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The huge cost of weeds
Farmer's Weekly
|November 24, 2023
Losses due to weeds in lands and weed seeds in commercial grains in South Africa in 1985 were estimated at R1 billion a year [R11,5 billion today], according to Dr WP Grobbelaar, [then] chief director of agronomy of the [then] Department of Agriculture and Water Supply.
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The total value of chemical herbicides used during 1985 in plant production, including the citrus, deciduous fruit and sugar industries, as well as all field crops, came to R246 million [R2,8 billion]. When these figures are considered, the magnitude of the weed problem becomes even more evident, Grobbelaar says. Of the R246 million, 54,5% is spent on weed control in maize, 13% on sugar cane, 8% on winter cereals, 6% on grain sorghum, and 4% on oilseeds. The rest goes to other crops.
This story is from the November 24, 2023 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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