# WANDILE SIHLOBO: Farmers hold their nerve as El Niño threatens summer crops | Financial Mail

> South African agronomist Wandile Sihlobo reports that El Niño has not yet derailed summer grain and oilseed planting, though October was unusually hot. Rainfed crops face a potentially challenging season if dry conditions persist.

- Date: 2026-11-01 · published 2026-11-01T23:45:08.070Z
- Category: weather · region South Africa · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/74282-wandile-sihlobo-farmers-hold-their-nerve-as-el-nino-threatens-summer-crops
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

Early planting continues, but drought risk to South African maize and soybeans could tighten regional supply later in the season and support feed grain prices.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: bullish ▲
- CORN: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2018-09-22 | [El Niño Return Could Negatively Affect South Africa’s Summer Crops \| Wandile Sihlobo](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62951-el-nino-return-could-negatively-affect-south-africa-s-summer-crops-wandile.md) | +0.7% | +2.6% |
| CORN | 2023-07-27 | [Farmers hold their breath amid hot and dry pollination](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13263-farmers-hold-their-breath-amid-hot-and-dry-pollination.md) | -13.2% | -14.2% |
| CORN | 2026-08-27 | [Heat, floods threaten China crops as U.S. farm purchases loom \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14552-heat-floods-threaten-china-crops-as-u-s-farm-purchases-loom-reuters.md) | +1.2% | +5.8% |
| CORN | 2026-09-04 | [El Niño drives crop failure in Central America and East Africa and threatens the next season in Southern Africa, East Africa, Western South America, and Southeast Asia - Joint Research Centre](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17395-el-nino-drives-crop-failure-in-central-america-and-east-africa-and-threatens.md) | +0.5% | +1.9% |
| CORN | 2019-06-15 | [Weak El Niño could continue through summer](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58502-weak-el-nino-could-continue-through-summer.md) | -0.8% | -0.8% |
| SOY | 2023-08-18 | [Exclusive: India faces record low August rains, threatening summer crops \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/34475-exclusive-india-faces-record-low-august-rains-threatening-summer-crops-reuters.md) | +2.2% | +0.3% |
| SOY | 2023-07-27 | [Farmers hold their breath amid hot and dry pollination](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13263-farmers-hold-their-breath-amid-hot-and-dry-pollination.md) | -7.5% | -12.1% |
| SOY | 2019-06-15 | [Weak El Niño could continue through summer](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58502-weak-el-nino-could-continue-through-summer.md) | +0.7% | +0.6% |

## Sources

- fm.co.za: https://fm.co.za/opinion/2026-11-01-wandile-sihlobo-farmers-hold-their-nerve-as-el-nino-threatens-summer-crops/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.