News

Pressure is mounting on authorities to revise South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) slaughter regulations, after research from the University of Pretoria (UP) found that current rules are not aligned with scientific evidence and are contributing to losses in the livestock industry.

Hundreds of jobs have been secured with the recommissioning of the historic Gledhow Sugar Company mill in KwaDukuza on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

Livestock farmers across South Africa could soon be allowed to vaccinate their own animals against foot-and-mouth disease under a newly proposed government scheme aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.

Botswana has confirmed a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the north-eastern part of the country, triggering a swift escalation in containment measures as authorities race to prevent further spread.

Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector faces mounting pressure as rising fuel costs spread through the value chain. Farmers, transporters, and industry experts warn that volatile prices could affect productivity and food supply, particularly for smallholder farmers.

The proportion of the country’s 848 wastewater systems in a critical state rose from 39% (334) in 2021 to 47% (396) in 2024, according to the recently released 2025 Green Drop Report.

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has approved R22 million in risk-reduction relief to provide fodder support to around 1 100 livestock farmers affected by ongoing dry grazing conditions linked to climate variability.

Africa is not living up to its carbon credit potential, despite rapidly growing global demand for emissions offsets. With more projects emerging in South Africa and across the continent, and agriculture uniquely positioned to develop them, carbon markets could unlock billions in investment.

Water security is fast becoming one of the biggest threats to South Africa’s fruit industry, with climate change, drought, and flooding already disrupting production. This was the stark warning during a recent Sustainable Water Use Footprint webinar hosted by Hortgro.

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed a significant expansion in the distribution of Goss’s wilt across South Africa, with a 2025 national survey showing that the bacterial maize disease is now present in eight provinces.

The South African agriculture sector risks losing competitiveness as ongoing crisis management at government level undermines long-term planning and effective implementation.

The Public Investment Corporation is moving to sell a majority stake in poultry producer Daybreak Foods, as the company continues to grapple with the fallout from financial, governance, and animal welfare crises in 2025.

African farmers could claim capital expenditure from international funding bodies as compensation for climate change, says Prof Guy Midgley, director of Stellenbosch University’s School for Climate Studies.

From perfectly formed fruit to the downright unusual, pineapples of every shape and size were on display at this year’s Bathurst Agricultural Show, where growers gathered to celebrate one of the region’s most distinctive crops.

A giant pumpkin weighing in at 1 221kg has set a new South African and Southern Hemisphere record at the annual Giant Pumpkin Festival held in Heidelberg over the weekend.

Consumers in the Philippines are now enjoying ‘the sweet difference’ from South Africa’s first commercial shipment of table grapes that arrived in that market. Apples and pears from South Africa will follow next as exports to the Philippines.

The South African National Roads Agency’s (SANRAL) draft policy on Rest and Service Facilities (RSFs) could erode rural competitiveness and increase transport costs for the agriculture sector if adopted in its current form.

Government has announced a temporary reduction in the general fuel levy in a bid to blunt steep April fuel price increases driven by global energy volatility, while signalling further support measures for households and key sectors.

Silage farmers have been given more control over the quality of their silage through practical tools released by Pioneer.

Differences over how to manage foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are testing the alignment between South Africa’s livestock industry and veterinary leadership.