Hanlie du Plessis
Hanlie du Plessis, a freelance journalist and content strategist, has over twenty years of experience in agricultural media. Her passion is bringing editorial projects from concept to final print, digital, or broadcast format. This stems from her strong sectoral roots, which centre around farmers, their stories, and their animals.
Record agricultural trade surplus masks concerns over export growth
South Africa's agriculture sector recorded its highest-ever first-quarter trade surplus in 2026, but the performance was driven largely by lower import costs rather than stronger export growth, according to AgriSA's latest Quarterly Trade Report.
Karan Beef restarts exports, with first shipment headed for Jordan
Karan Beef has resumed beef exports after more than a year of disruptions caused by foot-and-mouth disease, with its first container now en route to Jordan.
Big horns, bold ambitions: a North West farmer’s Ankole vision
When MJ Ernst climbs into his bakkie on a Sunday morning to check his cattle at Bona Bona, a family-owned game lodge and livestock enterprise near Wolmaransstad, he admits there’s one herd that gets more of his attention than the others.
FMD vaccine rollout under pressure as Parliament flags concerns
South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination campaign is facing increasing scrutiny as Parliament raises concerns about the state’s ability to contain the outbreak and questions intensify over whether government has the operational capacity to manage vaccine rollout at the speed and scale required.
SADC urged to fast-track regional FMD response and fertiliser reforms
South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has called for faster regional cooperation to strengthen food security, improve fertiliser access, and contain the growing threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) across Southern Africa.
Wheat farmers under pressure as tariff delays deepen uncertainty
South African wheat farmers are facing mounting financial pressure as continued delays in the implementation of a revised wheat tariff add further uncertainty to an industry already grappling with rising input costs, weak profitability, and shrinking plantings.
Boran cattle reshape thinking on profitable beef production
Rising feed costs, recurring droughts and tighter margins are prompting South African beef producers to rethink profitability under African conditions. Increasingly, the Boran breed is challenging the long-held belief that bigger cattle and higher inputs automatically deliver better returns. Fertility, adaptability, and efficiency are emerging as stronger indicators of long-term profitability.
Ankole cattle carve out a high-value niche in South Africa
Driven by strong demand for distinctive genetics, limited supply, and the ability to perform under extensive African conditions, Ankole cattle are establishing a foothold in South Africa’s livestock sector as a specialised, high-value breed. Auction data points to steady growth, while diversified farming systems continue to expand the breed’s economic relevance.
Quality fuel, lubricants, and maintenance are key to tractor longevity
At the Shell South Africa thought leadership session held during Nampo 2026 in Bothaville, Free State, earlier this month, rising fuel costs, equipment efficiency, and machinery reliability were central to discussions on keeping farms productive.
Court ruling opens private FMD vaccination route, but questions remain
A Pretoria High Court ruling on private foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination has opened a new chapter in South Africa’s disease-control response, granting livestock owners an interim court-protected route to procure and administer vaccines privately, while simultaneously exposing a gap between government’s interpretation of the judgment and what the court ordered.
SA seeks stronger agri cooperation with Botswana amid trade tensions
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for closer agricultural collaboration between South Africa and Botswana, while raising concerns over import restrictions affecting South African fruit and vegetable exports to the neighbouring country.
Pig mortalities in Gqeberha raise wider biosecurity concerns
The discovery of dozens of dead pigs in and around Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape has renewed concerns over the biosecurity risks posed by free-roaming livestock in peri-urban communities, with veterinary authorities warning that uncontrolled animal movement can accelerate the spread of disease.
Fuel price surge pushes inflation to 4% in April
South Africa’s annual consumer inflation rate accelerated sharply to 4% in April, up from 3,1% in March, driven primarily by a steep increase in fuel prices that filtered through the transport sector and broader economy.
Nampo 2026 welcomed 81 822 visitors over four days
South African agriculture’s resilience was on display at the 58th Nampo Harvest Day, which attracted 81 822 visitors and more than 910 exhibitors to Nampo Park outside Bothaville in the Free State from 12 to 15 May despite difficult conditions.
Government scraps KZN FMD management area after years of pressure
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) livestock farmers have welcomed government’s decision to officially lift the province’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) management area, describing it as a long-overdue breakthrough after years of costly restrictions that have weighed heavily on the province’s agricultural economy.
Farmers carry cost of SA’s rural infrastructure collapse, Nampo panel hears
South Africa’s failing municipal infrastructure is increasingly forcing farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities to take over functions traditionally performed by government, delegates heard during a panel discussion on infrastructure, municipal partnerships, and rural development at the Nampo Harvest Day 2026.
Dirty diesel’ threatening SA farms
South Africa’s illicit fuel trade is increasingly spilling into agriculture, exposing farmers to potentially catastrophic machinery failures, mounting repair bills and production losses during critical planting and harvesting periods.
Cold chain and logistics lessons from Nampo 2026
The journey from field to shelf is crucial for fresh produce farmers as it determines whether a crop yields a profit or a loss.
Traffic flow improves at Nampo, despite rain damage
Traffic heading into Nampo Park for Nampo 2026 moved much more smoothly on Thursday morning, despite congestion still being slightly heavier than in previous years.
FMD crisis forces rethink of SA biosecurity system in Nampo discussion
South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak has exposed weaknesses in the country’s biosecurity systems, strained trust between government and the livestock industry, and highlighted the urgent need for stronger public-private cooperation.
