Producers of the Free State, Mpumalanga and North West provinces will be visited between 28 March 2013 and 17 May 2013 to determine maize yields.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ (DAFF) Crop Estimates Committee appointed the National Crop Estimates Consortium, which is led by the ARC, to visit 484 producers on their farms in the Free State, Mpumalanga and North West provinces to carry out a survey of their expected maize yields. The survey follows on visits already undertaken to producers during February 2013 to collect information on their areas planted.

The field workers are well-trained and will visit selected maize fields to measure the plants and cobs within a field and according to a system of prescribed procedures.

The project was launched to improve the accuracy, objectivity and reliability of the grain crop forecasts. The field workers will be clearly identifiable as they will be wearing a green cap and khaki shirt bearing the words “ARC”. Each field worker will also be in possession of an ID card with his/her ID number.

A urgent appeal is made to producers to give their cooperation. Accurate, objective and reliable crop estimates are of  crucial importance. All information collected will be treated as 100% confidential and only be used for crop forecasting purposes.