The 2024 canola harvest season is painting the Western and Southern Cape and Overberg in waves of golden yellow blossoms, heralding what’s set to be a record crop. Southern Oil (SOILL), a trusted market leader for over 29 years, extends heartfelt gratitude to the more than 600 dedicated farmers working tirelessly to bring this bounty to the canola oil sector. SOILL remains committed to sourcing only the best quality seed, ensuring the finest oil for its B-well brand for the consumers who trust us for quality they can rely on.
Promising Yields in the Cape
In the Cape, thousands of hectares are currently being harvested. Regular rainfall and cool weather throughout the season have created ideal conditions for these iconic canola fields to flourish. Each yellow blossom, filled with seeds of promise, represents the hard work of farmers committed to making this season a success. Farmers, too, share in the excitement as they anticipate harvests that promise better-than-average yields, bringing hope and momentum to the region’s agricultural community.
Swartland: A Recovery in Progress
In the Swartland, despite an early season marked by dry conditions, recent rains and sunshine have allowed the canola crop to make a resilient comeback. As harvest approaches in the next few weeks, there’s a renewed sense of cautious optimism among farmers, with expectations that yields may still reach average or slightly better levels in some fields this year.
A Record Year for Canola in South Africa?
With a record-high 145,000 hectares of canola planted nationwide, excitement around this year’s harvest is blossoming.
Chief Economist Wandile Sihlobo of Agbiz has high hopes, noting, “South Africa’s 2024-25 canola production is forecast at 294,000 tonnes, up 25% year-on-year, making this the largest harvest on record.”
SOILL’s Zander Spammer notes, “A large part of the harvest is already in storage, and our team is working around the clock alongside farmers to ensure every step of logistics and operations runs smoothly. We’re grateful for this fruitful partnership that brings top-quality products to the market.”
A Lasting Impact: SOILL’s Dedication to Farmers and Consumers
As this milestone harvest season unfolds, SOILL is proud to play a role in educating consumers on the unique benefits of switching to canola oil. Through the Canola Trust, SOILL reinvests in farmworker families by supporting children’s education and honouring the hard work of today’s farmers while cultivating a brighter future for their communities.
SOILL looks forward to a successful harvest season and to continuing its mission of delivering excellence in every bottle of B-well canola oil.
About Southern Oil Brands
In 1994, Southern Oil (Pty) Ltd, known as SOILL, significantly impacted South Africa’s agricultural landscape by pioneering canola cultivation in the Western Cape province. The objective was to process the cultivated seeds locally and introduce a new product to the domestic market. The benefit of choosing Canola was derived from the alternative winter crop for the farmer. Canola is an excellent rotational crop, resulting in higher yields on farmland in subsequent years and offering a local healthy oil alternative to the consumer.
Today, Southern Oil is a leading modern oil extraction plant and edible oil refinery, boasting nearly three decades of expertise. Specializing in product development, bulk oil, and animal feed supply, the company has evolved into a cornerstone of the industry.
Located in Swellendam, our plant represents Africa’s largest Canola-crushing operation. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and adhering to stringent certified standards, we ensure the exceptional and consistent quality of our oil extraction and refining processes. This dedication underscores our commitment to delivering excellence in every aspect of our operations. For more information about SOILL, visit www.soill.co.za.
