English
Producers’ intentions to plant winter cereals are based on the results of a non-probability survey conducted by the Directorate: Statistics and Economic Analysis of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and reflects the position as at the middle of April 2019.
The figures for wheat represent the total number of hectares that are intended to be planted for grain, excluding any hectares that will be planted for fodder and grazing.
Early indications are that producers intend to plant 513 450 ha of wheat for the 2019 production season. This is 2,01% or 10 100 ha more than the 503 350 ha planted to wheat in 2018.
The main producing areas are within the Western Cape with 324 000 ha (63%), followed by the Free State with 105 000 ha (20%) and the Northern Cape with 34 000 ha (7%).
The expected area planted to malting barley is 118 500 ha, which is 0,42% or 500 ha less than the 119 000 ha of the previous year. The expected area planted to canola is 80 000 ha, which is 3,90% or 3 000 ha more than the 77 000 ha planted in 2018.
Please note that the preliminary area estimate of winter crops for 2019 will be released on 25 July 2019.
Source: Crop Estimates Committee
