Kuruman farm under quarantine with confirmed FMD case
A foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the Kuruman district of the Northern Cape has now been officially confirmed, marking a significant development in the ongoing national crisis.
Call for VAT-free chicken ahead of 2026 Budget Speech
Civil society organisation FairPlay has renewed its call for VAT-free chicken ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget speech later this month, saying zero-rating basic poultry products would be the fastest way to address food insecurity and child malnutrition in South Africa.
South Korea added to export roster for SA table grapes
The export protocol allowing South African table grapes to be shipped to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was finalised late last month, paving the way for exports to begin in the 2026/27 season.
Animal feed industry enters recovery phase
Data from the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA), the recognised representative body of South Africa’s formal animal feed industry, show that the industry entered a clear recovery phase in 2025 after contracting in 2024.
World Pulses Day highlights the untapped potential of pulses
Building on the success of the International Year of Pulses in 2016, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 10 February was designated as World Pulses Day, to be commemorated each year.
FMD in SA: no cloven-hoofed animals at Nampo 2026
Organisers of South Africa’s largest agricultural exhibition have confirmed that no cloven-hoofed animals will be exhibited at the 2026 Nampo Harvest Day, scheduled for 12 to 15 May at Nampo Park in Bothaville in the Free State.
Western Cape ramps up efforts to combat foot-and-mouth disease
The Western Cape is on high alert following suspected and confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in three informal settlements and on one commercial dairy farm.
FMD vaccine rollout criticised as industry questions years of inaction
Government has hailed the Agricultural Research Council’s release of South Africa’s first locally produced foot-and-mouth disease vaccine on 6 February as a milestone, but industry experts say it is overdue and overlooks earlier opportunities to curb the escalating outbreak.
Metropolitan empowers small business owners
The Metropolitan Collective Shapers youth entrepreneurship programme officially announced its top 10 finalists for 2026 at its Impact Brunch in Sandton, Johannesburg, on 5 February, celebrating the initiative’s first-ever national rollout.
Pest control operator rule eased for certain restricted agri remedies
A recent Western Cape High Court ruling means farmers may, for the time being, purchase and use certain restricted agricultural remedies without being registered as pest control operators.
FMD confirmed in Humansdorp amid worsening drought
A case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in the Humansdorp area. The outbreak comes as farmers battle one of the worst droughts the region has seen in decades.
ARC to produce 20 000 FMD vaccines a week by March, says Steenhuisen
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen visited the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (OVR) campus for the handover of the first locally produced foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease vaccines in more than 20 years on Friday, 6 February.
Wool industry opens the door for accurate carbon reporting
A new peer-reviewed study has found that wool production is not as carbon-intensive as believed and could help curb global warming. This scientific proof is the first step in re-establishing wool’s value as a sustainable fibre and boosting market acceptance.
AGOA extended by a year, sparking new concern for agri exporters
South Africa’s agriculture sector has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), but the one-year term has increased uncertainty for farmers and agribusinesses reliant on the US market.
ARC releases first locally produced foot-and-mouth disease vaccine
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has taken a major step in South Africa’s fight against a widespread, costly foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, releasing the first batch of a locally produced FMD vaccine.
BASF: equipping farmers with a toolbox for resilience
BASF South Africa hosted an industry engagement session in Pretoria on Wednesday, where global and regional leaders highlighted the company’s long-term commitment to supporting farmers facing climate volatility, pests and disease.
‘Wage hike puts more pressure on agriculture’ – farmers’ organisations
Agricultural organisations across the sector have warned that South Africa’s latest national minimum wage increase risks intensifying financial pressure on farmers already grappling with disease outbreaks, rising input costs, and weak economic growth.
FMD vaccine urgency grows amid state procurement contradictions
South Africa’s worsening foot-and-mouth disease crisis highlights the urgent need to rapidly secure and distribute as many effective vaccines as possible to protect the national herd and stabilise an industry already under severe strain.
Editors Pick
Steenhuisen’s ministerial future could hinge on new DA leader
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has announced that he will not seek re-election as DA leader, but he will remain in his ministerial post, adding that he now intends to focus all his energy on combating the country’s devastating foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Farmers fear reforms may come too late as wheat crisis deepens
Grain SA and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen are pushing for urgent reforms to support wheat farmers, but many producers are concerned that it may be too little, too late.
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