2025/2026 ICB: Dryland summer crops at Lichtenburg, North West
2025/2026 SUMMER CROPS  //  Income and Cost Budgets

North West (Lichtenburg) – dryland

Income and cost budgets for maize, soybeans and sunflower for North West in the Lichtenburg region
Area North West: Lichtenburg
Crop Maize Soybeans Sunflower Groundnuts
Production system Dryland

1. Income
Yield: deterministic Ton/ha 4.25 1.50 1.70 1.50
SAFEX simulated price / producer price: 2026 R/ton 3 216 7 085 8 775 15 451
Total deductions R/ton 373 215 380 66
– Transport differential R/ton 279 79 283 –
– Grade differential R/ton 28 – – –
– Handling and commission R/ton 66 66 97 66
– Seed breeding and technology levy R/ton – 70 – –
Price premiums R/ton – – – –
Net farm gate price R/ton 2 843 6 870 8 395 15 385
Gross income R/ha R12 083 R10 306 R14 272 R23 078

2. Variable expenditures
Contracting R/ha – – – –
Crop insurance R/ha 182 1 154 400 369
Fertilizer R/ha 3 189 1 275 1 683 1 731
Lime R/ha 300 – – 165
Seed R/ha 1 376 933 1 001 2 115
Fuel R/ha 1 323 1 057 1 075 2 034
Herbicide R/ha 1 252 1 240 1 190 1 538
Insecticide / Fungicides R/ha 518 1 118 551 1 153
Marketing costs R/ha – – – –
Repairs and maintenance R/ha 1 083 886 1 011 1 008
Casual labour R/ha 274 – – 564
Aerial spray R/ha – – – –
Other expenditure R/ha – – – 352
Total variable expenditure R/ha R9 496 R7 663 R6 912 R11 029
Total variable expenditure R/ton R2 234 R5 109 R4 066 R7 352
3.1 Gross margin R/ha R2 587 R2 643 R7 360 R12 049
3.2 Gross margin R/ton R609 R1 762 R4 329 R8 033
Break-even yield T/ha 3.34 1.12 0.82 0.72
Break-even price R/ton R2 234 R5 109 R4 066 R7 352
Source: BFAP, GSA, NWK and individual farmers – 2025.
Gross margin comparison – baseline: North West (Koster and Lichtenburg)
Gross margin comparison - Baseline: North West: Koster and Lichtenburg

Gross margin per hectare: North West (Lichtenburg)

Maize sensitivity analysis
Yield (t/ha)
Producers price 2.75 3.25 3.75 4.25 4.75 5.25 5.75
R2 443 -2 778 -1 556 -335 887 2 108 3 330 4 551
R2 543 -2 503 -1 231 40 1 312 2 583 3 855 5 126
R2 643 -2 228 -906 415 1 737 3 058 4 380 5 701
R2 743 -1 953 -581 790 2 162 3 533 4 905 6 276
R2 843 -1 678 -256 1 165 2 587 4 008 5 430 6 851
R2 943 -1 403 69 1 540 3 012 4 483 5 955 7 426
R3 043 -1 128 394 1 915 3 437 4 958 6 480 8 001
R3 143 -853 719 2 290 3 862 5 433 7 005 8 576
R3 243 -578 1 044 2 665 4 287 5 908 7 530 9 151
Soybeans sensitivity analysis
Yield (t/ha)
Producers price 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25
R6 470 -2 810 -1 193 425 2 043 3 660 5 278 6 895
R6 570 -2 735 -1 093 550 2 193 3 835 5 478 7 120
R6 670 -2 660 -993 675 2 343 4 010 5 678 7 345
R6 770 -2 585 -893 800 2 493 4 185 5 878 7 570
R6 870 -2 510 -793 925 2 643 4 360 6 078 7 795
R6 970 -2 435 -693 1 050 2 793 4 535 6 278 8 020
R7 070 -2 360 -593 1 175 2 943 4 710 6 478 8 245
R7 170 -2 285 -493 1 300 3 093 4 885 6 678 8 695
R7 270 -2 210 -393 1 425 3 243 5 060 6 878 8 695
Sunflower sensitivity analysis
Yield (t/ha)
Producers price 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.70 2.00 2.25 2.50
R7 995 1 083 3 082 5 081 6 680 9 078 11 077 13 076
R8 095 1 183 3 207 5 231 6 850 9 278 11 302 13 326
R8 195 1 283 3 332 5 381 7 020 9 478 11 527 13 576
R8 295 1 383 3 457 5 531 7 190 9 678 11 752 13 826
R8 395 1 483 3 582 5 681 7 360 9 878 11 977 14 076
R8 495 1 583 3 707 5 831 7 530 10 078 12 202 14 326
R8 595 1 683 3 832 5 981 7 700 10 278 12 427 14 576
R8 695 1 783 3 957 6 131 7 870 10 478 12 652 14 826
R8 795 1 883 4 082 6 281 8 040 10 678 12 877 15 076
Groundnuts sensitivity analysis
Yield (t/ha)
Producers price 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25
R14 985 885 4 856 8 828 12 799 16 770 20 741 24 713
R15 085 960 4 956 8 953 12 949 16 945 20 941 24 938
R15 185 1 035 5 056 9 078 13 099 17 120 21 141 25 163
R15 285 1 110 5 156 9 203 13 249 17 295 21 341 25 388
R15 385 1 185 5 256 9 328 13 399 17 470 21 541 25 613
R15 485 1 260 5 356 9 453 13 549 17 645 21 741 25 838
R15 585 1 335 5 456 9 578 13 699 17 820 21 941 26 063
R15 685 1 410 5 556 9 703 13 849 17 995 22 141 26 288
R15 785 1 485 5 656 9 828 13 999 18 170 22 341 26 513
Soybeans margin above/below maize
Yield Price (R/ton)
R6 570 R6 670 R6 770 R6 870 R6 970 R7 070 R7 170
0.50 -6 965 -6 915 -6 865 -6 815 -6 765 -6 715 -6 665
0.75 -5 322 -5 247 -5 172 -5 097 -5 022 -4 947 -4 872
1.00 -3 679 -3 579 -3 479 -3 379 -3 279 -3 179 -3 079
1.25 -2 037 -1 912 -1 787 -1 662 -1 537 -1 412 -1 287
1.50 -394 -244 -94 56 206 356 506
1.75 1 248 1 423 1 598 1 773 1 948 2 123 2 298
2.00 2 891 3 091 3 291 3 491 3 691 3 891 4 091
2.25 4 534 4 759 4 984 5 209 5 434 5 659 5 884
2.50 6 176 6 426 6 676 6 926 7 176 7 426 7 676

Notes

  • Farm gate price for groundnuts is calculated according to assumptions based on the share of the crop that is graded according to selection grade (40/50-60/70 and 70/80), diverse and crush (human and oil).
  • The cost items reflect the input allocation based on the target yield for the respective crops.
  • Although some expenditure items are zero, it is reflected in the budgets to allow for individual inclusion.
  • Other macro- and microelements such as calcium, magnesium and zinc are included in the fertiliser costs.
  • The cost of fuel includes pre-harvest and harvesting costs with the assumption that own machinery is used.
  • The cost for soybean seed reflects a combination of own and purchased seed.
  • There will be large fluctuations for insurance cost (hail) based on the associated risk in respective areas. It is advised that producers adjust this cost based on their individual premiums.
  • It is important to note that overhead costs are not included and should be accounted for.
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