South Africa

Now in its sixth year, the 2026 edition of the Good Life Show closed with the Johannesburg leg, which ran from 18 to 20 September at the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng. It followed the Cape Town edition, which took place from 29 to 31 May at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, in the Western Cape.

For many South African grain producers, the 2026/27 summer season is already on paper. Hectares have been allocated, cultivars selected, input budgets compiled, and planting windows identified. The current El Niño event doesn’t automatically invalidate those decisions. It does, however, change the value of testing the assumptions behind them.

Higher supply delivered sharply different outcomes in South Africa’s potato and onion markets during the first half of 2026, with average potato prices falling by 19% while onion prices rose by 8%, according to Absa AgriBusiness’s latest AgriTrends report.

South Africa's grain producers set 11 new Grow for Gold competition records in 2026, with particularly strong performances from producers farming under dryland conditions in the North West, and exceptionally high yields under irrigation.

South Africa’s fruit export industry is entering a new phase in which producing more fruit is no longer enough to secure stronger returns, with market access, logistics, and the timing of exports becoming increasingly important for profitability.

Black marker pens, mosquito repellent, and hand sanitiser have been identified as potential sources of detectable residues in rooibos tea, industry experts told delegates at the Rooibos Tea Producers Association’s annual general meeting near Clanwilliam in the Western Cape on 17 September.

Government plans to explore a more suitable financing framework for sugar cane growers after farm visits in KwaZulu-Natal highlighted gaps in existing funding models.

In an increasingly volatile operating environment, farmers can protect their margins by paying closer attention to when they buy inputs and market their produce, according to Absa’s AgriTrends 2026 Spring Edition report.

A century of research at Langgewens, near Malmesbury in the Swartland, Western Cape, has helped transform farming far beyond the boundaries of the research farm, contributing to advances in crop production, soil management, conservation agriculture, and livestock systems.

Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp has committed his department to pursuing the classification of the Gamtoos Valley in the Eastern Cape as a disaster area, following a meeting with farmers and local authorities in Humansdorp and Patensie.

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.