South Africa

Grain SA has escalated its dispute with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) over soya bean location differentials, arguing that a return to a single reference point could impose substantially higher theoretical transport deductions on producers.

A new computer centre in Eksteenskuil, a rural agricultural community in the lower Orange River valley of the Northern Cape, is set to give farmers, farmworkers, learners, and rural businesses better access to online services, agricultural information, and an opportunity to improve their digital skills.

The remarkable story of Rico, the Merino sheep who got lost as a lamb and survived alone for seven years in the unforgiving Moordenaarskaroo, has taken a new turn with the launch of the Rico Bursary Fund, aimed at creating opportunities for deserving agricultural students.

South Africa’s disease-free buffalo that test positive for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) antibodies will no longer face automatic destruction, following an intervention by Wildlife Ranching South Africa.

Low commodity prices, high input costs, and mounting weather risks are squeezing South African grain farmers’ profitability, while sluggish domestic demand means the industry will increasingly need to look to productivity gains, exports, and new markets to grow.

South Africa’s dragon fruit industry has had a challenging season, resulting in many farmers exiting the industry. Farmers in Mpumalanga and the Western Cape have been grappling with wet weather, while those in the Eastern Cape have experienced overly dry and warm conditions.

Researchers at Langgewens Research Farm in the Swartland, Western Cape, used the second day of the 13th Jack Human Conservation Agriculture Week to showcase practical strategies aimed at improving profitability and resilience in grain production systems.

Building resilience in grain farming systems was a central theme of the 13th Jack Human Conservation Agriculture Week, with researchers from South Africa and Australia highlighting the importance of the connections between soil health, crop management, pest pressure, and environmental conditions in achieving sustainable production.

Strong producer organisations, effective public-private partnerships, and functioning infrastructure will be critical if South African agriculture is to withstand mounting economic, climatic, and biosecurity risks.

South African agriculture continues to outperform the wider economy, but the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy’s Baseline 2026 Agricultural Outlook says export-led growth, stronger infrastructure, technological advancement, improved animal health, and effective transformation are needed to strengthen food security and economic value.

South Africa’s agriculture sector shed 16 000 jobs in the second quarter of 2026 but remained 4,3% above the level seen a year earlier. Economists say the quarterly decline reflects the sector’s seasonal nature, but warn that weak profitability could put pressure on future employment.

On 13 August, Grain SA led grain and oilseed producers from across the country on a march to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) to present a memorandum on the exchange’s decision to revert to a single reference point model for calculating soya bean location differentials.

Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp has identified foot-and-mouth disease, administrative delays, outdated systems, rural safety, and market access as some of the major challenges facing South African agriculture. In a recent discussion with Farmer’s Weekly, he outlined his proposed changes and acknowledged shortcomings within government itself.

Rising electricity costs, growing competition for water, and concerns about water quality are changing the way farmers approach irrigation investment, with efficiency and system performance becoming increasingly important.

Premier Group CEO Kobus Gertenbach has told canning fruit growers that the company will compensate them in cash for fruit it can no longer process during the coming season.

At the 12th DMC Hollard Conference, held on 11 August in Durbanville in the Western Cape, speakers urged dairy farmers to use data and early intervention to prevent production, health, and fertility losses before they become visible or affect future generations.

During a public panel discussion at KragDag 2026, held from 6 to 8 August near Rayton in Gauteng, panellists reflected on the lessons learnt from the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and explored how to create an environment where farmers can operate with greater certainty and less state intervention.

Agriculture has become an increasingly prominent feature of KragDag, and this year’s expo was no exception, with agricultural exhibitions showcasing everything from precision farming technology and agricultural drones to livestock genetics, irrigation, and renewable-energy solutions.

Stronger collaboration between organised agriculture, government, and industry stakeholders is essential to building a more resilient agriculture sector, industry leaders said during a panel discussion at the Agri EC Congress 2026, held in Jeffreys Bay from 5 to 6 August.

Blueberry season is off to a good start in South Africa’s northern production regions, with growers in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West expecting good returns from strong yields, high-quality fruit, and favourable export prices. In the Western Cape, however, the outlook is less certain.