Article
Narratives shaping SA’s 2025 production
Published: 03/02/2025
We find ourselves in a tricky crop season. At its start, we
expected a recovery from the 2023/24 season characterised
by El Niño induced drought damage. It started to rain in
most regions of the country from mid-December 2024 to
January 2025, and continued to rain at the time of this note’s
publication. Grazing veld showed the promise of recovery,
but concerns remain now that producers who have not yet
completed planting are struggling to get into the fields
because of the wet weather conditions.
The main risk with planting late is the possibility of frost
damage later in the season. If the country is fortunate to be
spared from frost, as we have seen in recent seasons, the
prospects for a better harvest remain, even for late plantings.
Higher white maize prices in South Africa may be a reality
in the first quarter of 2025 and relief may become evident in
the second quarter of the year. – Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz