Summer crop estimate revised upwards
Keep earthworms to improve soil quality
April 23, 2019
Positive developments for South Africa winter crops
April 29, 2019
The revised area estimate, and second production forecast of summer crops, was recently released by the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC).
Commercial maize
The size of the expected commercial maize crop has been set at 10 655 million tons, which is 0,9% or 94 650 tons more than the previous forecast of 10 561 million tons. The area estimate for maize is 2 301 million ha, while the expected yield is 4,63 t/ha.
The estimated maize crop is 15% smaller than last year’s crop. The three primary maize producing areas: the Free State, Mpumalanga and the North West provinces are expected to produce 79% of this season’s crop.
The area estimate for white maize is 1 298 million ha and for yellow maize the area estimate is 1 002 million ha.
The production forecast for white maize is 5 287 million tons, which is 1,26% or 66 000 tons more than the 5 221 million tons of the previous forecast. The yield for white maize is 4,07t/ha. In the case of yellow maize the production forecast is 5 369 million tons, which is 0,54% or 28 650 tons more than the 5 340 million tons of the previous forecast. The yield for yellow maize is 5,36 t/ha.
The yield per hectare for Mpumalanga province was based on scientific and objective results provided by the ARC. Please note that the objective results for the Free State and North West provinces will be available in May.
Sunflower seed
The production forecast for sunflower seed is 611 140 tons, which is 8,44% or 47 550 tons more than the previous forecast of 563 590 tons. The area estimate for sunflower seed is 515 350 hectares, while the expected yield is 1,19 t/ha.
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