March 11, 2004

South Africa Corn Output Lowest In 10 Years

South Africa's 2003/04 corn production is estimated at 7.5 million tons, the lowest since 1994/95. The crop estimate is unchanged from last month, but down 2.2 million or 22% from last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday in its March "World Agricultural Production" outlook.
 
Harvested area is estimated at 2.9 million hectares, unchanged from last month, but down 0.7 million from last year. The decline in area planted is attributed to low market prices during 2003 and below-normal rainfall at the start of season, which delayed plantings by two to three weeks throughout the region, the USDA said in a press release. The estimated yield of 2.54 tons per hectare is below the five-year average of 2.65 tons per hectare due to late plantings, a shorter growing season, low soil moisture reserves at the start of season, and lower-than-average irrigated corn area.
 
USDA/FAS staff traveled within the Maize Triangle during the last week of February to assess crop conditions. In general, the crop in the high-yielding east was near average due to favorable rains during January and February, but irrigated corn area was below average on a lack of water in local farm reservoirs. Crop conditions in the low-yielding west were slightly below average due to a late start of season and patchy rainfall, but some areas had average crops amid good rainfall in January and February, the USDA said.
 
No major pests or disease problems were reported or observed, but an early frost in April could cause some crop damage as most of the crop was planted two to three weeks late.