Agriculture in the Free State

Known as the "granary of the country", cultivated land in the Free State covers 3.2million ha, while natural veld and grazing cover 8.7million ha. About two thirds of the gross agricultural income of the Free State is provided by field crops; An additional 30% is provided by animal products, with horticulture yielding the remainder.

The Ficksburg district is famous for providing ninety per cent of the country's cherry crop (celebrated annually in the Ficksburg cherry festival), while the two largest asparagus factories are also situated in this district. Soya, sorghum, sunflowers and wheat are cultivated, especially in the eastern Free State, where farmers specialize in seed production. The high-lying regions of the province yield about 40% of South Africa's potato crop.

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