August 15, 2007

South Africa urged to plant corn on 2.4 million hectares next season

Grain South Africa, a local farming body, has recommended farmers plant corn on 2.4 million hectares in the coming season, which could set the stage for about 6.8 million metric tonnes of production.

The body, which represents most commercial farmers, advised farmers to plant 25 percent more yellow corn and 24 percent less white corn in the coming season, compared with the current season, due to the supply imbalance between yellow and white varieties.

The latest production report from the country's Crop Estimates Committee showed that corn crop consists of 4.064 million tonnes of white and 2.840 million tonnes of yellow, planted on 2.55 million hectares.