Shift Into Corn in South Africa

PRETORIA - Jan 21/10 - SNS -- Farmers in South Africa have shifted into corn from other summer sown crops, according to surveys by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and Inputs by representatives of the Provincial Departments of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, yields for this year's winter sown wheat and malting barley crops are lower than initially expected, with output for both crops reduced from earlier forecasts.

The preliminary area estimate for corn is 2,627 million hectares, which is 8.23% or 199,700 hectares more than the 2.428 million hectares planted for the previous season, and 2.15% more than the intentions to plant figure of 2.572 million hectares released during October 2009.

The area estimate for white corn is 1.652 million hectares, which represents an increase of 10.93% or 162,700 hectares compared to the 1.489 million hectares planted last season. In the case of yellow corn the area estimate is 975,500 hectares, which is 3.94% or 37,000 hectares more than the 938,500 hectares planted last season.

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