Favourable outlook for summer and winter field crops such as wheat, oats and canola

According to the latest report by the Crop Estimates Committee, farmers’ intention to plant suggests a bumper harvest for winter field crops. Glenneis Kriel reports.

- Glenneis Kriel

Farmers intend to plant 542 600ha of wheat in the 2023 production season, 4% less than last season’s 566 800ha, according to the latest report by the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC).

Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, told Farmer’s Weekly said that the lower intention to plant would not be a problem, as it was still 3% higher than the five-year average of 528 690ha.

“Combined with favourable climatic conditions, the area could yield a solid harvest of 2,03 million tons, assuming an average yield of 3,75t/ha.”

Farmers intended to increase the area under malting barley by 8% to 109 100ha. Sihlobo said that while this was below the five-year average of 117 676ha, a 19% year-on-year increase to 368 758t could be expected if climatic conditions were favourable.

Farmers intended to increase the area under canola by 3% to 127 500ha, a record high for the crop. With an average yield of 1,71t/ha, a 218 025t harvest could be expected under favourable climatic conditions, which was 4% up on last season, according to Sihlobo.