Frost and low minimum temperatures surprised farmers on the Mpumalanga Highveld this morning, but there is little concern about the impact on summer grain plantings.
By Alani Janeke, Senior Journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Farmers in several places on the Mpumalanga Highveld reported frost this morning, with minimum temperatures dropping to 5°C or lower. In a farmers’ WhatsApp group, a minimum of 3°C and frost were reported in Ermelo. Amersfoort and Val also woke up to frost.
Danie Bester, a farmer from the Balfour district, also had frost. He said he would keep a close eye on his soybean plantings for possible damage, but as long as the plants weren’t covered in ice for more than two to three hours, the damage should be minimal.
Independent agricultural meteorologist Johan van den Berg says soybeans are more susceptible to frost damage than maize. The leaves start turning black when the plant suffers cold damage, he says.
Also read: Tornadoes and lightning: Stormy weather could persist
Maize is Tough
BP Greyling, a farmer from the Wakkerstroom district, says frost was visible in all the low-lying parts of his farm early morning. He has been planting maize for the past two weeks and plans to finish by the end of the month.
He is not worried about damage to the maize, as the growing points have not yet emerged. Until then, maize is not easily damaged. Even if some plants are slightly affected, they usually recover. “The only thing tougher than maize on the farm is an iron post,” he quipped.
Greyling says cold weather in spring and early summer is nothing new for the area. “We even had light snow here in December last year.”
Also read: Above-average rain expected from November to January
More Cold Conditions Expected
Van den Berg says at least three cold front systems could move across the country before November. These systems may bring further cold as well as stormy weather as cold air from the fronts merges with warm, tropical air. This convergence can lead to hailstorms, strong winds and even tornadoes.
In recent seasons, little rain has fallen during spring and early summer – the period when the risk of hail is highest. This season, however, above-average rain started as early as September, followed by more rain and hail in October.
The three frontal systems expected could occur around 24–25 October, 30–31 October and the first week of November, Van den Berg says.
