January 13, 2004

South Africa Corn Harvest Down

South Africa's estimated corn harvest was also trimmed to 8.0 million tonnes, down 900,000 tonnes from last month's estimate, the USDA said.

The nation's corn harvested area was estimated at 3.1 million hectares, down 200,000 hectares from last month, the USDA said. An estimated corn yield of 2.58 tonnes per hectare is below the five-year average for South Africa due to late plantings and dry soil, the report said.

"Dry conditions and hot weather in December stressed many young plants and some farmers had to replant due to poor emergence," the USDA said.

Source: USDA