Sunflower

Weed control: Prevention is better than cure April 2022 PIETMAN BOTHA,  INDEPENDENT AGRI- CULTURAL CONSULTANT   Thorn apple and cocklebur are very common weeds in most crop producing regions of South Africa. These weeds are known to be poisonous to humans. If grain is delivered with some of the weed seed in the grain, the

Make the most of your soybean harvest April 2022 RICHARD MCPHERSON,  AGRIBUSINESS AND PROJECT  MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT   Part of the planning for the efficient harvesting of your soybean crop starts with the correct choice of cultivars for your specific farm before planting.  The successful choice of the characteristics will largely decide the success of the

Make the most of your soybean harvest April 2022 RICHARD MCPHERSON,  AGRIBUSINESS AND PROJECT  MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT   Part of the planning for the efficient harvesting of your soybean crop starts with the correct choice of cultivars for your specific farm before planting.  The successful choice of the characteristics will largely decide the success of the

If we fail to adapt, we fail to develop April 2022 JENNY MATHEWS, MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST AND EDUCATOR   Lately, instead of monitoring weather reports in the face of the normal blue, searing hot skies which seemingly stretch forever, we are now anxiously counting the dry days and praying for enough heat units to

Weed control: Prevention is better than cure April 2022 PIETMAN BOTHA,  INDEPENDENT AGRI- CULTURAL CONSULTANT   Thorn apple and cocklebur are very common weeds in most crop producing regions of South Africa. These weeds are known to be poisonous to humans. If grain is delivered with some of the weed seed in the grain, the

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