Weather reduces SA maize

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa is expected to trim its forecast slightly for the 2006/07 maize area to 2,75 million hectares after poor rains limited many farmers’ plantings, according to a Reuters poll.

The estimate is the first big piece of local market news for 2007 but traders said it is unlikely to cause too much excitement, as the country is still set to produce a large crop and many predict only a tiny adjustment in the forecast. “I think there was a little bit of damage to the extent of 150 000 ha or so…I don’t know if the CEC is going to include that damaged area as planted though,” one Johannesburg dealer said.”But then again, I don’t think that type of figure is necessary bullish.”The Crop Estimates Committee is likely next Wednesday to cut its preliminary outlook of the 2006/07 area after it put the hectarage at 2,768 million ha in its last Intentions to Plant survey in November, the average estimates of 15 traders found.Nampa-Reuters”I think there was a little bit of damage to the extent of 150 000 ha or so…I don’t know if the CEC is going to include that damaged area as planted though,” one Johannesburg dealer said.”But then again, I don’t think that type of figure is necessary bullish.”The Crop Estimates Committee is likely next Wednesday to cut its preliminary outlook of the 2006/07 area after it put the hectarage at 2,768 million ha in its last Intentions to Plant survey in November, the average estimates of 15 traders found.Nampa-Reuters