Pre-Planting Information Day 2026
Practical insights for the upcoming winter grain season
The Pre-Planting Information Day at Rietpoel brought together producers, agricultural specialists and industry experts to share valuable insights in preparation for the upcoming winter grain season. The programme focused on weather patterns, cultivar evaluations, feedback on the 2025 harvest, technology such as Overberg GET, pest management, precision agriculture and risk management in agriculture.
The day combined research results, practical experience and industry insights to help producers make informed decisions for the new season. Below are the presentations from the day.
Weather patterns and forecast
Lauren Smith (SA Weerdiens)
Lauren Smith from the South African Weather Service presented an overview of the past season’s weather patterns and a forecast for the coming months. The presentation focused on rainfall outlooks, ENSO climate conditions and possible implications for winter grain production and water management in the Overberg.
Wheat and oat cultivar evaluation
Petrus Delport (LNR)
Petrus Delport from the Agricultural Research Council shared the latest results from wheat and oat cultivar trials. The focus was on yield comparisons, adaptability in different production regions and important characteristics that can assist producers with cultivar selection for the upcoming season.
Canola cultivar evaluation
Piet Lombard (DLWK)
Piet Lombard from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture discussed the latest results from canola cultivar trials. The presentation highlighted cultivar groups, yield results and management aspects that can help producers with cultivar selection and production planning for the upcoming season.
Barley cultivar evaluation
Daniel de Klerk (SABBI)
Daniel de Klerk from SABBI presented an overview of barley cultivar trials and performance across different production regions. The presentation focused on yield results, cultivar selection and important management aspects that play a role in successful barley production.
Harvest 2025
Johan Lusse (Overberg Agri)
Johan Lusse presented an overview of the 2025 harvest, focusing on climate conditions, harvest statistics, grain quality and market prices. The presentation also covered operational improvements at silos and trends in production to assist producers with planning for the upcoming season.
Overberg GET
Christo Prins (Overberg Agri)
Christo Prins introduced the Overberg GET platform as a central digital tool where producers can manage their production, grain and financial information in one place. The platform provides access to account information, grain deliveries and online purchases of agricultural inputs.
Snails: Options to address the problem
Piet Lombard (DLWK)
Piet Lombard discussed practical management options for snail control, focusing on the biology of snails, monitoring and effective control strategies. The presentation highlighted chemical and integrated management approaches to limit damage to young crops.
Fungicide deposition trial on canola: Boom sprayer vs drone vs aircraft
Dr Gideon van Zyl (ProCrop)
Dr Gideon van Zyl shared research results on fungicide deposition on canola using different application methods, including boom sprayers, drones and aircraft. The study focused on spray volumes, canopy penetration and deposition effectiveness during different growth stages.
Precision agriculture in practice: Research and insights from the SU-BFAP Chair
Dr Andries Le Roux (SU & BFAP)
Dr Andries Le Roux shared practical insights on precision agriculture and how data and technology can help producers manage inputs more effectively. The focus was on research, yield variation and how precision techniques can support better production and management decisions.
Risk management in agriculture: Sources of risk and management strategies
Dr Willem Hoffmann (Stellenbosch University)
Dr Willem Hoffmann discussed the different types of risk in agriculture, including production, market, financial and personal risk. The focus was on practical strategies such as diversification, contracts and insurance to better manage risk.
What do the numbers say: Insights from our study group
Ruben Badenhorst (Overberg Agri)
Ruben Badenhorst shared insights from Overberg Agri’s study group data, focusing on production trends, cost structures and yield performance. The data helps producers compare the performance of their farming operations and make better management decisions.
