Cropping
Canola production in
South Africa
Farmer's Review Africa speaks to Rick
The crop has been earmarked as a
an increase in disease discovered while
Horbury, Technical Advisor at Bayer's
development crop for South Africa, as
farming the crop and as a result, up to
Crop Science Division from Australia
the country remains a net importer of
half a ton of canola crop has been lost.
and Dirk Uys, Head of Marketing at
plant oils and oil cake, to the tune of
The type of diseases prevalent in both
Bayer Crop Science in South Africa
70% per annum. While canola crop in
countries include sclerotinia, blackleg,
about the challenges affecting Canola
production and how South Africa can
advance canola production.
South Africa's canola production has
increased significantly over the past
two decades, and the area planted has
risen over the years and currently
stands at 70 000ha, with canola
production increasing to 93 000 tons
during the 2015/16 season, states
Dirk Uys.
Canola across the world is a summer
crop while in South Africa itis a winter
crop, mainly grown in the Western
Cape. It is produced in cool weather
conditions, and the optimum
temperature for growth and
production is 21˚c. Temperatures
o
below 10 c can results in progressively
poorer germination and emergence.
The lower temperatures impair protein
production needed for germination
and early seedling development.
H o w e ve r, g l o b a l l y t h e w e a t h e r
patterns have had a negative impact
on canola crop production.
July - August 2016
Australia is produced in Western
seedling blight, white leaf blister, downy
Australia, mainly for export to Asia
mildew, all contributing to reductions in
especially the Chinese market, there
the potential yield. It is therefore critical
are a lot of similarities between the
to be pro-active in finding solutions with
two countries and more lessons can
proper management strategies to
be shared by the two countries in
overcome the diseases affecting the
order to best understand the crop,
canola crop. Australia has developed a
explains Horbury.
canola protection plan which can aid
The economics of production of canola
South Africa in developing its own
is a major concern to all producers
canola protection.
across the globe, and the challenges
In addition, it is important to continue
affecting canola production are similar
the promotion of reasonable rotations
for both countries, therefore it is key
for canola fields. Canola offers great
for producers to better understand the
benefits as a rotation crop especially
crop in order to make better
with wheat, as it has the ability to
management decisions, further
increase the yields of subsequent cereal
explains Horbury.
crops. Additional benefits of a crop
Some of the key constraints that
rotation systems includes the reduction
impact the canola yield production,
in disease, more effective weed control,
include low growing season
improved root system, planters and
precipitation, variety availability,
harvesters that are used more
optimum plant density, fertility as well
effectively as well as better distribution
as the disease and insects, and all
of the financial risk.
these need to be solved, including the
All in all, following the recommended
correct planting date, and weed
one-in-three to four year canola rotation
control programme.
can provide better yields with reduced
According to Horbury, there has been
risk for all crops in the rotation.
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