South African Wheat Farmers Face Significant Losses Due to Drought

South African wheat farmers are facing significant losses due to drought in the Swartland region. Farmer Migael Smuts expects his farm's revenue to fall by at least 30% in 2026, with some fields potentially losing up to 80% of their crops.

The area planted with wheat in South Africa has dropped to 473,900 hectares, its lowest level since 1929. This is partly due to high production costs, which have risen by around 65% between 2016 and 2026, while grain prices have only increased by approximately 36%.

Smuts uses reduced-tillage practices to limit erosion and retain moisture, but this method requires more herbicides to be sprayed on crops. He notes that canola generates higher returns and now occupies a larger area at Grasrug, but it cannot fully replace wheat.