South Africa

South Africa remains one of the world’s leading table grape exporters despite a shrinking production footprint, but increasing global supply, changing trade conditions, and intensifying competition are putting greater emphasis on productivity, quality, and market diversification.

The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy's latest brief shows that food prices are barely rising, yet a basic healthy diet still swallows more than half the income of some households. South Africa’s slowing food price cycle offers households relief, but the farmers supplying that food face a difficult question: can they keep producing profitably?

For new-era (emerging) farmers, protecting young livestock is not only about reducing losses; it is an important part of building stronger herds, retaining replacement animals, and forging a pathway towards commercial farming.

A Brahman bull and a Simmentaler cow claimed top honours at the 2026 Old Mutual Wealth National Interbreed Championships at Nampo Alfa on Saturday, 3 October.

Strong prices were achieved at the Western Cape Nguni Club/Regainer Nguni auction held in Darling, Western Cape, on 24 September. Regainer bulls averaged R96 250, with the top bull selling for R120 000, while 3-in-1 females averaged R43 200 and cow-and-calf units R35 142. The results reflected strong demand for animals backed by proven fertility and breeding performance.

South Africa’s red meat industry has no shortage of plans, structures or committed people, yet weak coordination, inadequate funding and poor implementation continue to hamper efforts to turn strategy into results.

The in-calf Ankole heifer Queen Arusha (NANK23 001) sold for R6,4 million at the Ntaba Nyoni & Friends auction at Phala Phala near Bela-Bela, Limpopo, on 3 October, setting a new South African record for a female animal across cattle breeds, according to JP Smith, COO of Veilingswinkel.

Livestock competitions, outdoor demonstrations and youth skills development drew visitors to the opening day of Nampo Alfa, but discussions around the future of South Africa's livestock industry and the need for greater unity dominated many of the conversations.

Stringent biosecurity measures and widespread vaccination compliance have enabled Nampo Alfa to host one of its largest livestock exhibitions yet despite the ongoing challenge posed by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), according to Albert Loubser, livestock coordinator for Nampo Alfa.

Lower feed costs and improved grazing are bringing relief to South Africa’s livestock farmers, but better production conditions are not translating into the same price trends across the industry.

At the Gauteng Legislature’s Pollution Summit in Ekurhuleni, local farmers, environmental activists, and policymakers gathered to address acid mine drainage, urban sprawl, failing infrastructure, and illegal dumping.

South Africa’s growing avocado crop faces a tougher marketing environment this season as heavy competition in the EU squeezes prices, while newly opened markets remain too small to absorb significant volumes.

Five promising blueberry selections are moving through evaluation and deployment in Southern Africa. At Fall Creek Connect in Paarl, Jeán Kotzé outlined what the early trial data revealed and why local validation remains critical.

Land Bank's Blended Finance Scheme is under renewed parliamentary scrutiny as demand outstrips available funding and farmers face delays that can have serious consequences for seasonal production.

SARS has opened a standalone diesel refund registration system, separate from VAT. Existing claimants must register again, while farmers will eventually be able to claim only.

South Africa’s agriculture sector needs leaders who can look beyond the farm gate and work across the value chain as infrastructure constraints, access to technology, and global volatility place increasing pressure on producers.

The Agricultural Research Council has begun the preparatory work needed to license its foot-and-mouth disease vaccine technology to private manufacturers, but says procurement, regulatory and biosafety requirements must be completed before an implementation timeline can be set.

South Africa has entered the 2026/27 production season with El Niño established in the tropical Pacific, with the latest seasonal outlooks favouring below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures over much of the country.

Recent South African surveillance data has shown that most human rabies infections are linked to infected dogs, according to Fiona Miles, director of FOUR PAWS South Africa. She emphasised the importance of routine pet vaccinations and community awareness, and added that children were among the most vulnerable groups affected by the disease.

The Free State has reported one new clinically confirmed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) case in the Fauresmith state veterinary area, bringing its stated provincial total to 799 cases. Of these, 155 remain active and under quarantine, while 644 have been classified as resolved.