AgroPages-South Africa forecast area and production of summer crops both down in 2016-Agricultural news

Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa has released the preliminary area production forecast for summer crops for 2016.

Summer Crops – Preliminary Area Planted and Preliminary Production Forecast: 2016

Crop	Area planted 2016 (Ha)	Area planted 2015 (Ha)	change%	Production forecast 2016 (Tons)	Final production estimate 2015 (Tons)	change%
White maize	1,032,650	1,448,050	-28.7%	3,267,000	4,702,700	-30.5
Yellow maize	962,500	1,204,800	-20.1%	4,171,250	5,238,950	-20.4
Total Maize	1,995,150	2,652,850	-24.8%	7,438,250	9,941,650	-25.2
Sunflower seed	617,000	576,000	+7.1%	622,000	660,900	-5.9
Soybeans	535,000	687,300	-22.2%	768,560	1,059,850	-27.5
Groundnuts	24,000	58,000	-58.6%	29,600	56,675	-47.8
Sorghum	62,500	70,500	-11.3%	119,400	116,500	+2.5
Dry beans	25,500	64,000	-60.2%	35,150	73,390	-52.1
TOTAL	3,259,150	4,108,650	-20.7%	9,012,960	11,908,965	-24.3
Note: Estimate is for calendar year, e.g. production season 2015/16 = 2016

Commercial maize: The preliminary area estimate for maize is 1.995 million ha, which is 24.8% or 657,700 ha less than the 2.653 million ha planted for the previous season, and also 21.8% or 555,650 ha less than the intentions to plant figure of 2.551 million ha released in October 2015.

The preliminary size of the commercial maize crop is 7.438 million tons, which is 25.2% or 2.503 million tons less than the 9.942 million tons of the previous season, with an expected yield of 3.73 t/ha.

The preliminary area estimate for white maize is 1.033 million ha, which represents a decrease of 28.7% or 415,400 ha compared to the 1.448 million ha planted last season. In the case of yellow maize the area estimate is 962,500 ha, which is also 20.1% or 242,300 ha less than the 1.205 million ha planted last season.

The preliminary production forecast of white maize is 3.267 million tons, which is 30.5% or 1.436 million tons less than the 4.703 million tons of last season. The yield for white maize is 3.16 t/ha. In the case of yellow maize the production forecast is 4.171 million tons, which is 20.4% or 1.068 million tons less than the 5.239 million tons of last season. The yield for yellow maize is 4.33 t/ha.

Other summer crops:

Sunflower seed: The preliminary area estimate for sunflower seed is 617,000 ha, which is about 7.1% or 41,000 ha more than the 576,000 ha planted the previous season. The preliminary production forecast for sunflower seed is 622,000 tons, which is 5.9% or 38,900 tons less than the 660,900 tons of the previous season. The expected yield is 1.01 t/ha.

Other crops: It is estimated that 535,000 ha have been planted to soybeans, which represents a decrease of 22.2% or 152,300 ha compared to the 687,300 ha planted last season. The production forecast is 768,560 tons, which is 27.5% or 291,290 tons less than the 1.060 million tons of the previous season. The expected yield is 1.44 t/ha.

For groundnuts, the area estimate is 24,000 ha, which is 58.6% or 34,000 ha less than the 58,000 ha planted for the previous season. The expected crop is 29,600 tons – which is 47.8% or 27,075 tons less than the 56,675 tons of last season. The expected yield is 1.23 t/ha.

The area estimate for sorghum is decreased by 11.4%, from 70,500 ha to 62,500 ha against the previous season. The production forecast for sorghum is 119,400 tons, which is 2.5% or 2,900 tons more than the 116,500 tons of the previous season. The expected yield is 1.91 t/ha.

For dry beans, the area estimate is 25,500 ha, which is 60.2% or 38,500 ha less than the 64,000 ha planted for the previous season. The production forecast is 35,150 tons, which is 52.1% or 38,240 tons less than the 73,390 tons of the previous season. The expected yield is 1.38 t/ha.