The only parts of the country that didn’t receive even a sprinkling of rain over this period were around East London, and a tract in the Western Cape from Beaufort West to Calvinia and Alexander. – Robyn Joubert
