Production research and development/Produksienavorsing en -ontwikkeling

Production research

The ability of the grain sector to provide sufficient amounts of food at affordable prices is challenged increasingly. One of our core functions remains the sustainability of our grain producing members. Not only is the investment in agriculture vitally important to sustain and expand production, but the investment in infrastructure as part of a local economic development is key to economic growth.

Grain SA’s strategic research focus areas

Grain SA continues to make meaningful contributions through:

• Increasing market access for all market participants
  Redirecting trade to new and possibly more sustainable markets remains a key focus area. To this end innovative interventions are continuously sought and required to capitalise on this. The importance of public and private partnerships is crucial. The focus is particularly on finding alternative markets for maize other than the current established African markets. This can be any market in Asia, the Middle East and beyond. Compliance to biosecurity remains a key focus area for our grain for international and regional market access.

• Formation of new alliances (the Department of Trade and Industry [DTI] – the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries [DAFF] – Grain SA forum)
  Several new policy documents relating to commodity specific interventions have been formulated in collaboration with Grain SA, the DAFF, the Department of Science and Technology and the DTI. Through these new and enhanced alliances with government, the strategic documents below were aligned with each other and address key strategic focus areas such as long term national food security, import replacements as it pertains to grain and other economically important commodities:
• Agricultural Policy Action Plan (APAP)
• Bio-economy Strategy
• Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP)


• Enhanced communication between public and private sector
  The lack of consensus on grain and oilseeds agricultural research policy issues threatens the effectiveness of future research activities. These will require stronger and more diverse partnerships among research parties, particularly between the public and private sector.
  

  Great strides have been made to improve the overall influencing and building of stronger structures with government to ensure future spending on research and development (R&D) is improved. The establishment of the formal forum between the DTI, the DAFF and Grain SA is a key strategic area to further strengthen and assist the government and build the linkages between agricultural research policies and policies for science and technology.

• Inputs into policies and legislation applicable to the grain sector
  This past financial year Grain SA has worked hard to get consensus among various stakeholders in order to realise the importance of an end point royalty system for all open-pollinated crops in South Africa. Through this initiative Grain SA wants to ensure that all new technologies are accessible for all our local grain producers. In the long term this ground-breaking approach will be beneficial to all other open pollinated crops being produced in South Africa. Through continued collaboration with the appropriate stakeholders at the DAFF, provisions were made for the appropriate regulatory systems that are adapted to our country’s needs.
  

  Under the review process of the Agricultural Product Standard Act, 1990, grading regulations as it pertains to soybeans and wheat were being amended and from Grain SA’s side we are ensuring that changes made are not discriminating against producers. We have also given considerable inputs to on-going processes dealing with the amendments of export standards for maize in particular.

Grain SA’s key research focus areas facilitated with numerous research partners are:

• Control of pests and diseases
• Breeding (higher yields, resilient to biotic [e.g. insects, diseases, viruses] and abiotic stresses [droughts]; yield and performance gaps)
• Conservation agriculture
• Influencing policies and legislation that affect grain production
• Diagnostic services for grain producers
• Greater cooperation with seed companies
• Issues pertaining to food safety and traceability

Gerbil management in maize
A project regarding ecologically-based rodent pest management in maize crop fields in the summer rainfall regions of South Africa, funded by the Maize Trust and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), started at the end of 2013. Field surveys and research trials were conducted in the Hoopstad and Wesselsbron areas of the Sandveld where severe rodent damage to maize crops on sandy soils in the North West Free State had been reported. Damage is usually restricted to the crop planting stage when gerbils forage on germinating maize seeds and newly emergent seedlings.

The project actions consist of ecological surveys; rodent species identification, habitat utilisation, rodent breeding ecology, and food utilisation, with a short-term objective of determining effective chemical control methods.

First year results of project

• Chemical control trials
  The effect of two types of chemical control was tested as potential gerbil management tools on commercial maize producing farms in the Hoopstad and Wesselsbron areas; a seed treatment with a metal phosphide at planting, and burrow baiting with ready-bait rodenticides. Gerbil colony size were monitored before and after applications of the chemicals in both treated and untreated sites.

• Seed treatment
  The effect of zinc phosphide treatment on the germination of maize seed was tested in the laboratory, with no significant difference in the germination and seedling development between treated and untreated seed. In the field, maize seed treated with zinc phosphide was compared to untreated maize seed. In the untreated maize, gerbils dug up the germinating maize seed around the colonies, resulting in bare patches, but in plots where maize seed had been treated with zinc phosphide, the incidence of gerbil damage to seedlings was reduced. Gerbil digging marks in the soil near treated seedlings were noted, and the conclusion was made that a sub-lethal dose caused aversion towards zinc phosphide treated seed by surviving gerbils.
  

  Although seed treatment with zinc phosphide was effective at reducing the impact of gerbil damage on maize at planting where it was tested at sites in the Free State Sandveld, it may not be as effective in areas with acidic (low pH) water or soil moisture. Zinc phosphide (Zn₃P₂su) is used as a rodenticide because it is claimed that its pungent garlic-like odour attracts rodents, but repulses other animals. Birds are not sensitive to the smell. The acid in the digestive system of rodents reacts with phosphide to generate the toxic phosphine gas (PH₃). Zinc phosphide breaks down when exposed to water or moist soil in the environment, thus zinc phosphide treated seed must be planted within 24 hours of treatment. The use of correct protective clothing when mixing is important.

Information gathered from producers that terbufos and ammoniac gas may have a repulsive effect on gerbils, was tested in trials where these chemicals were used as part of normal farming practices. In a trial with zinc phosphide-treated seed, planted together with terbufos (as a soil applied insecticide/
nematicide) and compared to zinc phosphide treated seed only, the combination did not add to the effect of the zinc phosphide-treated seed on gerbils. Where ammoniac gas was used as fertiliser, the number of burrows in the colonies of both treated and untreated sites was reduced, but differences between the sites were not significant. The reduction in colony size can be attributed to the soil disturbance during the tillage (rip) process and not to the odour of the chemical.

• Burrow baiting
  Burrow baiting trials were conducted in a maize field during February to March when maize was in the vegetative growth stage and it was presumed that gerbils would be susceptible to the bait, as there was little food available on the soil surface. Two different ready-bait (wax block) rodenticides; coumatetralyl and flocoumafen, and an untreated control, were applied in 20 m x 20 m plots with known gerbil colonies. Burrows in the plots were closed, the active burrows were baited on day one, the process repeated a week later (day seven) and the active burrows counted again after 14 days (day 21). Both rodenticides reduced the number of active burrows by more than 70% compared to the untreated control within the three-week period.
  
  The trials were repeated in the same plots with the same gerbil colonies during May when maize was at the pre-harvest stage, with similar results in the reduction of gerbil burrows. It must be noted that the gerbil colonies had recovered to more or less the same numbers during March to May so that the trial could be repeated.
  

Project trials are ongoing. We thank our funders; the Maize Trust and the ARC for their support, and Grain SA and the producers in the Sandveld for their cooperation.

Grain SA’s Conservation Agriculture Farmer Innovation programme

To address concerns about excessively high soil degradation rates, profitability and poverty in grain producing areas, Grain SA, supported by two commodity trusts (the Maize and Winter Cereal Trusts) launched a Conservation Agriculture Farmer Innovation Programme (CA-FIP) to place CA in the mainstream by and through grain producers, to ensure sustainable use and management of natural resources while enhancing national and household food security and income in South Africa.

Progress and major achievements

• A range of stakeholders have been engaged with as part of a national and international stakeholder network, such as the development of a Grain SA CA working group (see Photo 1).

Produksienavorsing

Die vermoë van die graansektor om voldoende hoeveelhede kos teen bekostigbare pryse te verskaf, word al hoe meer uitgedaag. Een van ons kernfunksies bly die volhoubaarheid van ons graanproduserende lede. Investering in landbou is nie net van die allergrootste belang om produksie vol te hou en uit te brei nie, maar die investering in infrastruktuur as deel van plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling is die sleutel tot ekonomiese groei.

Graan SA se strategiese navorsingsfokusareas

Graan SA maak steeds betekenisvolle bydraes deur:

• Marktoegang vir alle markdeelnemers te vergroot
  Die herleiding van handel na nuwe en moontlik meer volhoubare markte bly ‘n kernfokusarea. Met hierdie doel voor oë word intervensies deurlopend gesoek en word daar vereis om hieruit munt te slaan. Openbare en privaat vennootskappe is van uiterste belang. Die fokus is veral daarop om alternatiewe markte vir mielies buiten die huidige gevestigde Afrika-markte te kry. Dit kan enige mark in Asië, die Midde-Ooste en elders wees. Voldoening aan biosekuriteit bly ‘n belangrike fokusarea vir ons graan vir toegang tot internasionale en streeksmarkte.
  
  
• Vorming van nuwe alliansies (die Departement van Handel Nywerheid [DHN] – die Departement van Landbou, Bosbou en Visserye [DLBV] – Graan SA-forum)
  Verskeie nuwe beleidsdokumente ten opsigte van kommoditeitspesifieke intervensies is in samewerking met Graan SA, die DLBV, die Departement van Wetenskap en Tegnologie, en die DHN geformuleer. Deur hierdie nuwe en verbeterde alliansies met die regering is die strategiese dokumente hieronder met mekaar belyn en dit hanteer belangrike strategiese fokusgebiede, soos langtermyn nasionale voedselsekerheid en invoervervangings soos dit op graan en ander ekonomies belangrike kommoditeite van toepassing is:
• Landboubeleidsaksieplan (LBAP)
• Bio-ekonomie-strategie
• Nywerheidsbeleidsaksieplan (NBAP)
  


• Verbeterde kommunikasie tussen openbare en privaat sektor
  Die gebrek aan konsensus oor landbounavorsingsbeleidsprobleme ten opsigte van graan en oliesade bedreig die doeltreffendheid van toekomstige navorsingsaktiwiteite. Dit sal sterker en meer uiteenlopende vennootskappe onder navorsingspartye noodsaak, veral tussen die openbare en privaat sektor.
  
  Groot vordering is gemaak om die algehele beïnvloeding en bou van sterker strukture met die regering te verbeter om te verseker dat toekomstige besteding aan navorsing en ontwikkeling (N&O) verbeter word. Die daarstelling van die formele forum tussen die DHN, die DLBV en Graan SA is ‘n belangrike strategiese area om die regering verder te versterk en te help om die bande tussen landbounavorsingsbeleid en beleid vir wetenskap en tegnologie te bou.


• Insette in beleid en wetgewing wat op die graansektor van toepassing is
  Graan SA het die afgelope finansiële jaar hard gewerk om konsensus onder verskillende belanghebbendes te verkry om die belang van ‘n eindpunttantièmestelsel vir alle oopbestuifde gewasse in Suid-Afrika te besef. Deur hierdie inisiatief wil Graan SA verseker dat alle nuwe tegnologie vir al ons plaaslike graanprodusente toeganklik is. In die lang termyn sal hierdie vernuwende benadering voordelig wees vir alle ander oopbestuifde gewasse wat in Suid-Afrika geproduseer word. Deur voortgesette samewerking met die toepaslike belanghebbendes by die DLBV, is voorsiening gemaak vir die toepaslike regulatoriese stelsels wat by ons land se behoeftes aangepas is.
  
  Ingevolge die hersieningsproses van die Wet op Landbouprodukstandaarde, 1990, is die graderingsregulasies wat op sojabone en koring van toepassing is, gewysig, en van Graan SA se kant af verseker ons dat veranderinge wat aangebring word, nie teen produsente diskrimineer nie. Ons het ook aansienlike insette gelewer in deurlopende prosesse wat met die wysiging van uitvoerstandaarde vir veral mielies te make het.

Graan SA se sleutelnavorsingsgebiede wat met talle navorsingsvennote gefasiliteer word, is:

• Beheer van plae en siektes
• Teling (groter opbrengste, bestandheid teen biotiese [byvoorbeeld insekte, siektes, virusse] en abiotiese stres [droogtes]; opbrengs en prestasiegapings)
• Bewaringslandbou
• Beïnvloeding van beleid en wetgewing wat graanproduksie raak
• Diagnostiese dienste vir graanprodusente
• Groter samewerking met saadmaatskappye
• Kwessies wat op voedselveiligheid en opspoorbaarheid betrekking het

Bestuur van nagmuise in mielies
‘n Projek oor ekologie-gebaseerde knaagdierplaagbeheer in mielielande in die somerreënvalstreke van Suid-Afrika, wat deur die Mielietrust en die Landbounavorsingsraad (LNR) befonds word, het aan die einde van 2013 begin. Veldopnames en navorsingsproefnemings is gedoen in die Hoopstad- en Wesselsbron-gebiede van die Sandveld, waar ernstige skade deur knaagdiere aan mieliegewasse in sandgrond in die Noordwes-Vrystaat aangemeld is. Skade word gewoonlik beperk tot die gewasplantstadium wanneer nagmuise die ontkiemende mieliesaad en nuwe saailinge vreet.

Die projek bestaan uit ekologiese opnames; die identifisering van knaagdierspesies, habitatbenutting, knaagdier-teelekologie en voedselbenutting, met ‘n korttermyndoelwit om doeltreffende chemiese beheermetodes te bepaal.

Eerste jaar se resultate van die projek

• Chemiesebeheer-proefnemings
  Die effek van twee tipes chemiese beheer is as potensiële nagmuisbestuursmiddele op kommersiële mielieproduserende plase in die Hoopstad- en Wesselsbron-gebiede getoets, naamlik saadbehandeling met ‘n metaalfosfied by planting, en die plaas van lokaas knaagdierdoders in die knaagdiere se gate. Die koloniegrootte van nagmuise is voor en ná die toedienings van die chemiese stowwe in die behandelde en onbehandelde gebiede gemonitor.


• Saadbehandeling
  Die effek van sinkfosfiedbehandeling op die ontkieming van mieliesaad is in die laboratorium getoets, met geen beduidende verskil in die ontkieming en saailingontwikkeling van behandelde en onbehandelde saad nie. In die landerye is mieliesaad wat met sinkfosfied behandel is, met onbehandelde mieliesaad vergelyk. Met die onbehandelde mielies het nagmuise die ontkiemende mieliesaad om die kolonies uitgegrawe, wat tot kaal kolle gelei het, maar op plekke waar die mieliesaad met sinkfosfied behandel is, is die voorkoms van skade aan saailinge deur die nagmuise verminder. Grawemerke deur nagmuise is in die grond naby behandelde saailinge waargeneem, en die gevolgtrekking was dat ‘n subdodelike dosis, aversie teen sinkfosfied-behandelde saad by die oorblywende nagmuise veroorsaak het.
  

Hoewel saadbehandeling met sinkfosfied doeltreffend was om die impak van skade deur nagmuise aan mielies met aanplanting te verminder waar dit op terreine in die Vrystaatse Sandveld getoets is, is dit dalk nie so doeltreffend in gebiede met suur (lae pH) water of grondvog nie. Sinkfosfied (Zn₃P₂) word as ‘n knaagdierdoder gebruik omdat daar beweer word dat die sterk knoffelreuk die knaagdiere lok, maar ander diere verjaag. Voëls is nie sensitief vir die reuk nie. Die suur in die spysverteringstelsel van knaagdiere reageer met fosfied om die toksiese fosfiengas (PH₃) te produseer. Sinkfosfied breek af wanneer dit in die omgewing aan water of klam grond blootgestel word, en saad wat met sinkfosfied behandel word, moet dus geplant word binne 24 uur nadat dit behandel is. Dit is belangrik om beskermende klere te dra wanneer die produkte gemeng word.

Inligting wat van produsente verkry is dat terbufos en ammoniakgas nagmuise kan verjaag, is in proefnemings getoets, waar hierdie chemiese stowwe as deel van normale boerderypraktyke gebruik is. In ‘n proefneming met saad wat met sinkfosfied behandel is en saam met terbufos (as ‘ninsekdoder/
aalwurmdoder in die grond toegedien) geplant is, en vergeleke met slegs saad wat met sinkfosfied behandel is, het die kombinasie nie die effek van sinkfosfied-behandelde saad op nagmuise verbeter nie. Waar ammoniakgas as kunsmis gebruik is, is die getal gate in die kolonies van behandelde sowel as onbehandelde terreine verminder, maar die verskille tussen die terreine was nie beduidend nie. Die vermindering in die koloniegrootte kan toegeskryf word aan die grondversteuring tydens die bewerkingsproses (tandbewerking), en nie aan die reuk van die chemiese stof nie.

• Plaas van lokaas in gate
  Proefnemings met die plaas van lokaas in gate is in Februarie en Maart in ‘n mielieland gedoen toe die mielies in die vegetatiewe groeistadium was, en daar is aanvaar dat nagmuise deur die lokaas gelok sou word, aangesien daar min kos op die grondoppervlak beskikbaar was. Twee verskillende voorafvervaardigde (wasblok) knaagdierdoders, coumatetralyl en flocoumafen, en ‘n onbehandelde kontrole, is op gebiede van 20 m x 20 m met bekende nagmuiskolonies aangewend. Gate in die gebiede is toegemaak, lokaas is op dag een in die aktiewe gate geplaas en die proses is ‘n week later (op dag sewe) herhaal. Die aktiewe gate is weer ná 14 dae (dag 21) getel. Albei knaagdierdoders het in die tydperk van drie weke die getal aktiewe gate met meer as 70% verminder, vergeleke met die onbehandelde kontrole.
  
  Die proefnemings is in Mei, toe die mielies op die vooroesstadium was, in dieselfde gebiede met dieselfde nagmuiskolonies herhaal, met soortgelyke resultate met die vermindering van nagmuisgate. Let daarop dat die nagmuiskolonies van Maart tot Mei tot min of meer dieselfde getalle herstel het sodat die proefneming herhaal kon word.
  
  Projekproefnemings word deurlopend gedoen. Ons bedank ons befondsers, die Mielietrust en die LNR, vir hulle ondersteuning, en Graan SA en die produsente in die Sandveldvir hulle samewerking.

Graan SA se Boere-innoveringsprogram vir Bewaringslandbou

Ten einde bekommernisse oor oormatige hoë gronddegradasievlakke, winsgewendheid en armoede in graanproduserende gebiede te hanteer, het Graan SA, ondersteun deur twee kommoditeitstrusts (die Mielie- en Wintergraantrust) ‘n Boere-innoveringsprogram vir Bewaringslandbou (BIP-BL) bekend gestel ten einde BL deur en vir graanprodusente in die hoofstroom te plaas om volhoubare gebruik en bestuur van natuurlike hulpbronne te verseker, terwyl nasionale en huishoudelike voedselsekerheid en inkomste in Suid-Afrika verbeter word.

Vordering en belangrikste prestasies

• The description and publication of successful CA management practices (of producers) in various regions seem to be highly relevant and will continue. Other relevant stakeholders, such as popular magazines (e.g. Landbouweekblad and Farmer’s Weekly), were engaged to accelerate this process to provide free and open access to such information.
• Awareness of CA is accelerated by supporting relevant events of quality, such as the annual KwaZulu-Natal no-till conference and various farmer days, such as the Argentine no-till system (Manjoh Ranch, Nigel) (see Photo 2), smallholder farmer CA innovation systems, (KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape) (see Photo 3) and sustainable crop production for sandy soils (Kroonstad, Free State) (see Photo 4). The CA Conference in Ottosdal (12 - 13 March 2014) was a major success and milestone in this regard (see Photo 5). Dr Hendrik Smith and three producers attended the sixth World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA) in Winnipeg, Canada, in June 2014. Their attendance was kindly funded by the Winter Cereal Trust.

• Die beskrywing en publikasie van suksesvolle BL-bestuurspraktyke (van produsente) in die onderskeie streke blyk uiters relevant te wees en sal voortgaan. Ander relevante belanghebbendes, soos gewilde tydskrifte (byvoorbeeld Landbouweekblad en Farmer’s Weekly) is betrek om hierdie proses te versnel om gratis en oop toegang tot sodanige inligting te verskaf.
• Bewustheid van BL word versnel deur relevante gebeurtenisse van ‘n goeie gehalte, soos die jaarlikse KwaZulu-Natal-geenbewerkingskonferensie en verskillende boeredae soos die Argentynse geenbewerkingstelsel (Manjoh Ranch, Nigel) (sien Foto 2), kleinboer-BL-innoveringstelsels (KwaZulu-Natal en Oos-Kaap) (sien Foto 3) en volhoubare gewasproduksie vir sandgrond (Kroonstad, Vrystaat) (sien Foto 4) te ondersteun. Die BL-konferensie op Ottosdal (12 - 13 Maart 2014) was ‘n groot sukses en mylpaal in hierdie verband (sien Foto 5). Dr Hendrik Smith en drie produsente het die sesde Wêreldkongres oor Bewaringslandbou (WCCA) in Junie 2014 in Winnipeg, Kanada bygewoon. Hulle bywoning is goedgunstiglik deur die Wintergraantrust befonds.

• The Argentine collaboration has been an important project for Grain SA. An Argentine delegation visited South Africa in August to review the project and a senior researcher (Dr Danie Beukes) was appointed to improve the technical outputs of the project. Three sites have been selected to continue with demonstration trials in the 2013/2014 season, i.e. at Nigel, Settlers and Odendaalsrus. A new arrangement to continue the cooperation agreement with Argentina is being developed by both parties.
• Participation in national CA forums is seen as an important objective to continuously improve the enabling environment for CA to flourish. A number of key issues and initiatives are being addressed by these forums. Dr Smith was invited to the National LandCare Conference to do a presentation during the main session, to facilitate one commission and the CA side-event, and to share his LandCare experiences during the last two decades. One of the CA-FIP projects, where Mr Nicolas Madondo, local CA-FIP CA producer facilitator, is involved, has been awarded as the best LandCare project at the conference (see Photo 6).

• Die Argentynse samewerking was ‘n belangrike projek vir Graan SA. ‘n Argentynse afvaardiging het Suid-Afrika in Augustus besoek om die projek te hersien en ‘n senior navorser (dr Danie Beukes) is aangestel om die tegniese uitsette van die projek te verbeter. Drie terreine is gekies om in die 2013/2014-seisoen met demonstrasieproewe voort te gaan, naamlik by Nigel, Settlers en Odendaalsrus. ‘n Nuwe reëling om die samewerkingsooreenkoms met Argentinië voort te sit, word deur albei partye ontwikkel.
• Deelname aan nasionale BL-forums word as ‘n belangrike doelwit beskou om die bemagtigende omgewing wat nodig is vir BL om te floreer, deurlopend te verbeter. ‘n Aantal belangrike kwessies en inisiatiewe word deur hierdie forums hanteer. Dr Smith is na die nasionale LandCare-konferensie genooi om tydens die hoofsessie ‘n aanbieding te doen, een kommissie en die BL bykomende gebeurtenis te fasiliteer, en om sy LandCare-ervarings van die afgelope twee dekades te deel. Die BL-projek wat tans saam met mnr Nicolas Madondo, een van die BIP-BL-produsentfasiliteerders, gedoen word, is by die konferensie as die beste LandCare-projek aangewys (sien Foto 6).

• The implementation of new on-farm, producer-led research projects among commercial producers and smallholder farmers, is also seen as a major milestone in the implementation and out-scaling of the CA-FIP. These projects follow the innovation systems approach, having producers at the centre of the innovation process or platform. In the North West Province, a project investigates commercial CA practices under semi-arid, sandy soil conditions and has established a range of research trials in collaboration with the Ottosdal no-till club (see Photo 7). The other two projects, i.e. in the KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Provinces, focus on challenges facing smallholder farmers in the adoption of CA (see Photo 8). At this stage these projects have shown remarkable progress and impact.

• Die implementering van nuwe navorsingprojekte op plase en onder leiding van produsente wat onder kommersiële produsente en kleinboere aangebied word, word ook as ‘n groot mylpaal in die implementering en uitbreiding van die BIP-BL beskou. Hierdie projekte volg die innoveringstelselbenadering met produsente in die middel van die innoveringsproses of -platform. In die Noordwesprovinsie ondersoek ‘n projek kommersiële BL-praktyke onder semi-droë, sandgrondtoestande en het ‘n verskeidenheid navorsingsproefnemings in samewerking met die Ottosdal-geenbewerkingsklub gevestig (sien Foto 7). Die ander twee projekte, dié in KwaZulu-Natal en die Oos-Kaap, fokus op uitdagings wat kleinboere met die aanvaarding van BL in die gesig staar (sien Foto 8). Op hierdie stadium toon hierdie projekte merkwaardige vordering en impak.

Production conditions in the 2013/2014 production season

The 2013/2014 production season, specifically the western parts of South Africa, will be remembered as one of the best years in terms of agricultural conditions as rain occurred at just the right time. Soil moisture levels in the North West Province were almost depleted, but they have been replenished significantly due to these good rains. In most of South Africa’s producing areas, ample follow-up rains occurred, which sustained the crops till harvesting time, contributing to record summer grain and oilseed yields.

Maize and soybean plantings decreased by 3,3% and 2,6% respectively from the 2012/2013 production season to the 2013/2014 production season, while producers expanded their plantings of sunflower, groundnuts, sorghum and dry beans. These expansions were mainly the result of better crop prices.

Winter grain producers planted 5,7% less wheat in the 2014/2015 production season than in the 2013/2014 production season, while the barley and canola plantings increased since last year. The decrease in wheat hectares was still the result of fewer plantings in the Free State, and can be attributed to the improved profitability position of summer crops. A record yield is expected nationally for the 2014/2015 production season because of the increase in the contribution of irrigation to total production, and especially the Western Cape, which experienced good agricultural conditions.

Maize

Maize plantings decreased by 3,3% from the 2012/2013 production season to the 2013/2014 production season. White maize plantings decreased by 4,1%, while the yellow maize plantings decreased by 2,3% (see Graph A). The decrease was mainly the result of the dry conditions that prevailed during planting in the western parts of the country.

Produksie-omstandighede in die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen

Die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen, veral in die westelike dele van Suid-Afrika, sal as een van die beste jare in terme van landboutoestande onthou word, aangesien reën net op die regte tyd geval het. Grondvogvlakke in die Noordwesprovinsie was feitlik uitgeput, maar is beduidend aangevul as gevolg van hierdie goeie reën. In die meeste van Suid-Afrika se produksiegebiede het voldoende opvolgreën geval, wat die gewasse tot met oestyd aan die gang gehou het en tot rekordsomergraan- en oliesaadopbrengste bygedra het.

Mielie- en sojaboonaanplantings het onderskeidelik met 3,3% en 2,6% vanaf die 2012/2013-produksieseisoen tot die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen afgeneem, terwyl produsente met die aanplantings van sonneblom, grondbone, sorghum en droëbone uitgebrei het. Hierdie uitbreidings is hoofsaaklik die gevolg van beter gewaspryse.

Wintergraanprodusente het vir die 2014/2015-produksieseisoen 5,7% minder koring as in die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen aangeplant, terwyl die aanplantings van gars en kanola sedert verlede jaar toegeneem het. Dié afname in koringhektare is steeds die gevolg van minder aanplantings in die Vrystaat en kan aan die beter winsgewendheidsposisie van somergewasse toegeskryf word. ‘n Nasionale opbrengsrekord word vir die 2014/2015-produksieseisoen verwag as gevolg van die toename in besproeiing se bydrae tot totale produksie en spesifiek die Wes-Kaap wat goeie landboutoestande ervaar het.

Mielies

Graph B indicates the ratio between white and yellow maize plantings over the past 20 years. During the 2013/2014 production season, white maize constituted 57,7% and yellow maize 42,3% of the total maize area. The ratio of white maize production to that of yellow maize can be seen in Graph C.

Grafiek B dui die verhouding tussen wit- en geelmielie-aanplantings vir die afgelope 20 jaar aan. Tydens die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen het witmielies 57,7% en geelmielies 42,3% van die totale mielie-oppervlakte uitgemaak. Die verhouding van witmielieproduksie tot dié van geelmielies kan in Grafiek C gesien word.

Sorghum

Sorghum

Uit Grafiek D is dit duidelik dat die aanplantingstendens van sorghum sedert 1990 afwaarts is, alhoewel die aanplantings gedurende die laaste twee produksieseisoene toegeneem het. Die sorghum-oppervlakte vir die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen is 16 230 hektaar meer as die vorige jaar. Die finale Nasionale Oesskattingskomitee (NOK) produksieskatting toon dat 'n totaal van 268 920 ton sorghum in die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen geproduseer is. ‘n Rekordgemiddelde nasionale opbrengs van 3,41 ton per hektaar is teenoor die 2,35 ton per hektaar van die vorige jaar behaal.

Sunflower seed

Sonneblomsaad

In vergelyking met die 2012/2013-produksieseisoen se sonneblomsaadaanplantings van 504 700 hektaar, het produsente hul aanplantings met 18,67% tot 598 950 hektaar uitgebrei vir die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen. Dié toename in oppervlakte (Grafiek E) kan hoofsaaklik aan sonneblom se winsgewendheidsposisie tydens planttyd toegeskryf word. Volgens die finale 2014 NOK-produksieskatting is 'n oes van 853 325 ton sonneblomsaad geproduseer en is 'n gemiddelde opbrengs van 1,43 ton behaal. As gevolg van die goeie weersomstandighede wat voorgekom het, is dié opbrengs hoër as die vorige vyf seisoene.

Groundnuts

Graph F shows that the area under groundnut cultivation and production has declined from 2000/2001 to 2013/2014. Factors contributing to this decline were increasing labour costs, the price ratio between groundnuts and maize, and the high capital costs of mechanising groundnut cultivation. The number of hectares increased from the 2012/2013 production season to the 2013/2014 production season; 5 225 more hectares were planted. The average yield for the 2013/2014 production season was 1,50 tons per hectare, which was the highest in a period of four years.

Grondbone

Grafiek F toon dat die oppervlakte onder grondboonverbouing en -produksie sedert 2000/2001 tot 2013/2014 afgeneem het. Bydraende faktore tot hierdie afname is stygende arbeidskoste, die prysverhouding tussen grondbone en mielies asook die hoë kapitaalkoste om grondboonverbouing te meganiseer. ‘n Uitbreiding in hektare het vanaf die 2012/2013-produksieseisoen tot die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen plaasgevind; 5 225 meer hektare is aangeplant. Die gemiddelde opbrengs vir die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen was 1,50 ton per hektaar, wat die hoogste in ‘n tydperk van vier jaar was.

Soybeans

Sojabone

Dry beans

During the past season, 55 820 hectares of dry beans were planted. This was a good increase of 12 270 hectares compared to the previous year (Graph H). According to the final NCEC production estimate, a crop of 82 130 tons was produced, which was 36,43% higher than in the 2012/2013 production season. An average yield of 1,47 tons per hectare was achieved, which was higher than the yields over the past five years.

DroËbone

Daar is 55 820 hektaar droëbone die afgelope seisoen aangeplant. Dit is 'n goeie toename van 12 270 hektaar vergeleke met die vorige jaar (Grafiek H). Volgens die finale NOK-produksieskatting is ‘n oes van 82 130 ton geproduseer, wat 36,43% meer as die 2012/2013-produksieseisoen is. ‘n Gemiddelde opbrengs van 1,47 ton per hektaar is behaal, wat beter as die afgelope vyf jaar se opbrengste was.

Wheat

The gap between wheat production and consumption in South Africa is increasing and a large quantity of wheat has to be imported every year to meet South Africa’s domestic needs. According to estimates an approximately 1,68 million tons of wheat therefore have to be imported for the 2014/2015 production season to meet the local demand for wheat. This constitutes 53,3% of South Africa’s total local consumption and emphasises the necessity for imports.

For the 2014/2015 production season, 476 570 hectares were planted, which were 28 390 hectares fewer than in the 2013/2014 production season. This represented the smallest area yet in the history of South Africa (Graph I).According to the NCEC’s second winter crop estimate for the 2014/2015 production season a wheat crop of 1,790 million tons is expected. Despite the smaller area, this is 79 091 tons more than in the previous production season. The high risk and profitability position of other summer grain crops contributed directly to the decline in the annual plantings – particularly in the Free State.

Koring

Die gaping tussen Suid-Afrika se koringproduksie en verbruik word al groter en daar moet jaarliks ‘n groot hoeveelheid koring ingevoer word om in Suid-Afrika se plaaslike behoeftes te voldoen. Volgens beramings moet daar ongeveer 1,68 miljoen ton koring vir die 2014/2015-produksieseisoen ingevoer word om aan die plaaslike vraag na koring te voldoen. Dit is 53,3% van Suid-Afrika se totale plaaslike verbruik, wat die noodsaaklikheid ten opsigte van invoere beklemtoon.

Vir die 2014/2015-produksieseisoen is 476 570 hektaar aangeplant, wat 28 930 hektaar minder is as in die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen. Dit verteenwoordig die kleinste oppervlakte nog in Suid-Afrika se geskiedenis (Grafiek I). Volgens die NOK se tweede winteroesskatting vir die 2014/2015-produksieseisoen word ‘n 1,790 miljoen ton koringoes verwag. Ten spyte van die kleiner oppervlakte is dit 79 091 ton meer as in die vorige produksieseisoen. Die hoë risiko en winsgewendheidsposisie van ander somergraangewasse het direk daartoe bygedra dat die jaarlikse aanplantings – veral in die Vrystaat – gedaal het.

Malting barley

According to the NCEC, 85 125 hectares of malting barley were planted in the 2014/2015 production season. This was 4,7% or 3 805 hectares more than in the 2013/2014 production season. According to the NCEC’s second winter crop estimate, 317 893 tons can be produced and a yield of 3,73 tons per hectare can be expected. This will be the second highest average yield yet (Graph J).

Moutgars

Volgens die NOK is daar 85 125 hektaar moutgars in die 2014/2015-produksieseisoen aangeplant. Dit is 4,7% of 3 805 hektaar meer as in die 2013/2014-produksieseisoen. Volgens die NOK se tweede winteroesskatting kan 317 893 ton geproduseer word en 'n opbrengs van 3,73 ton per hektaar word verwag, wat die tweedehoogste gemiddelde opbrengs nog sal wees (Grafiek J).

Canola

In the 2014/2015 production season 95 000 hectares of canola were planted – a drastic 22 835 hectares more than in the previous season. According to the NCEC’s second crop estimate, a harvest of 147 250 tons is expected, which is a yield of 1,55 tons per hectare. This will not only be the biggest canola area yet in South Africa, but also the biggest production until now (Graph K).

Kanola

Crop estimates committee

Oesskattingskomitee

Graan SA het tydens verskeie vergaderings die NOK versoek om addisionele inligting rakende die daarstelling van oesskattingssyfers vry te stel. Die doel hiermee is om die deursigtigheid van oesskatting te bevorder en om die geloofwaardigheid van die oesskattingsyfers te versterk. Van die aanvullende inligting sluit opbrengste per landdrosdistrik in (Tabel 1 - 3). Hierdie opbrengsinligting is soos verkry vanaf ‘n steekproef van produsente van die DLBV.

If you do not already participate in the crop estimate, Grain SA encourages you to answer the questionnaires that are sent to you. If you do not receive the questionnaire, contact Rona Beukes, member of the NCEC, at 012 319 8032 or send her an email at RonaB@daff.gov.za.

Production costs

Physical income and cost analysis

Summer grain
Determining and gathering the historic actual income and production cost figures are of utmost importance when it comes to evaluating the profitability of any grain crop. Graphs 1 - 4 depict the long-term actual production cost, yields and profit/loss situation for the North West Province, North West Free State, Eastern Free State and KwaZulu-Natal since 2000/2001. It is clear that production costs are constantly increasing over time. These increases on a year-to-year basis are fairly high and have a huge impact on producers’ ability to adapt and make adjustments with their current production systems in order to plant maize profitably.

It is well-known that the North West Province and surrounding area was negatively affected by drought during 2013. Graph 1 and 2 clearly indicate that maize producers in the western parts of the country suffered great losses as below average yields were obtained due to the prevailing drought conditions. The eastern parts of South Africa, on the other hand, experienced a relative good production year with a rather wet summer (Graph 3 and 4).

U word aangemoedig om, indien u nie alreeds aan die oesskatting deelneem nie, asseblief die vraelyste wat aan u gestuur word, te voltooi. Indien u nie die vraelys ontvang nie, kontak Rona Beukes, lid van die NOK, gerus by 012 319 8032 of stuur vir haar 'n e-pos na RonaB@daff.gov.za.

Produksiekoste

Fisiese inkomste- en koste-analise

Somergraan
Dit is uiters belangrik dat historiese werklike inkomste en produksiekostesyfers bepaal en ingesamel word wanneer die winsgewendheid van enige graangewas geëvalueer word. Grafiek 1 - 4 beeld die langtermyn werklike produksiekoste, opbrengs en wins/verlies-situasie vir die Noordwesprovinsie, Noordwes-Vrystaat, Oos-Vrystaat en KwaZulu-Natal sedert 2000/2001 uit. Dit is duidelik dat produksiekoste met verloop van tyd voortdurend styg. Hierdie stygings op ‘n jaar-tot-jaar-grondslag is redelik hoog en het ‘n groot impak op produsente se vermoë om hulle huidige produksiestelsels aan te pas en te wysig om mielies winsgewend te plant.

Dit is bekend dat Noordwesprovinsie en die omliggende gebied in 2013 negatief deur die droogte geraak is. Grafiek 1 en 2 toon duidelik dat mielieprodusente in die westelike dele van die land groot verliese gely het, aangesien ondergemiddelde opbrengste as gevolg van die heersende droogtetoestande behaal is. Die oostelike dele van Suid-Afrika het daarenteen ‘n relatief goeie produksiejaar gehad, met ‘n redelike nat somer (Grafiek 3 en 4).

Winter grain
Graph 5 and 6 shows the actual production cost, yields and profit/loss situation of wheat in the Southern Cape, in the Western Cape, as well as the Eastern Free State. The graphs indicate that profits were made in the Southern Cape and Eastern Free State during the 2012 production season. The 2012 season was the first in a few years’ time that producers in the Eastern Free State actually made a profit by planting wheat. The main reason for the profits in the Eastern Free State, as well as in the Southern Cape, was the good yields realised although production costs continue to increase.

Wintergraan
Grafiek 5 en 6 toon die werklike produksiekoste, opbrengs en wins/verlies-situasie van koring in die Suid-Kaap, die Wes-Kaap en die Oos-Vrystaat. Die grafieke toon dat winste in die 2012-produksieseisoen in die Suid-Kaap en Oos-Vrystaat gemaak is. Die 2012-seisoen was die eerste keer in ‘n paar jaar dat produsente in die Oos-Vrystaat werklik ‘n wins uit die aanplant van koring gemaak het. Die belangrikste rede vir die winste in die Oos-Vrystaat en die Suid-Kaap was die goeie opbrengste wat behaal is, hoewel produksiekoste steeds styg.

Budgeted income and cost analysis – 2014/2015 production season

It is vital that producers thoroughly acquaint themselves with the production costs of maize for the upcoming season and evaluate its profitability before maize is planted. Due to the free market, producers must decide whether the Safex price is adequate and Grain SA therefore compiles detailed enterprise budgets for the homogenous production regions of South Africa. Only by calculating all costs, a sensible decision for sustainable production can be made. The cost structure of the budget is compiled using variable and fixed costs. Producers use these budgets to compile and compare their own on-farm budgets and this information is crucial as it is the backbone for production decisions.

NOTE: Please note that although the information in the following section is only showed for the North West Free State production area, it is also available for the other grain and oilseeds production regions. This is just to indicate the difference in profitability (gross margin) of different yield scenarios for summer crops for the 2014/2015 production season.

Challenging season for profitable maize production
The upcoming planting season promises to be a challenging one in terms of profitability. The profitability (gross margin per hectare and per ton) of different maize yield scenarios, as well as other grain and oilseeds crops planted in the North West Free State area is indicated in Graph 7 and 8, as applicable to the 2014/2015 production season. The yield scenarios are based on assumptions of production conditions in the North West Free State and it is important to note that these figures may differ between producers. The calculated variable cost for each scenario, as well as a calculated fixed cost of R2 000 was used to compile these figures.

Begrote inkomste- en koste-analise – 2014/2015-produksieseisoen

Dit is noodsaaklik dat produsente hulleself deeglik van die produksiekoste van mielies vir die komende seisoen moet vergewis en die winsgewendheid daarvan evalueer voordat mielies geplant word. As gevolg van die vrye mark moet produsente besluit of die Safex-prys voldoende is, en Graan SA stel dus gedetailleerde ondernemingsbegrotings vir die homogene produksiestreke van Suid-Afrika op. Slegs deur alle koste te bereken, kan ‘n verstandige besluit oor volhoubare produksie geneem word. Die kostestruktuur van die begroting word op grond van veranderlike en vaste koste saamgestel. Produsente gebruik hierdie begrotings om hulle begrotings op die plaas saam te stel en te vergelyk, en hierdie inligting is noodsaaklik, aangesien dit die ruggraat van produksiebesluite is.

LET WEL: Hoewel die inligting in die volgende gedeelte slegs vir die Noordwes-Vrystaat-produksiegebied getoon word, is dit ook vir die ander graan- en oliesadeproduksiestreke beskikbaar. Dit is bloot om die verskil in winsgewendheid (bruto marge) van verskillende opbrengsscenario’s vir somergewasse in die 2014/2015-produksieseisoen te toon.

Uitdagende seisoen vir winsgewende mielieproduksie
Die komende plantseisoen lyk asof dit weer ‘n uitdagende een in terme van winsgewendheid gaan wees. Die winsgewendheid (bruto marge per hektaar en per ton) van verskillende mielie-opbrengsscenario’s asook ander graan- en oliesadegewasse wat in die Noordwes-Vrystaat geplant word, word in Grafiek 7 en 8 getoon, soos dit op die 2014/2015-produksieseisoen van toepassing is. Die opbrengsscenario’s is gegrond op aannames van produksietoestande in die Noordwes-Vrystaat en dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat hierdie syfers tussen produsente kan verskil. Die berekende veranderlike koste vir elke scenario asook die berekende vaste koste van R2 000 is gebruik om hierdie syfers saam te stel.

The 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 figures on Graph A to K are preliminary figures.

Die 2013/2014- en 2014/2015-syfers op Grafiek A tot K is voorlopige syfers.