South Africa is likely to miss forecasts for corn output this year because dry weather has delayed plantings and possible frost at the end of the season may hurt the crop, the Agricultural Business Chamber said.
The chamber had estimated production for the 2018-19 season at 12.2 million tons. Late summer rains in the Free State and North West provinces mean farmers planted after the optimal window to sow closed in mid-December, it said Monday. By Jan. 11, 60 percent of the intended area for the North West was planted and the figure was 70 percent for the Free State, while other regions managed to plant typical areas, the chamber said.
