November 26, 2008

South Africa reduced its 2008 wheat output estimate by 28,000 tonnes, or 1.33 percent, to 2.078 million tonnes from last month's estimate of 2.106 million tonnes.

The survey by the Department of Agriculture's Crop Estimates Committee left the area unchanged at 748,000 hectares.

"The committee reduced output because of unfavourable inland production conditions, especially the lack of sufficient rain in the Free State," a CEC member said.

"We decided to reduce the wheat yield in the Free State province to 2.1 tonnes per hectare from a previous 2.2 tonnes per hectare," another member said.

In other winter crops, the committee decided to leave the malting barley output estimate unchanged at 188,799 tonnes.

The canola estimate was however decreased by 1,700 tonnes, or 4.76 percent, to 34,000 tonnes from the 35,700 tonnes last month.

"Canola is only planted in one province and that is the Western Cape. Rain in this area caused some disruption and damaged some of the crop," he said.