Sunflower

Ensuring successful planting March 2022 Grain SA’s agriculture development team focuses on the double edge of 1) farmer empowerment in terms of knowledge transfer and skills development; and 2) agricultural best practices. To this end we walk a road beside the farmer as he grows his commercial grain farming enterprise. December 2021 saw various critical

How to do your own crop estimate March 2022 KOBIE DE BEER, FORMER MANAGER, INSURANCE SERVICES (HARVEST), SANTAM AGRICULTURE   Using the following information as a guideline, you can estimate your potential crop yield and possible income for the season. Keep in mind that there are many variables that can affect the accuracy of a

These factors influence product prices March 2022 HELEEN VILJOEN, INTERN ECONOMIST AT GRAIN SA    In the current economic climate, retail prices are struggling to stay reasonably priced following country wide unrest and production pressure for raw material producers. These production pressures include steep increases in input costs, that are highly correlated with the total

An opportunity to ‘Grow for gold’ March 2022 Yield plays an important role in a grain producer’s profitability. Grain SA’s national yield competition for grains, called grow for gold, offers a platform for South Africa’s top producers to compete in various categories and to share their success stories. Categories include dry and irrigated land. Producers

Ethanol is a demand driver March 2022 CHRISTIAAN VERCUEIL, INTERN ECONOMIST AT GRAIN SA    The use of ethanol originated in 1826 where it was used as fuel for engines. In the 1850s it was used as a medium to light fires. During the American civil war these uses were stopped as all forms of

Highest rainfall in 100 years wreaks havoc March 2022 Although producers are always grateful for rain, the season so far has created many challenges where producers could not access fields on time due to high rainfall figures, and where producers managed to plant, water damage has occured. The current South African summer grain production season

Ensuring successful planting March 2022 Grain SA’s agriculture development team focuses on the double edge of 1) farmer empowerment in terms of knowledge transfer and skills development; and 2) agricultural best practices. To this end we walk a road beside the farmer as he grows his commercial grain farming enterprise. December 2021 saw various critical

Crop rotation can reduce risks January 2022 RICHARD MCPHERSON,  AGRIBUSINESS AND PROJECT  MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT   A planned crop rotation programme on your total medium to high potential arable area should include the correct mix of crops that can be successfully cultivated on your farm. The higher potential, being mainly the deeper and fertile soils, can

Soybean harvesting: Time is money January 2022 PIETMAN BOTHA,  INDEPENDENT AGRI- CULTURAL CONSULTANT   To increase profit and reduce risk, consider harvesting soybeans earlier. The cultivation of soybeans is known for its risks. One of the biggest risks is during the time and process of harvesting. Shatter losses due to brittle pods increase as moisture

THE CORNER POST January 2022 LOUISE KUNZ, PULA IMVULA CONTRIBUTOR   At the tenth anniversary of the World Agriculture Organisation (WAO), Theo de Jager, president of the WAO, said: ‘we believe there’s only one way to eradicate poverty, and that’s through the creation of wealth, and no one is better positioned to do that, than