SA farmers plan to raise 2017 area planted to maize by 26.5%

South African commercial farmers intend to increase the area planted to maize by 26.5% to 2.46-million hectares, in the 2017 production season, due to favourable weather forecasts.

By Andries Mahlangu

28 Oct 2016

GregMontani via pixabay

The improved weather outlook will enable farmers to replenish maize stocks, which dropped significantly during the 2016 drought, resulting in higher food prices.

The area planted to white maize is expected to rise 43.4% to 1.45-million hectares while that of the yellow variety will likely rise 8% to 1-million hectares. The increase in the area planted would likely put further downward pressure on grain prices, which have already dropped significantly from the record peaks they hit earlier this year.

The South African Weather Service said earlier this week the country could expect wetter conditions during the early and mid-summer periods. The expected warmer conditions from the previous forecast had also subsided somewhat, which may be further evidence of wetter conditions in these periods, forecaster Cobus Olivier said.

In the case of sunflowers, the expected area planted is estimated at 670,000 hectares, which is 6.8% less than the 718,500 hectares planted last season.

The intended planting of soybeans has increased 2.6% to 516,000 hectares.

Source: BDpro

Source: I-Net Bridge

For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.

We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.

Go to: http://www.inet.co.za