Planting Preparation Information Day 2026
Practical insights for the upcoming winter grain season
The Planting Preparation Information Day in Moorreesburg brought together producers, agronomists 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, pest management and practical guidelines to better manage risk.
The day combined research, practical experience and industry knowledge to help producers make more informed decisions for the new season. Below are the presentations from the day.
Langgewens Research Farm: Systems farming in practice
Rens Smit (WCDoA)
Rens Smit focused on the value of integrated systems in the Swartland, where research is conducted alongside producers to develop practical solutions. Long-term trials show that crop rotation with livestock and legumes can reduce input costs, improve soil health and increase system stability. The emphasis was on profitability over time and how system management helps producers better manage climate and input pressures.
Weather outlook: What to expect for the 2026 season
Dr Peter Johnston
Dr Peter Johnston shared insights into seasonal climate forecasts and how producers can interpret them in practice. The focus was on probabilities rather than exact rainfall timing. The outlook indicates below-average rainfall for the south-western Cape from autumn to winter, along with above-average temperatures. Producers were encouraged to prioritise water conservation and soil health to better manage risk.
Cultivar evaluation: Wheat and Oats
Petrus Delport (ARC)
Petrus Delport presented feedback on the 2025 cultivar trials for wheat and oats in the winter rainfall region, based on results from various Swartland localities. The trials showed clear differences in yield, quality and stability between cultivars. For oats, both grain yield and biomass were highlighted. Producers were advised to base cultivar selection on regional performance and multi-year data.
Cultivar evaluation: Canola and Lupins
Piet Lombard (WCDoA)
Piet Lombard shared insights on canola and lupin cultivars in the Swartland and Southern Cape, with a focus on yield and management implications. CL cultivars such as 44Y94, PY421C and Solstice CL have shown strong and stable performance over time, while TT cultivars typically yield 10–20% lower. The shift away from conventional cultivars highlights the importance of strategic cultivar selection.
Grazing strategies: Cover crops and livestock integration in conservation agriculture
Rebecca Ellerbeck (SU MSc Agronomy)
Rebecca Ellerbeck shared how cover crops can be utilised under different grazing strategies within a conservation agriculture system. The research showed that livestock integration is possible without compromising animal performance or causing significant soil degradation. The key takeaway was that success is influenced more by climate and correctly managed carrying capacity than by grazing strategy alone.
2025 Harvest: Review and key trends for the Swartland
Wynand Heunis (Overberg Agri)
Wynand Heunis provided an overview of the 2025 harvest, focusing on climate conditions, yields, quality and market-related factors. Data showed that rainfall was below the long-term average, which impacted production. Despite this, historical data remains a critical tool for improved decision-making and risk management in future seasons.
Overberg GET: Your production information in one place
Overberg Agri
Overberg GET was presented as a powerful digital platform that centralises producers’ financial, grain and production information into one simple, accessible system. With features such as production planning, grain deliveries, financial overviews and online ordering, it helps producers save time and make better decisions — available on both web and mobile for convenience on the go.
Know your wheat diseases: Prevention starts with understanding
Prof Zakkie Pretorius (Sponsor InteliGro)
Prof Zakkie Pretorius focused on the identification and management of key wheat diseases. A distinction was made between monocyclic and polycyclic diseases, with emphasis on timely and preventative management. Factors such as cultivar choice, moisture, temperature and crop residue play a major role in disease development. Resistant cultivars, seed treatment and targeted fungicide applications remain key to effective control.
High input costs, low margins: Guidelines for effective fertilisation
Jacques Smith (Sponsor Yara)
Jacques Smith addressed the challenge of rising input costs and low margins, and how producers can manage fertilisation more effectively. The 4R (5R) nutrient stewardship principle was highlighted as a framework for optimal results, focusing on the right source, rate, time and place. Soil and leaf analysis, combined with precision farming, play a key role in improving yield and profitability.
Manage the soil, manage the season
Bert Badenhorst (Agri Technovation)
Bert Badenhorst focused on the importance of soil management as the foundation of sustainable production. He explained how a better understanding of soil health, moisture management and data-driven decision-making can help producers manage risk and respond to seasonal challenges. Technology and monitoring play a key role in optimising inputs and stabilising yield potential.
Small grain planter optimisation
Bert Badenhorst (Equalizer)
Bert Badenhorst focused on optimising small grain planters to ensure even and efficient crop establishment. He shared practical guidelines on planting speed, working depth and correct levelling of the planter. By paying attention to these settings, producers can achieve better emergence, more uniform stands and ultimately improved yields.
