South Africa Wheat Plantings Seen at 11-Year Low as Costs Surge

South African farmers will likely plant the smallest area of wheat in more than a decade this year as the war in Iran pushes up the cost of key inputs such as fertilizer and fuel.

Wheat producers plan to plant 486,400 hectares (1.2 million acres) of land in 2026, down 6% from the previous year, South Africa’s Crop Estimate Committee said Thursday in its estimate for intentions to plant winter crops. That will be the smallest area since 2015.