Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum
Meeting held on 30 January 2020 at the offices of the Oilseeds Industry
Opening
Dr Jan Dreyer opened the meeting with prayer.
Welcome
The Chairperson, Mr Jozeph du Plessis, welcomed all to the first meeting of the Forum in 2020.
Attendance
Present
Mr J du Plessis Chairperson Mr J Botma Producer: Free State Dr E Briedenhann PRF/OAC Ms L Bronkhorst ARC-GCI Mr H Conradie Producer: Mpumalanga Ms A de Beer ARC-GCI Mr S de Jager COFCO Dr J Dreyer PRF Mr F Hamman Agricol Mr N Hawkins SAGIS Mr G Heyns SACTA Mr M Jansen van Rensburg Mpumalanga DOA Dr C Joubert NAMC Dr T Kapinja BFAP Mr G Keun CEO PRF/OPDT Dr S Lamprecht ARC-PPRI Mr P Lovelace CEOCO/SAOPA Ms W Louw SAGL Dr S Ma'ali ARC-GCI Prof F Meyer BFAP Mr W Oosthuizen Producer: North West Mr T Phasoana ARC-PHP Mr R Pholo Producer: North West/Grain SA Ms M Purnell AgbizGrain Mr J Rankin Producer: North West Ms M Scheepers DAFF Dr D Strydom Grain SA Dr P Taljaard Bayer Mr A Theron PRF Mr N van Burick Landbouweekblad Mr W van Pletsen Agricol Mr WF van Wyk Contractor Ms M du Preez PRF Ms S Brits PRF Apologies
Dr A Balarane NAMC Mr C Cloete Rolfes Agri Mr G de Beer Contractor Mr R Küsel Producer: KwaZulu-Natal Ms W MacPherson SABO/Madumbi Mr W Marais Producer Ms M Meiring University of the Free State Ms L Mellet NAMC Mr G Roos Producer: Mpumalanga Ms L Rothmann UFS Mr C van Coller Grain SA Mr K van Huyssteen SANSOR Ms N Rousseau Bayer Mr R van Niekerk Agricol Mr A van Vuuren NWC Mr De Wet Boshoff AFMA/SACOTA By invitation
Prof G Pietersen Stellenbosch University Dr E Strydom SAMAC Mr D van der Westhuizen BFAP Personalia
None reported.
Confirmation of the agenda
The agenda was accepted as it stood.
Approval of minutes
Minutes of the Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum held on 9 October 2019 and referral to website
Resolution:
- That the minutes of the Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum held on 9 October 2019 be accepted as a true and fair reflection of that meeting, and that the minutes be referred to the Oilseeds Industry's website for publication.
Ms Du Preez
Steering Committee
OAC
- That the minutes of the Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum held on 9 October 2019 be accepted as a true and fair reflection of that meeting, and that the minutes be referred to the Oilseeds Industry's website for publication.
Current soybean prices: local and international
A brief overview was given of the current state of the national and international soybean and sunflower industries, with aspects such as the current state of production, prices, supply and demand, the outbreak of the Coronavirus in certain Chinese provinces, amongst others, being covered. Cognisance was taken that the derived soybean price on 21 January 2020 was R5,315 per ton.
SAGIS
The contents of the latest SAGIS Weekly Bulletin and of the latest Monthly Bulletin were noted. Cognisance was taken that this and other data were published on the SAGIS website.
Mention was made that SAGIS had given notice that an application had to be submitted with regard to the renewal of the statutory measure on oilseed products. A supporting letter in this regard will be forwarded to the NAMC, once the matter had been tabled at the next meeting of the Oilseeds Advisory Committee. The application will be supported by the industry and by producers.
South African Supply and Demand Estimates Committee (SASDEC)
Cognisance was taken of the latest South African Supply and Demand Estimates Reports.
Crop estimates
Latest crop estimates: Soybeans and Sunflower
A presentation was delivered on the Crop Estimates Committee's view on the preliminary area planted to summer crops in the 2020 season. An overview was provided of the areas planted to sunflower and soybeans in the past few years. The revised area estimates for summer crops will be released on 26 February 2020.
Cognisance was taken of the sixth production forecast for winter crops in 2019.
Producer matters: Sunflower and Soybeans
KwaZulu-Natal
General
Report had been received that the crops in KwaZulu-Natal were looking very well, but that a dry February would impact negatively on the crops.
Mpumalanga and Gauteng
General
It was reported that producers in Mpumalanga and Gauteng had experienced a typical season. Weed problems had occurred, due to the fact that producers did not heed the warning that the use of pre-emergence weed killers was essential. More soybeans had been planted than in the previous season, and good yields were expected.
North West and Limpopo Province
General
The 2019/2020 season had thus far been extremely positive for both soybeans and sunflowers, and the table had been set for very good yields. Theft of sunflower seed was a huge problem. Cotton cultivars with the latest RR technology and Bollgard biotechnology had proved to be a winner, and an appeal was made that the latest technologies for soybeans be made available as soon as possible.
Free State
General
Crops were looking very good, with soybeans doing exceptionally well.
Eastern and Northern Cape and South Western Districts
General
No report back.
Soybean value chain
Local soybean stocks/supply and demand
It was noted that the concerns about excessive soybean stocks, which had been raised in December 2018, had to a large extent been mitigated. Soybean production would have to be ramped up.
Quality of local soybeans and soybean oilcake
Cognisance was taken that the final report on the SAGL's studies on the quality of sunflower and soybeans will probably be published by the end of February.
Feedback on industry study
It was reported that the Oilseeds Industry had approved an application for a project on the causes of the poor quality of sunflower seed, and what could be done to improve it. Various studies on soybeans were in the pipeline.
Benchmarking against international standards and quality
It was noted that grading data for the Black Sea countries and countries in the European Union (EU) was still being sourced.
Resolution:
- That feedback is awaited after information on grading regulations in the area around the Black Sea, amongst which Russia and the Ukraine, as well as countries in the EU, had been sourced.
Mr van der Walt
SSSFF
- That feedback is awaited after information on grading regulations in the area around the Black Sea, amongst which Russia and the Ukraine, as well as countries in the EU, had been sourced.
Infrastructure
Cognisance was taken that the relevant authorities had been informed of the industry's concerns about infrastructure matters such as water and electricity supply and transport that impacted negatively on industry, agriculture and growth.
Imports and exports
It was noted that the legal opinion on the issues relating to the proposed statutory measures on the intended imports and exports of soybeans and sunflower was still awaited.
Resolution:
- That feedback is awaited on the legal opinion that had been sought on the issues relating to the proposed statutory measures on the intended imports and exports of soybeans and sunflower.
Mr Keun
SSSFF
- That feedback is awaited on the legal opinion that had been sought on the issues relating to the proposed statutory measures on the intended imports and exports of soybeans and sunflower.
Grain and oilseeds Value Chain Indaba
Cognisance was taken of the minutes of the meeting of role players in the soybean industry that had been called to discuss matters of importance in the soybean value chain. Key areas for potential intervention had been identified, and these will be followed up.
Sunflower value chain
Sunflower quality
Cognisance has already been taken that the study on sunflower quality had been approved.
Sunflower value chain discussion
It was reported that the Research Priority Committee and the Oilseeds Advisory Committee will facilitate a discussion on the sunflower value chain, to which role players in the industry will be invited.
Research
Soybeans
National cultivar trials
Details were provided of the national soybean cultivar trials, with information provided on the cultivars that had been planted, the localities where the trials had been planted, and the seed companies that were participating.
Soybean rust
It was noted that soybean rust infection would only set in from February, if at all.
Sclerotinia
It was reported that the first Sclerotinia infections had been observed in Stoffberg, during the previous week.
South African Cultivar and Technology Agency (SACTA)
Feedback was given on the positive progress achieved with the implementation of the statutory levy on the breeding and technology levies on soybeans. The levy collection rate currently stood at 94,7%. Non-compliance will be followed up during February and March 2020. The levy will increase to R80 per ton in the next production season. An application for the continuation of the soybean levy will be submitted in April or May 2020. The market share of participating companies will be calculated during March and April 2020. The outlook for bringing new technologies such as Intacta to the local market was very positive. An annual information day was in the pipeline.
Rhizobium
No feedback.
Sunflower
National cultivar trials
A presentation was delivered on the national sunflower cultivar trials, with details provided on planting dates, localities and cultivars planted. More hybrids had been included than in the past.
Biological control of Sclerotinia on sunflower, Prof M Laing, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Cognisance was taken of the report on Prof Laing's study on the biological control of Sclerotinia on sunflower that had been included as Annexure G.
Technology transfer
Articles
Cognisance was taken of the articles included in Annexure H.
Sunflower Highlights
Cognisance was taken of the various editions of the Sunflower Highlights, included in Annexure I.
LEAF Services
Cognisance was taken that there had been no further developments with regard to the revitalisation of LEAF Services.
Presentation – Soybean blotchy mosaic virus: characterisation and seasonal persistence, Dr Elrea Strydom
Dr Strydom informed the meeting on the scope and findings of her PhD study on the soybean blotchy mosaic virus. An overview of the virus was presented, and the economic implications of the virus were explained. Details were provided of the mechanisms that contribute to the spread of the virus, and the role of the leaf hopper's possible role in the replication of the virus was explained. The significance of the study was also detailed.
Following on her presentation, Dr Strydom was honoured with the PRF's award for the best doctoral study in 2018.
Presentation – Sunflower and soybean production and competitiveness, Mr Divan van der Westhuizen, BFAP
Mr van der Westhuizen delivered a presentation on the studies BFAP undertook on an annual basis in order to obtain information on sunflower and soybean production and competitiveness around the world. The idea was to generate a platform to compare data related to cost of production, technical aspects regarding sunflower and soybean production such as fertiliser application, mechanisation costs, and so forth, with approximately 43 countries participating in this initiative. This allowed comparison between prototype farms in for example Argentina and the Ukraine. Mention was made that these studies were aimed at building sustainable value chains.
Information Days 2019
Information days will be presented at the national sunflower cultivar trials. The Nampo Harvest Day will be held in the second week of May. Producers are welcome to visit Mr van Wyk's trials at Hatfield Experimental Farm.
Videos
No feedback.
Oilseeds Focus
The March 2020 edition of the Oilseeds Focus was being finalised.
Other matters
Chemicals and inoculants
Cognisance was taken that Dr Lamprecht had done research on soybean seed treatments, and that a report will be published on this work.
Fertilisers
Mention was made that Foskor's monopoly on phosphorus was creating supply problems.
Seed/cultivars
No feedback.
Processing
No feedback.
Trading
No feedback.
Consumers and soybean food
It was noted that a soybean food symposium will be presented at the CSIR Convention Centre on 17 September 2020.
Additional matters
Sudden Death Syndrome
It was reported that a molecular tool was being developed to identify Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in soybeans. An appeal was made to producers to alert Dr Lamprecht when the symptoms were observed on soybean plants, as samples were needed for further testing.
Yield competition
It was noted that Grain SA was running a national yield competition for soybeans, sunflower and maize.
Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on 21 April 2020.
Adjournment
There being no further business for discussion, the meeting was adjourned.