February 22, 2006

South Africa estimates 2005/06 corn output at 6.21 million tonnes

South Africa's National Crop Estimates Committee Tuesday Feb 21 said it expects farmers to produce 6.21 million tonnes of corn in the 2005/06 season, sharply lower than 11.45 million tonnes produced in the previous season.

In its first estimate of 2005/06 summer crops, the committee said the main reason for the expected reduction is that farmers have dedicated just 1.55 million hectares to corn planting compared with 2.81 million hectares in 2004/05.

"This is the lowest corn planting for around eighty years and the lowest expected production total for many years," said committee spokesman Rodney Dredge.

Farmers have reduced corn planting mainly as a result of a stock overhang from the previous season and weak prices partly due to the strength of the South African rand against the dollar.

Dredge estimated white corn output for 2005/06 at 3.77 million tonnes and yellow corn at 2.45 million tonnes.