January 24, 2008

South Africa corn yields increase to 6 million tonnes last week

South Africa delivered 15,000 tonnes of corn to silos last week, a rise of 4,000 tonnes over the week before, the South African Grain Information Service said Wednesday.

The delivery brings total corn harvested so far this season to 6.062 million tonnes, just around one million tonnes short of the projected 7.125 million tonnes.

The crop consists of 3.9 million tonnes of white corn and 2.2 million tonnes of yellow corn.

South African farmers harvest corn each year from about April to early August, with the key harvest months being June and July.

The country harvested 49,000 tonnes of wheat last week, down sharply from 87,000 tonnes against the week before, Sagis said.

The yield brings total wheat harvested since October last year to 1.651 million tonnes, about 105,000 tonnes short of the projected total production of 1.756 million tonnes this season.