News

Water is one of agriculture’s most vital resources, and in a water-scarce country like South Africa, the sector finds itself competing with urban demand, industry, and environmental priorities.

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) livestock farmers have welcomed government’s decision to officially lift the province’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) management area, describing it as a long-overdue breakthrough after years of costly restrictions that have weighed heavily on the province’s agricultural economy.

Precision agriculture technologies can significantly improve profitability, but farmers who expect savings through lower input use may be missing the bigger picture. Research presented by Karen Truter at Nampo 2026 shows that the real gains often come from higher yields, better management of soil potential, and more informed decision-making.

South Africa’s failing municipal infrastructure is increasingly forcing farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities to take over functions traditionally performed by government, delegates heard during a panel discussion on infrastructure, municipal partnerships, and rural development at the Nampo Harvest Day 2026.

The modern Boerboel has been developed over decades as South Africa’s only landrace dog breed. Only animals registered with the South African Boerboel Breeders’ Society may be officially recognised as Boerboels.

Over the past few years, agriculture has been able to amplify its voice. But in a landscape shaped by competing and fragmented narratives, political pressure, and public scrutiny, the real challenge is whether the sector is converting its influence into meaningful outcomes.

From machinery displays and livestock exhibitions to crowds filling the showgrounds, these are some of the scenes from this year’s Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville.

South Africa’s illicit fuel trade is increasingly spilling into agriculture, exposing farmers to potentially catastrophic machinery failures, mounting repair bills and production losses during critical planting and harvesting periods.

At a time when oil prices are high and grain prices are low, South African farmers are looking for alternatives. With the cost of living also rising, biofuels are emerging as a practical option that could help address some of these issues.

The journey from field to shelf is crucial for fresh produce farmers as it determines whether a crop yields a profit or a loss.

Traffic heading into Nampo Park for Nampo 2026 moved much more smoothly on Thursday morning, despite congestion still being slightly heavier than in previous years.

South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak has exposed weaknesses in the country’s biosecurity systems, strained trust between government and the livestock industry, and highlighted the urgent need for stronger public-private cooperation.

Farmers under financial pressure should avoid delaying machinery upgrades to the point where productivity and profitability start slipping, says Antois van der Westhuizen, managing director of John Deere Financial for Africa and the Middle East.

Despite strong commitment, transformation in the grain industry has been slow. There are several reasons for this, one of which is that agriculture is capital-intensive, making it difficult for new entrants and small-scale farmers to compete.

Anyone walking through exhibition stands at NAMPO quickly sees that agriculture is a sector build on innovation and technology. Across the value chain, innovation is changing how crops are grown, marketed, and processed, underscoring the need for training and skills development that match the demands of today and the future.

Nampo Harvest Day 2026 opened with strong discussions around profitability, competitiveness and resilience in agriculture, even as visitor numbers were lower than the first day of last year’s show.

At a media event hosted on the eve of Nampo 2026 at the Syngenta Boerekos Plaaskombuis at Nampo Park in Bothaville, Free State, Luc Henry, business area head of Syngenta South Africa, said South Africa’s regulatory data protection legislation is significantly out of line with global norms.

From spare-wheel solutions to livestock recovery aids, entrants in this year’s Nampo Boereplanne competition impressed judges with practical innovations shaped by real challenges on farms across Southern Africa.

Oilseed and grain farmers across South Africa are under pressure to remain profitable amid volatile markets, climate variability, and rising input costs. Farmer’s Weekly spoke to producers at Nampo 2026 about opportunities for growth and how they’re staying afloat.

Visitors to Nampo Harvest Day 2026 faced heavy traffic congestion on Wednesday morning, with some reporting delays of up to three hours before reaching the showgrounds.