News

Botswana’s repeated bans on South African fresh produce have raised concerns in the agriculture sector, with industry leaders saying the stop-start restrictions disrupt trade flows and make export planning difficult.

South Africa is expected to exit the 2025/26 La Niña phase in April, moving towards neutral ocean and atmospheric conditions. Meteorologists say this shift may stabilise rainfall patterns, while agricultural economists.

In the middle of South Africa’s escalating foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis, a consignment of 1,5 million urgently needed vaccine doses had already been in the country. However, the vaccines are not yet in the system meant to get them to farmers, exposing a gap between government assurances and the operational reality of the national vaccination roll-out.

South Africa’s pork industry is beginning to see tangible progress in the fight against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF), with new regulatory amendments, vaccine roll-outs and additional abattoir approvals helping to stabilise the sector.

The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture rolled out foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccinations in high-risk areas last week, but organised agriculture has warned that the current supply will not be enough to contain the disease if the outbreak continues.

While industrial hemp offers a potential R660 billion opportunity for South Africa, experts warn that commercial success depends on more than just planting.

The Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) has announced that the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show will now be held from 8 to 11 October, a change made to protect livestock producers, exhibitors, and the long-term integrity of the event amid ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) concerns.

RCL Foods has reported sharply lower interim earnings for the six months ended 31 December 2025, as mounting pressure in its sugar division, combined with subdued consumer demand, weighed on overall performance.

An almost R30 million investment in machinery is set to boost the Eastern Cape’s mohair processing capacity, strengthening South Africa’s position in the global mohair market and promoting local beneficiation.

Government’s commitments to foot-and-mouth disease vaccine supply are ambitious, but a remark by Department of Agriculture Director-General Mooketsa Ramasodi after last week’s engagement with farmers in KwaZulu-Natal raises questions about whether the system can meet Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s rollout timeline.

Escalating hostilities involving the US and Israel against Iran have unsettled global oil markets, fuelling fears that South Africans could face higher transport and food costs in the months ahead.

Canola producers under financial pressure this season might be tempted to cut costs by planting farm-saved seed, but this could ultimately increase their losses.

With the mass vaccination campaign against foot-and-mouth disease under way in South Africa, the Department of Agriculture has reminded farmers that strict livestock movement controls remain in place and permits are still legally required in many cases.

Tensions were high in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on 27 February as dairy farmers questioned Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen over government’s response to the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak during the launch of the province’s mass vaccination rollout.

South Africa is well positioned to supply maize to drought-stricken Kenya in the current marketing year, but policy constraints around genetically modified (GM) grain remain a key obstacle to meaningful trade flows.

While the long-term outlook for South Africa’s macadamia industry remains bullish, the ongoing import tariff uncertainty in the US and a stronger exchange rate are set to leave farmers with slim margins this year.

The response to the 2026 Budget Speech, delivered in Parliament on Wednesday by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, was largely positive. However, the absence of specific support to address the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has left the sector feeling discouraged.

Gauteng’s battle against foot-and-mouth disease has entered what provincial authorities describe as its ‘most decisive phase’, with a scaled-up vaccination programme launched on 26 February as the number of confirmed cases continues to rise.

South Africa’s dairy industry has warned that inconsistent and non-standardised foot-and-mouth disease controls are placing it under mounting strain, despite scientific consensus that properly processed dairy products are safe for human consumption.

South Africa’s economic growth outlook is steadily improving, with growth projected to reach 1,6% in 2026, up from 1,4% in 2025. Growth is expected to average 1,8% over the medium term, reaching 2% by 2028.