Category: Soybeans

The first and very crucial step in any crop survey is obtaining the samples that will provide information about the quality of the crop. Without the cooperation of the commercial grain silo owners, members of Agbiz Grain, who supply these samples to the Southern African Grain Laboratory (SAGL) without any cost, these surveys would not be possible.

Soybeans are the most important oilseed crop produced in South Africa, driven mainly by the demand for protein feed (in this case soybean oilcake) from the animal feed industry.

The 2016/2017 soybean crop quality survey is the sixth annual survey performed by the Southern African Grain Laboratory (SAGL). The goal of this survey is to compile a detailed database, by accumulating quality data collected from the national commercial soybean crop over several seasons.

The extreme drought conditions experienced during the 2015/2016 season, led to an almost 27% (184 500 ha) decline in soybean production area. Yield was also negatively impacted, with the average national yield decreasing from 1,56 t/ha in 2014/2015 to 1,47 t/ha.