The Crop Estimates Committee’s most recent production figures for the 2007 winter crop show a slight increase on previous figures. The fourth production forecast for wheat is 1 757 million tons, up 2,45% from 1 715 million tons. The expected yield is 2,78t/ha as opposed to 2,71t/ha expected last month. The effect of the recent heavy rains in the Western Cape on wheat quality has not yet been established.
The production forecast for malting barley is 199 874t, 3 964t more than the previous forecast. The area planted to malting barley was adjusted from 73 200ha to 73 360ha, with an expected yield of 2,72t/ha. The expected canola crop is up from 33 200t to 39 840t with the expected yield at 1,20t/ha.
For sweet lupins the production forecast is 13 300t, 2 100t more than the 11 200t of the previous month, and the expected yield is 0,95t/ha. The final figures for 2006/07 summer production show white maize production at 4 315 million tons and yellow maize at 2 810 million tons.
Producers intend to plant 1 693 million hectares of white maize, 68 400ha more than in 2006/07 and 1 061 million hectares yellow maize, 133 600ha more than in 2006/7. The good early-season rains have provided increased levels of soil moisture, making the bigger plantings possible. Sunflower plantings are estimated to increase by 64,4% compared with the previous season, mainly as a result of higher prices. Groundnut plantings show an expected increase of 32%, and sorghum plantings have an expected increase of 30,4% from 2007’s production of 170 000t. The expected areas planted to soya and dry beans show a decrease of 9,8% and 17,2% respectively. – Heidi Clark
