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Agriculture

Summer grains in critical condition

───   SABRINA DEAN 14:00 Fri, 13 Feb 2015

Summer grains in critical condition | News Article

Bloemfontein - The summer grain harvest is in critical condition, with the next fourteen days to determine the fate of SA food prices over the next 12 months, as well as prospects for the planting of any crops next season.

This is according to Grain SA CEO Jannie de Villiers, who says an aerial survey yesterday revealed far worse heat and drought damage than had been anticipated.
 
He says even farmers who thought they were ok are getting nasty surprises.
 
He says next year’s crop is also at risk if there is not sufficient rainfall because there will simply not be enough ground moisture to make planting viable. Affected grains include maize, sunflower and soya beans.
 
De Villiers says yesterday’s aerial survey has left grain farmers extremely disheartened.
 
He says Grain SA has already notified Agriculture Minister Senzani Zokwana of the problem and will need to meet urgently with commercial roleplayers such as banks, insurers, government and so forth to mitigate forthcoming financing and insurance issues.

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