South Africa

The Royal Agricultural Society of KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed that the much-loved and anticipated Royal Agricultural Show will return in 2026 at a new venue, following a challenging two years.

A smooth leadership transition over the next few months is the main aim as Piet de Jager, who took over from Anton Kruger as CEO of the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF), settles into the role.

The South African citrus industry has welcomed government’s decision to open Transnet’s rail network to private operators, seeing it as a potential game-changer for agricultural logistics.

South African Breweries recently celebrated its 130-year anniversary by thanking farmers for their continued hard work in producing high-quality barley for its beer.

Agriculture is highly vulnerable to water-related risks, with limited availability exacerbated by significant losses caused by ageing national water infrastructure.

Wheat farmers in the Western Cape are facing what has been described as a dire situation due to absent rainfall, which has curtailed harvests, as well as persistently low prices.

While expanding red meat exports has been one of the South African agriculture sector’s good news stories, shortcomings in animal health and traceability are dragging prices below those of competitors.

Toog Vermaak took the title of Toyota SA National Young Auctioneer of the Year at the finals held at Nampo Cape in Bredasdorp last week.

Farmers need to see regenerative farming not as a trend, but as one piece of a bigger, holistic management strategy tailored to their unique conditions, says Bennie Diedericks, soil scientist at Resalt

The human factor, lax policing, and bureaucratic inertia are among the biggest factors contributing to the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis in the country.

Nampo Cape 2025 concluded with a record number of visitors on Saturday. Altogether, 49 326 people attended the event, hosted in Bredasdorp in the Western Cape from 10 to 13 September.

Vinpro hosted an information session at Nampo Cape titled ‘Practical Solutions for Today’s Farmer’, offering attendees a wealth of practical, actionable advice to improve their operations and reduce their risks.

South Africa’s top extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) producers were honoured at the 2025 SA Olive Awards, with gold, silver, and bronze medals handed out at a ceremony at Diemersfontein Wine & Country Estate in Wellington, Western Cape, on 9 September.

The Farmer Patent competition at Nampo Cape drew fewer entries this year, but the overall quality of innovations was higher than usual, according to Donald Brink, Omnia sales manager and one of the competition judges.

KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) agriculture sector has faced R65 million in losses due to floods and storms experienced this year alone.

Barley production has fluctuated due to hurdles ranging from unpredictable weather to rising costs. This has prompted farmers to plant lower-risk crops like wheat, oats, or canola, disrupting production and market stability and increasing uncertainty in the industry.

A celebration of cheese and changemakers took place on Thursday evening at Nampo Cape in Bredasdorp during a cocktail evening hosted by Hollard.

Before investing in solar energy, farmers should carefully review their electricity bills and usage patterns to avoid unnecessary costs and mistakes. This was the message from Gerrit Germishuys, sales manager at International Utility Brokers, during his talk at Vinpro’s ‘Practical Solutions for Today’s Farmer’ information session at Nampo Cape.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile visited Nampo Cape in Bredasdorp this week, where he met with industry leaders to discuss the challenges facing the country’s farmers.

South Africa’s premium agriculture exporters are doubling down on the US market despite Donald Trump’s 30% tariffs.