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.
Livestock industry welcomes vaccination scheme, but gaps raise concern
Livestock farmers across South Africa could soon be allowed to vaccinate their own animals against foot-and-mouth disease under a newly proposed government scheme aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.
Botswana expands FMD control zones as outbreak intensifies
Botswana has confirmed a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the north-eastern part of the country, triggering a swift escalation in containment measures as authorities race to prevent further spread.
Tomatoes anchor trade, but logistics and prices remain under pressure
Tomatoes remain one of the most widely produced and consumed vegetables globally, underpinning both international food trade and local food security.
Goss’s wilt spreads in SA, industry calls for vigilance not panic
The Department of Agriculture has confirmed a significant expansion in the distribution of Goss’s wilt across South Africa, with a 2025 national survey showing that the bacterial maize disease is now present in eight provinces.
PIC seeks exit as Daybreak Foods struggles to recover from collapse
The Public Investment Corporation is moving to sell a majority stake in poultry producer Daybreak Foods, as the company continues to grapple with the fallout from financial, governance, and animal welfare crises in 2025.
From fire investigation to Wagyu excellence
When forensic fire investigator Zelda Greyling arrived at a farm to assess a blaze, she didn’t expect to meet a cow that would change her life. That meeting led her to purchase Mitzi, an elite Akaushi female, and launch Bizon Wagyu in Hammanskraal, Gauteng. She spoke to Hanlie du Plessis.
Treasury unveils fuel levy cut to cushion price shock
Government has announced a temporary reduction in the general fuel levy in a bid to blunt steep April fuel price increases driven by global energy volatility, while signalling further support measures for households and key sectors.
FMD fault lines deepen over ‘private gatekeeper’ dispute
Differences over how to manage foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are testing the alignment between South Africa’s livestock industry and veterinary leadership.
RPO appeals for ‘voice of reason’ amid FMD vaccination dispute
Legal tensions over South Africa’s proposed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination scheme are intensifying, with the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) urging stakeholders to prioritise facts over fiction and work together to safeguard the livestock industry.
OBP launches Respiclos vaccine
Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) has launched Respiclos, a combination vaccine designed to address two of the most costly and persistent disease challenges in South African cattle: bovine respiratory disease and clostridial infections.
Fuel shortages raise concern for farmers, urgent action needed
AgriSA and Agbiz have raised concerns over emerging fuel supply constraints in South Africa’s rural areas, warning that ongoing rationing could begin to disrupt agricultural operations if not urgently addressed.
University of Pretoria equips 90 farmers to access formal markets
Ninety small-scale livestock farmers from North West and Limpopo have completed a targeted development programme aimed at improving herd health, productivity and access to formal markets, in an initiative led by the University of Pretoria (UP) and funded by Sibanye Stillwater.
FMD response falters as state goes silent on critical failures
South Africa’s response to the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak is showing signs of systemic strain, with diagnostic failures, vaccine delays and policy fragmentation undermining containment efforts.
Court orders Agriculture Minister to publish FMD vaccination scheme – and foot the bill...
The High Court in Pretoria has given the Minister of the Department of Agriculture a firm deadline to bring South Africa’s long-discussed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) animal health scheme into legal force, after months of delays in the face of a crippling national outbreak.
Editors Pick
Confusion, cost and coordination failures cloud FMD vaccine rollout
South Africa’s current foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, which began in July 2025 and has since spread across all nine provinces is no longer just a test of the country’s biosecurity system, but of its governance.
Global pressures spark diesel shortages and price concerns
Early signs of diesel shortages at South African fuel stations are sparking concern in the agriculture sector, even as government insists that national supply remains secure.
South Africa shines at Golden Shears World Championships
South Africa has once again demonstrated its world-class shearing expertise after delivering an outstanding performance at the Golden Shears World Championships in Masterton, New Zealand.
Private sector steps in to accelerate FMD vaccine rollout
Private companies and industry organisations are helping to accelerate the delivery of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines across South Africa, enabling faster rollout in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal as authorities work to contain outbreaks.
Refrigerated trucks deliver food-and-mouth disease vaccines to KZN dairy farms
Refrigerated vehicles funded by industry partners are transporting thousands of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines to veterinary clinics serving KwaZulu-Natal’s high-risk dairy district, helping ensure rapid vaccination while maintaining the critical cold chain.
Editors Pick
FMD vaccines arrived, but delays raise questions about payment and coordination
In the middle of South Africa’s escalating foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis, a consignment of 1,5 million urgently needed vaccine doses had already been in the country. However, the vaccines are not yet in the system meant to get them to farmers, exposing a gap between government assurances and the operational reality of the national vaccination roll-out.
