South Africa

South African olive oil producers will increasingly have to compete on quality, freshness, and provenance as recovering global supplies drive international prices down and see the return of cheaper imported oils to local shelves.

A young auctioneer from Tzaneen in Limpopo has been named the Plaas Media Toyota SA National Young Auctioneer of the Year after claiming first place at Nampo Cape 2026.

An audience member at Farmer’s Weekly’s panel discussion on El Niño preparedness said while the theory of implementing practical steps to improve resilience makes perfect sense, it comes at a cost that many smaller farmers simply cannot afford.

More than 250 km from Cape Town, in the heart of South Africa's unique rooibos producing region near Clanwilliam, growers gathered at Rondeberg Resort for the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Rooibos Tea Producers Association (RTPA) held on 17 September 2026.

Phahamo Agribusiness held its first annual farmers’ day on 4 September 2026 at Protea Hotel in Klerksdorp, bringing local farmers and other agricultural stakeholders together to engage with one another and share their knowledge.

Over the past five years, Die Krip Landboufees has grown into a fully-fledged agricultural festival in Magaliesburg, Gauteng. During the weekend of 4 and 5 September, the small, scenic town drew visitors to celebrate everything that makes South Africa’s farming spirit unique.

With local government elections fast approaching, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Dr Ivan Meyer has urged farmers to scrutinise municipal candidates on issues that directly affect agriculture before voting.

Opening a discussion during AFMA’s 12th Animal Feed Conference held from from 8 to10 September 2026 at Sun City, Nan-Dirk Mulder, senior global specialist in animal protein at Rabobank, said it’s becoming clear that forces currently in motion may have a major impact on the feed and food industries in the years ahead.

Marjolijn Malan's floral creations at Nampo Cape have become somewhat of an institution, and this year's fanciful riffs are no exception.

Farmers could not be expected to shoulder the financial risk of transitioning to regenerative agriculture regenerative agriculture on their own, with financiers, retailers, and technical partners needing to help make the shift commercially viable.

Western Cape Boerboel breeders, owners, and their dogs journeyed through the pouring rain into Bredasdorp to participate in the Western Cape Boerboel Show, which took place on the final day of Nampo Cape 2026.

The Western Cape must accelerate climate adaptation, repair damaged rural infrastructure, and improve the Port of Cape Town if its agriculture sector is to remain globally competitive, says provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Dr Ivan Meyer.

Farmers need to shift their focus from maximising production to maximising profit as tightening margins leave increasingly little room for financial inefficiency, according to Dawie Maree, head of agriculture information and marketing at FNB.

Western Cape grain farmers warn that high input costs, weak producer prices, and a distorted wheat market are threatening the future of local production, with potentially serious consequences for rural economies and food security.

The industries represented by Grain SA, the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation, the Milk Producers’ Organisation, the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, and the South African Poultry Association account for 61% of the gross value of agricultural production in South Africa.

Dr Mike Peel, a specialist scientist and ecologist at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), has received the 2026 Southern African Wildlife Management Association’s (SAWMA) Wildlife Excellence Award.

The growth potential of South Africa’s canola industry was placed in the spotlight at Nampo Cape 2026 during a Grain SA panel discussion titled ‘Canola: A Golden Future’.

In the past, Pako Moroeng, managing director of Mor Farming near Bloemhof, North West, has sometimes had just 24 hours to sell his freshly harvested produce before it starts to spoil. He spoke to Farmer’s Weekly about how a new packhouse could help extend the shelf life of his produce and improve market access.

The local pork industry used the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation’s 2026 annual general meeting and expo to take stock of an unprecedented year in animal health and outline a response built on risk-based disease control, digital traceability, producer support, and measurable welfare commitments.

The amount of water wasted in Gauteng each year is equivalent to the Western Cape’s entire annual water use, illustrating the enormous scale of South Africa’s municipal water losses at a time when a developing El Niño could place even greater pressure on supplies.