Joint Research Projects

1. Income and cost budgets for summer and winter crops in South Africa

   D van der Westhuizen
   The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP)

   Historically, the Protein Research Foundation (PRF), Grain South Africa (GSA), the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) and agribusinesses have published their individual cost of production budgets which focusses on summer and winter crops produced in South Africa’s key agro-ecological zones, both under dryland- and irrigation cultivation. Given the existing activities associated within the organisations and the extent of the coverage of South African agricultural production, these initiatives were combined and integrated since 2017. The main objective is:

   • To consolidate the three programs in collaboration with various agribusinesses in South Africa;
   • Generate comprehensive crop income and cost budgets for the key summer and winter growing regions;
   • To generate sensitivity analysis for the selected crops based on the latest macroeconomic trends, BFAP Baseline underlying assumptions and international and domestic updates.

   During the 2020/21 project timeframe, the following output has been delivered:

   • August / September 2020
     Compiled the cost and income budgets for the 2020/21 summer crop in collaboration with various agribusinesses in the summer crop producing regions. The enterprise budgets were finalised followed by a report on the respective results. A total of 12 agro-ecological areas were covered, covering 37 crop budgets for dryland and irrigation production systems.
   • October 2020
     The crop budgets were utilised to generate a summer crop scenario report, in collaboration with Grain SA. The report covered a macro-economic and market overview (international, regional and domestic), the performance of the South African agricultural sector, inputs costs, enterprise performance and sensitivity and scenario relating to crop grades and transport differentials.
   • March 2021
     Compiled the cost and income budgets for the 2021 winter crop in collaboration with various agribusinesses in the winter crop producing regions. The enterprise budgets were finalised followed by a report on the respective results. A total of 14 agro-ecological areas were covered, covering 43 crop budgets for dryland and irrigation production systems.
   • March 2021
     Compiled the cost and income budgets for the 2021 winter crop in collaboration with various agribusinesses in the winter crop producing regions. The enterprise budgets were finalised followed by a report on the respective results. A total of 14 agro-ecological areas were covered, covering 43 crop budgets for dryland and irrigation production systems.
   • May 2021
     An article was written for the Oilseeds Focus magazine focusing on area shifts expected for the 2021 winter crop season followed by crop performance and sensitivity.
   • May 2021
     The annual BFAP Baseline outlook publication was finalised where the crop budgets were updated and presented in specific scenarios and analytics.

   BFAP would like to express their gratitude to the PRF for the continuous support to generate the summer and winter crop budgets for a variety of South African enterprises.

2. Evaluation of shortened canola production periods and the use of alternative crops on the sustainability of winter grain production under conservation agricultural practices in the Riversdale Flats

   JA Strauss
   Western Cape Department of Agriculture

   2020 was the 9th year of production on the new trial. Six cash crop systems are tested including shortened canola rotations and cover crops. A total of 60 plots were planted. The 6 systems tested are replicated 3 times and all crops within each system are represented on the field each year.

   All protocols developed during the annual technical committee meeting in February 2020 were followed and the integrity of the trial layout was upheld.

   Riversdale received very little summer rainfall which resulted again in a dry start to 2020 production season. Only 64mm mm fell from January to the end of April. In 2017 a new weather station was installed at the research site which is managed by the Department of Agriculture. A total of 260mm was received from April to the end of September.

   Wheat production – SST0117 was planted at Riversdale at 60 kg/ha. A total of 38 kg N/ha was applied to each plot (8 kg N/ha at planting and 30 kg N/ha top-dressing). Wheat yields at Riversdale averaged 4505 kg/ha. This was 1773 kg/ha more than in 2019.

   Canola production – Alpha TT was planted at Riversdale at 3 kg/ha. A total of 38 kg N/ha was applied to each plot. Nitrogen at plant was 8kg/ha and a topdressings of 30kg/ha was applied at the end of July. Canola yields at Riversdale averaged 2150 kg/ha which was 253 kg/ha more than the 2019 average.

   Barley production – Hessekwa, Kadie and Elim was planted at Riversdale at 53 kg/ha. Barley yields at Riversdale averaged 4131 kg/ha. This average yield was 844 kg/ha more than in 2019.

   Barley production – Hessekwa, Kadie and Elim was planted at Riversdale at 53 kg/ha. Barley yields at Riversdale averaged 4131 kg/ha. This average yield was 844 kg/ha more than in 2019.

   Cover crops – Saia oats and field peas were planted during 2020 at seeding rates of 30 kg/ha and 80kg/ha, respectively.

   Economics – It proved to be a very good production year in 2020 year all systems tested show a positive gross margin above direct allocated production costs.