maize
Tuesday May 15th, 2018
Cereal farmers across sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing heavy losses due to the devastation by an invasive pest: the Fall army worm - Spodoptera frugiperda. In Africa it has caused huge losses to staple cereals, especially maize and sorghum, affecting food security and trade. Damage to maize alone is estimated to be between $ 2.5 - 6.2bn per year. The Fall armyworm’s lifespan, from egg to larva to moth, lasts between one to three months
Friday May 18th, 2018
The weather was again a primary focus in the South Africa grain and oilseed market this week. The most notable releases were the Seasonal Climate Forecast Update from the International Research Institute (IRI) for Climate Change Society at the Columbia University, which suggested that the Western Cape province could receive above-normal rainfall between June and August 2018.
Friday May 18th, 2018
Major organised agricultural bodies in South Africa have welcomed recent news that the window period for written submissions on the National Assembly’s proposal to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation has been extended.
Monday May 21st, 2018
Today the focus will be on the US maize market ahead of the weekly crop progress data which is due for release in the evening. In the week of 13 May 2018, about 62 percent of the maize area for this season had already been planted. This, however, is slightly behind last year’s pace of 68 percent in the corresponding period.
Monday May 28th, 2018
The SAFEX wheat prices had a good run on Friday’s trade session and settled in positive territory, with spot price at R3 855 per tonne. The gains were in line with higher Chicago wheat prices, as well as commercial buying interest.
Tuesday May 29th, 2018
The harvest activity is gaining momentum in the irrigation areas around the country. This is reflected in the volumes of maize delivered to commercial silos in the week ending 18 May 2018, which amounted to 144 563 tonnes, up by 14 percent from the previous week.