2024/2025 ICB: Dryland crops in Western and Northern Free State
2024/2025 SUMMER CROPS  //  Income and Cost Budgets

Northern Free State – dryland

Income and cost budgets for maize, soybeans, sunflower, groundnuts and grain sorghum for Western and Northern Free State
Area Western and Northern Free State
Crop Maize (higher potential) Maize (normal potential) Soybeans Sunflower Groundnuts Grain sorghum
Production system Dryland

1. Income
Yield: deterministic Ton/ha 5.50 4.50 1.75 1.75 1.50 3.00
SAFEX simulated price / producer price: 2025 R/ton 3 798 3 817 7 520 8 180 16 350 5 324
Total deductions R/ton 478 402 404 420 69 69
– Transport differential R/ton 390 306 275 3310 – –
– Grade differential R/ton 19 27 – – – –
– Handling and commission R/ton 69 69 69 110 69 69
– Seed breeding & technology levy R/ton – – 60 – – –
Price premiums R/ton – – – – – –
Net farm gate price R/ton 3 320 3 414 7 116 7 761 16 281 5 255
Gross income R/ha R18 260 R15 364 R12 452 R13 581 R24 422 R15 764

2. Variable expenditures
Contracting R/ha – – – – – –
Crop insurance R/ha 201 169 610 381 382 504
Fertilizer R/ha 3 555 2 812 1 079 1 723 1 612 2 637
Lime R/ha 359 359 – – 198 210
Seed R/ha 1 937 1 254 1 360 663 2 301 453
Fuel R/ha 1 514 1 500 1 072 1 169 2 059 1 392
Herbicide R/ha 862 785 1 289 883 1 262 1 199
Insecticide / Fungicides R/ha 686 686 250 345 1 075 789
Marketing costs R/ha – – – – – –
Repairs and maintenance R/ha 1 066 925 895 801 1 004 778
Casual labour R/ha 263 216 – – 564 71
Aerial spray R/ha – – – – – –
Other expenditure R/ha – – – – 354 –
Total variable expenditure R/ha R10 443 R8 706 R6 554 R5 965 R10 810 R8 034
Total variable expenditure R/ton R1 899 R1 935 R3 745 R3 409 R7 207 R2 678
3.1 Gross margin R/ha R7 817 R6 658 R5 898 R7 616 R13 611 R7 730
3.2 Gross margin R/ton R1 421 R1 480 R3 370 R4 352 R9 074 R2 577
Break-even yield T/ha 3.15 2.55 0.92 0.77 0.66 1.53
Break-even price R/ton R1 899 R1 935 R3 745 R3 409 R7 207 R2 678
Source: BFAP, GSA and Senwes – 2024.
Gross margin comparison – baseline: Northern Free State
Gross margin comparison - Baseline: Western / Northern Free State

Gross margin per hectare: Northern Free State

Maize sensitivity analysis (higher potential soils)
Yield (t/ha)
Producers price 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50 6.00 6.50 7.00
R2 920 1 237 2 697 4 157 5 617 7 077 8 537 9 997
R3 020 1 637 3 147 4 657 6 167 7 677 9 187 10 697
R3 120 2 037 3 597 5 157 6 717 8 277 9 837 11 397
R3 220 2 437 4 047 5 657 7 267 8 877 10 487 12 097
R3 320 2 837 4 497 6 157 7 817 9 477 11 137 12 797
R3 420 3 237 4 947 6 657 8 367 10 077 11 787 13 497
R3 520 3 637 5 397 7 157 8 917 10 677 12 437 14 197
R3 620 4 037 5 847 7 657 9 467 11 277 13 087 14 897
R3 720 4 437 6 297 8 157 10 017 11 877 13 737 15 597
Soybeans sensitivity analysis (normal potential soils)
Yield (t/ha)
Producers price 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50
R6 716 162 1 840 3 519 5 198 6 877 8 556 10 235
R6 816 262 1 965 3 669 5 373 7 077 8 781 10 485
R6 916 362 2 090 3 819 5 548 7 277 9 006 10 735
R7 016 462 2 215 3 969 5 723 7 477 9 231 10 985
R7 116 562 2 340 4 119 5 898 7 677 9 456 11 235
R7 216 662 2 465 4 269 6 073 7 877 9 681 11 485
R7 316 762 2 590 4 419 6 248 8 077 9 906 11 735
R7 416 862 2 715 4 569 6 423 8 277 10 131 11 985
R7 516 962 2 840 4 719 6 598 8 477 10 356 12 235
Sunflower sensitivity analysis
Yield (t/ha)
Producers price 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50
R7 361 1 396 3 236 5 076 6 916 8 756 10 597 12 437
R7 461 1 496 3 361 5 226 7 091 8 956 10 822 12 687
R7 561 1 596 3 486 5 376 7 266 9 156 11 047 12 937
R7 661 1 696 3 611 5 526 7 441 9 356 11 272 13 187
R7 761 1 796 3 736 5 676 7 616 9 556 11 497 13 437
R7 861 1 896 3 861 5 826 7 791 9 756 11 722 13 687
R7 961 1 996 3 986 5 976 7 966 9 956 11 947 13 937
R8 061 2 096 4 111 6 126 8 141 10 156 12 172 14 187
R8 161 2 196 4 236 6 276 8 316 10 356 12 397 14 437
Groundnuts sensitivity analysis
Yield (t/ha)
Producers price 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25
R15 881 1 775 5 971 10 166 14 361 18 556 22 752 26 947
R15 981 1 850 6 071 10 291 14 511 18 731 22 952 27 172
R16 081 1 925 6 171 10 416 14 661 18 906 23 152 27 397
R16 181 2 000 6 271 10 541 14 811 19 081 23 352 27 622
R16 281 2 075 6 371 10 666 14 961 19 256 23 552 27 847
R16 381 2 150 6 471 10 791 15 111 19 431 23 752 28 072
R16 481 2 225 6 571 10 916 15 261 19 606 23 952 28 297
R16 581 2 300 6 671 11 041 15 411 19 781 24 152 28 522
R16 681 2 375 6 771 11 166 15 561 19 956 24 352 28 747
Soybeans margin above/below maize
Yield Price (R/ton)
R6 816 R6 916 R7 016 R7 116 R7 216 R7 316 R7 416
0.75 -9 259 -9 184 -9 109 -9 034 -8 959 -8 884 -8 809
1.00 -7 555 -7 455 -7 355 -7 255 -7 155 -7 055 -6 955
1.25 -5 852 -5 727 -5 602 -5 477 -5 352 -5 227 -5 102
1.50 -4 148 -3 998 -3 848 -3 698 -3 548 -3 398 -3 248
1.75 -2 444 -2 269 -2 094 -1 919 -1 744 -1 569 -1 394
2.00 -740 -540 -340 -140 60 260 460
2.25 964 1 189 1 414 1 639 1 864 2 089 2 314
2.50 2 668 2 918 3 168 3 418 3 668 3 918 4 168
2.75 4 372 4 647 4 922 5 197 5 472 5 747 6 022

Notes

  • The Northern Free State high potential maize budget represents the cultivation of yellow maize under high potential conditions such as water table soils.
  • Farm gate price for ground nuts is calculated according to assumptions based on the share of the crop that is graded according to selection grade (40/50-60/70 and 70/80), diverse and crush (human and oil).
  • The cost items reflect the input allocation based on the target yield for the respective crops.
  • Although some expenditure items are zero, it is reflected in the budgets to allow for individual inclusion.
  • Other macro- and microelements such as calcium, magnesium and zinc are included in the fertiliser costs.
  • The cost of fuel includes pre-harvest and harvesting costs with the assumption that own machinery is used.
  • The cost for soybean seed reflects a combination of own and purchased seed.
  • There will be large fluctuations for insurance cost (hail) based on the associated risk in respective areas. It is advised that producers adjust this cost based on their individual premiums.
  • It is important to note that overhead costs are not included and should be accounted for.
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