By Alani Janeke
Grain SA’s sunflower and soybean working group appreciates the positive feedback from cooperatives and soybean storers in response to its request to accept soybeans at higher moisture levels.
The wet conditions that occurred from February to April across large parts of the summer rainfall region complicate harvest time and create issues with grain moisture levels. Concerning soybeans, the moisture levels due to the wet conditions are higher than usual, which has made it challenging for farmers to deliver their harvest to silos.
As a result, last week, Grain SA’s sunflower and soybean working group requested cooperatives and other soybean storers to accept soybeans with a moisture level of 14%.
“Silos typically accept soybeans with a moisture level of 12.5% to 13%. However, due to the wet conditions, we requested that they accept soybeans at 14%,” says Corné Louw, Grain SA’s senior agricultural economist and head of applied economics and member services. “If farmers have to wait for the level to drop to 12.5% or 13%, the soybeans from the first harvested fields will meet the right levels, but the moisture levels of the soybeans harvested later will eventually be too low by the time they reach the silos.”
Ryk Pretorius, chairman of the working group, confirmed to African Farming on Monday that cooperatives and other stakeholders have responded favourably to the request. “They indicated that they are already trying to accommodate farmers where possible and will continue to assist them as far as it is within their operational regulations. We are very grateful for their help in this regard.”
African Farming was informed on Tuesday (6 May 2025) by readers that one of Senwes’s silos sent a message late Monday to farmers encouraging them to test the moisture levels of their grains before delivery, as that particular silo could not accept sunflowers with a moisture level higher than 10% or soybeans with a moisture level higher than 13%. In the message, Senwes assures its clients of its continued dedication to assist them as much as possible in taking in this year’s harvest quickly.
On Thursday (8 May) Senwes informed African Farming the situation is very fluid at all their silos with drying capacity and that farmers should contact their particular silo regarding the silo’s capacity to take in soybeans and sunflowers with higher moisture levels. If a silo indicates that they cannot take in soybeans and/or sunflowers with higher moisture levels, this will only be temporary until the silo has capacity available again.
Johan van Rensburg, head of VKB Grain, has confirmed to African Farming that the company’s silos with dryers can accept soybeans and sunflowers with higher moisture levels. “We will try to assist our clients as far as possible.”
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