Background

Grain SA officially launched a National Yield Competition for grains during September 2019 for the 2020 season. The competition involves consultation with all seed companies for the establishment of a standard protocol, thus ensuring that all participating seed companies and grain producers are judged at the same level and on the same criteria.

The format of Grain SA’s National Yield Competition is formulated in such a way as to create synergy between individual seed companies’ regional competition with an overall national competition. Each seed company will continue to offer their own yield competition, from which entries can advance to the national competition under the Grain SA banner.

Yield encompasses an important role of a grain producer’s profitability and in part also the effectiveness. It is thus important to learn what is possible under each and every circumstance. The importance of competitions like these can not be overstated since it gives an opportunity to producers to understand and learn more from fellow producers.

The competition also boasts newly established categories specifically for small scale farmers and wheat production. Wheat judging and production will be part of the competition for the first time this year.

The past few seasons have been challenging for producers with climatic conditions that have resulted in excessive financial losses. However, the challenging conditions have proven that South African producers have performed miracles in terms of yields even under adverse conditions. The importance of competitions like these cannot be overstated since it provides an opportunity for producers to understand and learn more from fellow producers.


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Historical competition records

CATEGORY YIELD
MAIZE IRRIGATION 23.47 t/ha
MAIZE WATER TABLE 13.13 t/ha
MAIZE – NORTH WEST 13.79 t/ha
MAIZE – EASTERN HIGHVELD 16.0 t/ha
MAIZE – EASTERN FREE STATE 13.63 t/ha
MAIZE – CENTRAL 15.38 t/ha
MAIZE – KZN 16.2 t/ha
SOYA – IRRIGATION 6.3 t/ha
SOYA – NORTH WEST 5.34 t/ha
SOYA – WATER TABLE 5.28 t/ha
SOYA- EASTERN HIGHVELD 5.50 t/ha
SOYA- EASTERN FREE STATE 4.72 t/ha
SOYA – CENTRAL 5.29 t/ha
SOYA – KZN 5.40 t/ha
SUNFLOWER 4.44 t/ha
SMALLHOLDER 8.01 t/ha