Despite all the allegations made with regard to lodging, no data has yet
been collected. This makes it impossible to quantify the extent of the
problem on an industry basis.
Harvesting time
It seems that one of the major benefits for producers is that barley has
a slightly shorter production cycle and could be harvested one to two
weeks earlier than wheat. This is highly beneficial for producers since it
results in better optimisation of their equipment i.e. using less combines
and trucks in combination between a barley and wheat harvesting
programme.
Feed barley
Feed barley in South Africa is the result of malt barley that is downgraded.
Malt barley and wheat command a price of around 50% - 60% premium
higher than that of feed grains, mainly yellow maize. Any malt barley
that is downgraded to feed barley therefore means a huge loss to the
producer. Vaalharts producers estimate feed barley delivered to the silos
at 3% - 4%.
Financially promising
Production cost data obtained from GWK indicates that producers earn
substantially more from the production of barley than from wheat.
Budgeted figures in the Douglas areas show a gross income per hectare
of R5 584 per hectare for barley versus R2 246 per hectare for wheat
(actual numbers are higher). The compatible numbers for Vaalharts are
R7 647 and R4 857 respectively.
When the two sets of numbers are compared, barley is a better
proposition (versus wheat) in the GWK area (a gross profitability of 148%
higher per hectare) than in the Vaalharts area (57%).
This, however, is not the only benefit, and the benefits of an early
maturing crop and fusarium resistance, rank as two of the main additional
advantages in a high intensity production environment. There is no doubt
that the production of barley requires a higher degree of management
skills and commitment.
Lodging and the possibility of a downgrade to feed barley were listed as
two of the key problem areas. Despite the 8% deduction by SAB, there is
little doubt that there is an adequate financial incentive for the production
of malt barley.
References
DAFF (2013). Barley information, Pretoria.
GWK (2013).
GWK Kostegids
. Maart 2013, Douglas.
Lubbe, F. (2013). Agriculturalist, SAB. Personal interview. 26 March 2013, Kimberley.
SAB (undated). Presentation. The South African Breweries Maltings.
SAGIS (2013). Barley statistics, Pretoria.
Senwes (2013).
Senwes produksiekostenorme 2012-wintergewasse: Gars en koring
.
11 Julie 2013, Klerksdorp.
Barley/Wheat
Inputs/Production
36
The relative value between barley and wheat from a production
point of view:
Northern Cape irrigation areas
Continued from page 35
New look for ARC website
The website of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) now boasts a new look which
has been made live at
The ARC-Grain Crops Institute (ARC-GCI) can
also be accessed on this website by clicking on the ARC-GCI link.
SA Graan/
Sasol Nitro fotokompetisie
– Sanett Botha 2012
