South Africa

Rockwood Conservation is once again at the centre of South Africa's rhino conservation debate after the Northern Cape High Court, on 3 July, dismissed government's application for leave to appeal, with costs, over export permits for legally and ethically harvested rhino horns.

Biological crop protection products are gaining ground as pest resistance mounts, export markets tighten residue requirements, and climate change reshapes pest pressure. The sector appears to have reached a turning point as multinational crop protection companies are increasingly investing in biological solutions alongside conventional chemistry.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has increased the total allowable catch for sardines in fishing grounds west of Cape Agulhas by 6 000t, raising the overall annual allocation from 30 500t to 36 500t.

The Free State’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak continues to expand, with the province recently confirming eight new cases and organised agriculture warning that vaccine shortages, delayed booster vaccinations, and under-reporting remain major obstacles to containing the disease.

A Western Cape High Court ruling that money placed in a structured self-insurance account is not tax-deductible could have implications for farmers using similar products and diminish the appeal of a tool designed to help agribusinesses build reserves against climate, disease, and market-related losses.

Leading agricultural organisations, thousands of producers, and more than 500 exhibitors are expected to gather in Bredasdorp, Western Cape, later this year for Nampo Cape 2026, according to the event’s organisers.

With the South African Weather Service confirming the onset of El Niño, Farmer’s Weekly spoke to South African agricultural stakeholders about the sector’s preparedness for the climate phenomenon ahead of the summer crop production season.

The Department of Agriculture is stepping up its foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) response in communal farming areas, with Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa saying government is now focusing on communities that were not reached during the initial phase of the national vaccination campaign.

Sugar cane growers along the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) North Coast are battling an unexpected labour shortage during peak harvesting season, as many foreign workers have left farming communities following the March & March movement's recent mobilisations in the province and government's crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals.

A small batch of rooibos seeds from the Cederberg is set to embark on an extraordinary journey later this year, travelling thousands of kilometres from South Africa, via the United States, to the International Space Station (ISS) and back to local soil.

South Africa’s horticultural success has presented the industry with a conundrum, as the ever-increasing volumes of fruit require more specialised marketing campaigns to lift demand for these commodities.

South Africa's maize harvest is running about 14% behind last year's pace, but industry experts say there is little reason for concern, with the country still on track to produce a record 17,3 million tons of maize this season.

On 9 July, the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture celebrated the achievements of women farmers and extension officers during the OR Tambo District leg of the Women Entrepreneur Awards and Extension and Advisory Services Awards.

Grain SA has defended farmers’ role in South Africa’s food system to the South African Human Rights Commission, arguing that affordable food depends on a sustainable production base and an efficient value chain.

An unusually early-developing El Niño has sparked concerns that South Africa could face a hotter- and drier-than-normal 2026/27 summer. However, experts say it is still too early to predict the full extent of the climate phenomenon’s impact on the country’s agriculture sector.

While the Department of Agriculture is preparing to roll out its new vaccination strategy against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), industry experts say its success will depend on rigorous surveillance to detect and monitor the virus.

As international demand for rooibos continues to grow and new export opportunities emerge, industry leaders say protecting the product's geographical origin will be critical to ensuring its long-term value and supporting South African producers.

The Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa (PHASA) has issued updated best-practice guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) while ensuring hunting operations can continue without placing unnecessary burdens on the industry.

At a media briefing on 9 July, following negotiations with the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), Sakeliga, and Free State Agriculture, newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp announced a settlement allowing the private sector to import and administer foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines.

Roads and bridges have largely been restored after the Western Cape floods earlier this year, but Ceres and Witzenberg fruit growers are still grappling with widespread damage to orchards, vineyards, irrigation infrastructure, and pump stations, as well as topsoil losses.