Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum
Meeting held on 4 October 2023 at the offices of the Oilseeds Industry, 49 River Road, Woodmead and via MS Teams
Opening
Mr Ralf Küsel opened the meeting with prayer.
Welcome
The Chairperson, Mr Ralf Küsel, welcomed everybody present at the meeting and a special welcome to Mr Facundo Stella from GDM and Mr Johan Teessen from Grain SA attending their first meeting of the forum.
Attendance
Present
Mr R Küsel Chairperson Mr A Bennett SACTA Mr J Botma OAC Dr E Briedenhann PRF/OAC Mr T Clark RCL Foods Dr J Dreyer PRF Mr G Keun CEO PRF/OPDT/OAC Mr CJ Louw Grain SA Ms W Louw SAGL Mr P Lovelace CEOCO/SAOPA Dr S Ma'ali ARC-GCI Mr S Mahlangu SACTA Ms M Scheepers DALRRD Mr B Schultz SAGIS Mr F Stella GDM Mr J Teessen Grain SA Ms M du Preez PRF Ms A Schoeman PRF Via MS Teams
Ms A Botha OAC Member Mr H Davies Eden Social Development Foundation Ms AS de Beer ARC-GCI Mr GP de Beer PRF Contractor Mr S de Jager COFCO Mr M Fache DALRRD Mr M Jansen van Rensburg Department of Agriculture, Mpumalanga Mr J Kotze SACOTA Mr S Lamprecht Department of Agriculture, Mpumalanga Ms L Mellett NAMC Mr V Mpumza JSE Mr L Phaleng AFMA Mr T Prinsloo ARC Mr C Rasoesoe DTIC Ms S Rudolph RCL Foods Mr L Schoonraad Corteva Ms F Sundani NAMC Mr N van Burick Landbouweekblad Dr A van der Vyver SACOTA Mr N Wegner PPECB Apologies
Mr JD Boshoff Consolidated Agricultural Services Prof S Lamprecht ARC-PPRI Mr W Lemmer Agbiz Grain Prof F Meyer PRF Mr T Phasoana ARC Mr GL Roos Producer: Mpumalanga Dr L Rothmann UFS Mr A Theron PRF Mr K van Huyssteen SANSOR Mr W van Wyk PRF Contractor Personalia
None reported.
Confirmation of the agenda
Format of Future Meetings
The Chairman mentioned that he and Mr Keun thought it good to relook the format and agenda of the meeting and restructure and reshuffle the agenda to be more streamlined.
Mr Keun mentioned that he went back into the archives and looked at discussions that had taken place since 1997 at the Forum.
Mr Keun also mentioned that the Forum plays a very important role in the industry and that participation was voluntary. He also mentioned that it was not a controlled body but merely a platform for all role-players in the industry to share ideas, address problems or challenges, identify research topics and share information for the industry to reinform the work all the role-players were involved in. It is a platform to share information. The new format was open for comments. It was noted that meetings will be taking place 3 (three) times a year.
The Agenda was accepted with no additions.
Approval of minutes
Minutes of a meeting of the Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum held on 23 May 2023 and referral to the website
Resolution:
- That the minutes of the Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum held on 23 May 2023 be accepted as a true and fair reflection of that meeting, and that the minutes be referred to the Oilseeds Industry's website for publication.
Ms Du Preez
Steering Committee
OAC
- That the minutes of the Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum held on 23 May 2023 be accepted as a true and fair reflection of that meeting, and that the minutes be referred to the Oilseeds Industry's website for publication.
Market aspects
Current oil seed prices: local and international
Dr E Briedenhann gave a brief overview and did a presentation on the status of the local and international soybean and sunflower markets, with aspects such as production, prices, demand and supply, amongst others, being covered.
SAGIS
The contents of the latest SAGIS Weekly Bulletin and the latest Monthly Bulletin included in Annexure B were noted. Cognisance was taken that this and other data were published on the SAGIS website.
Mr Schultz gave a short presentation in respect of the SAGIS information.
Request from Grain SA: Weekly information on sunflower and soybean oilcake imports and exports
(Resolution 16.10.1 of The Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum of 23/05/2023)
Mr Louw mentioned that a meeting still needs to be arranged with the Competition Commission regarding the Wheat application and once that was completed Grain SA will then apply for the Sunflower and Soybean oilcake imports and exports weekly information.
Mr Louw requested that weekly import and export information be supplied for the Sunflower and Soybean oilcake imports and exports, and not on an 8-weekly basis as previously requested.
Dr E Briedenhann mentioned that there will be financial implications to accommodate the request and that SAGIS need to submit a quote regarding changing the information on sunflower and soybean oilcake imports and exports to a weekly basis and advise if it is feasible or not.
Resolved:
- That it be noted that a meeting still needs to be arranged with the Competition Commission with regards to collecting information on "Weekly information on Wheat imports and exports".
Mr Louw
Mr Keun
SSF - That it be noted that SAGIS need to submit a quote regarding changing the information on sunflower and soybean oilcake imports and exports to a weekly basis and advise if it is feasible or not.
Chairman
Mr Keun
Mr Louw
SSF
SAGIS
- That it be noted that a meeting still needs to be arranged with the Competition Commission with regards to collecting information on "Weekly information on Wheat imports and exports".
South African Supply and Demand Estimates Committee (SASDEC)
The latest Supply and Demand Estimates Committee report included in Annexure C was noted.
Ms F Sundani from the NAMC gave a short presentation on the latest supply and demand estimates.
Crop Estimates
A presentation was delivered on the Crop Estimates Committee's view on the preliminary areas planted for soybeans and sunflower for 2023. An overview was provided of the areas planted with sunflower and soybeans during the period 2010-2023.
Value chain aspects
Processing
Mr T Clark mentioned that the crushing numbers do not look too great for the processing industry.
Mr P Lovelace mentioned that the demand for crushing of oil was less for January 2024 and February 2024 and will only pick up again in March 2024.
Mr P Lovelace also mentioned that the Avian Flu had a big impact on processors.
Trading
Dr A van der Vyver gave feedback on the export of soybeans and the logistical challenges experienced in moving crops by rail transport instead of road transport. He also mentioned that yellow maize booked all the slots and that soybeans struggled to get slots for 2023. Maputo was used as an alternative port and 3 x smaller soybean vessels (<30 000 tons) have left the port. East London harbour was also operational. He also mentioned that new markets have opened in 2022 for Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam and that Portugal had been added in 2023. 11 of the 18 vessels booked have left already with a total of 350 000 tons of Soybeans exported.
Storage
No new information was reported.
Dispute Resolution Process
(Resolution 16.7.1 of The Sunflower, Soybean and Soybean Food Forum of 31/01/2023)
Ms W Louw mentioned that SAGL had submitted the report to Agbiz Grain regarding the evaluation of an appropriate sampling apparatus for the dispute resolution purposes.
Feedback was awaited.
Resolution:
- That it be noted that SAGL submitted the report to Agbiz Grain regarding the evaluation of an appropriate sampling apparatus for the dispute resolution purposes.
SAGL
Agbiz Grain
SSF
- That it be noted that SAGL submitted the report to Agbiz Grain regarding the evaluation of an appropriate sampling apparatus for the dispute resolution purposes.
JSE/SAFEX Feedback
Mr V Mpumza gave feedback regarding a system upgrade at the JSE in respect of a multiple reference point model for the Soya contract that will go live in March 2024. Further feedback will be given at the next Forum meeting.
Dr A van der Vyver enquired if information could be made available from the JSE regarding stock available per silo. Mr V Mpumza mentioned that the information was confidential and not allowed to be disclosed to the market. Mr V Mpumza will draft a market notice in this regard.
Resolution:
- That it be noted that Mr V Mpumza will draft a market notice regarding information to be shared with the market regarding stock availability at silos.
JSE
SSF
- That it be noted that Mr V Mpumza will draft a market notice regarding information to be shared with the market regarding stock availability at silos.
SACTA: Feedback
Mr A Bennett gave feedback on the following:
- Industry Liaison
- Annual Information Session held on 1 August 2023
- Continuation of Soybean levy
- 1 March 2023 - 29 February 2024 - R66/ton excluding VAT.
- 1 March 2024 - 28 February 2025 - R92/ton excluding VAT.
- Levy Collection and Distribution update
- Performance Highlights
- Transformation Expenditure & Forecast
- Industry Liaison
Consumers of Oil Seeds
No new information was reported.
Production: Soybeans and Sunflower
Producer Matters
KwaZulu-Natal
General
Mr R Küsel mentioned that it was a very good season for soybean and maize producers with above average yields.
Mpumalanga and Gauteng
General
No new information was reported.
North West and Limpopo Province
General
No new information was reported.
Free State
General
No new information was reported.
Eastern and Northern Cape and South Western Districts
General
No new information was reported.
Weed and Weed Resistance
Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)
No new information was reported.
Soybean value chain
Dr Briedenhann mentioned that the Soybean Value Chain were attending to the following matters:
- Import duties on soybean meal;
- Drying of soybeans; and
- Soybean differential.
Mr Keun mentioned that the Soybean Value Chain will concentrate on the Chemical Industry and Fertiliser Industry in the future as well.
Sunflower value chain
Dr E Briedenhann highlighted a few aspects attended to by the Sunflower Value Chain:
- Growth in the industry by increasing yields i.e. planting dates;
- High Oil Cultivars; and
- Sclerotinia
Research
Soybeans
National cultivar trials
Ms A de Beer gave a presentation and did a brief overview of the National Soybean cultivar trials.
Soybean rust
Dr J Dreyer mentioned that soybean rust was not a major problem the past season.
Sclerotinia
The Chairman and Mr J Botma reported that Sclerotinia was present but did not damage the crop the past season.
Rhizobium
Mr Keun mentioned that Dr A Hassen from the ARC was continuing with the research and that most trials have been planted. Dr Hassen will submit a report after the 2023/2024 season.
Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS)
Mr Keun mentioned that the "Sudden death syndrome of soybean in South Africa: Etiology, detection and management" project will continue.
Mr Keun also mentioned that currently, Prof S Lamprecht were busy with seed treatment testing as well as cultivar susceptibility and she encouraged the seed companies to take part in the testing and to provide information and cultivars for testing purposes.
Sunflower
National cultivar trials
Dr S Ma'ali gave a brief overview by way of a presentation of the following 3 (three) projects that the ARC were currently busy with:
- Evaluation of commercially available Sunflower cultivars;
- Effect of fertilization and Sclerotinia on Sunflower yield and quality; and
- Investigate the effect of different planting dates on Sunflower seed yield and oil content at Free State and North West.
Alternaria
No new information was reported.
Sclerotinia
No new information was reported.
Technology transfer
Articles
The contents of the documents, included in Annexure F, were noted.
Sunflower highlights
The contents of the documents, included in Annexure G, were noted.
Information Days 2024
The Chairperson requested that any dates of "Information Days" be forwarded to the Administration for circulation to the SSF members.
Mr J Botma mentioned that information days for Soybeans were planned for 2024 and details would be provided as soon as possible.
Videos
The Chairperson requested that educational videos be forwarded to Ms Du Preez for uploading on the website.
Oilseeds Focus
No new information was reported.
Yield Competition: Grain SA
Mr C Louw mentioned that the awards evening of the "Grow for Gold" competition took place on 27 September 2023.
Mr C Louw also mentioned that he will share the information of the finalists with the Administration for circulation to the Forum members.
Additional matters
None.
Election of office bearers
Election of Vice-Chairperson
Mr Jan Botma was unanimously re-elected to the position of Vice-Chairperson of the Forum and representative of the Sunflower Forum at the OAC.
Resolution:
- That Mr Jan Botma be re-elected to the position of Vice-Chairperson of the Forum and representative of the Sunflower Forum at the OAC.
Mr Keun
Mr Botma
SSF
- That Mr Jan Botma be re-elected to the position of Vice-Chairperson of the Forum and representative of the Sunflower Forum at the OAC.
Dates of meetings for 2024
Meeting dates for 2024 will be communicated to members.
Adjournment
There being no further business for discussion, the meeting was adjourned.