Meyer gives farmers an election checklist ahead of municipal elections
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.
A flower spectacle at Nampo Cape
Marjolijn Malan's floral creations at Nampo Cape have become somewhat of an institution, and this year's fanciful riffs are no exception.
Farmers cannot carry regenerative agriculture costs alone
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.
Boerboels in the spotlight at Nampo Cape
Western Cape Boerboel breeders, owners, and their dogs journeyed through the pouring rain into Bredasdorp to participate in the Western Cape Boerboel Show, which took place on the final day of Nampo Cape 2026.
Calls for urgent reform as Western Cape agriculture faces mounting risks
The Western Cape must accelerate climate adaptation, repair damaged rural infrastructure, and improve the Port of Cape Town if its agriculture sector is to remain globally competitive, says provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Dr Ivan Meyer.
Farmers urged to chase profit, not tons
Farmers need to shift their focus from maximising production to maximising profit as tightening margins leave increasingly little room for financial inefficiency, according to Dawie Maree, head of agriculture information and marketing at FNB.
‘We are far from a free market’ – wheat farmers
Western Cape grain farmers warn that high input costs, weak producer prices, and a distorted wheat market are threatening the future of local production, with potentially serious consequences for rural economies and food security.
Canola industry growth brings opportunity, but with risk
The growth potential of South Africa’s canola industry was placed in the spotlight at Nampo Cape 2026 during a Grain SA panel discussion titled ‘Canola: A Golden Future’.
R15 billion in water losses threaten agricultural production
The amount of water wasted in Gauteng each year is equivalent to the Western Cape’s entire annual water use, illustrating the enormous scale of South Africa’s municipal water losses at a time when a developing El Niño could place even greater pressure on supplies.
Drought demands a different way of making farming decisions
Farmers facing increasingly uncertain rainfall need to become more flexible in their decision-making and move away from following the same production recipe year after year.
Drought resilience starts below the soil surface
Producers looking to improve their farms’ resilience to drought and heat stress need to understand how well their soils capture and hold water, and then adapt irrigation, nutrition, and crop choices accordingly.
Technology and scale, not land alone, will shape farming’s future – Roodt
South African farmers may eventually get some relief from high fuel costs, inflation and interest rates, but surviving increasingly tight margins will require much more than favourable economic conditions.
Western Cape premier urges farmers to prepare for extreme summer
Europe’s extremely hot recent summer could be an early warning of severe conditions heading the Western Cape’s way, and the province and its agriculture sector therefore need to be ready, Premier Alan Winde told farmers at Nampo Cape 2026 on Friday.
Exhibitors upbeat despite lower Nampo Cape numbers
Nampo Cape is expected to have attracted between 38 000 and 40 000 visitors this year, down from last year’s record attendance, but organisers say exhibitors remained upbeat despite wet weather and tough economic conditions.
Nampo Cape builds momentum as farm pressures mount
Nampo Cape continued to prove its value as a meeting place for agriculture on Friday, as industry leaders grappled with mounting pressure on commodity prices, government support for emerging farmers and the challenges facing food production.
Drought resilience starts with the farm’s finances
Building drought resilience requires long-term business planning, realistic cash-flow projections, and proactive bank communication. Farmers must match financing to asset lifespans and structure debt properly before tough seasons hit.
Farmers’ practical solutions highlighted at Nampo Cape 2026
The 2026 Grain SA/Omnia Farmer Patent competition at Nampo Cape attracted 27 entries, up from 25 in 2025.
Willie Aucamp admits past failures in emerging farmer support
At Nampo Cape, Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp acknowledged failed government initiatives like agri-hubs, advocating for title deed transfers, skilled leadership, and strict due diligence to build profitable commercial farms.
Voters urged to put delivery before party loyalty to protect rural economies
South Africa’s municipalities needed to be judged on their ability to deliver basic services rather than political promises, as failing towns increasingly threatened the communities and businesses that depended on them.
Farmers highlight the brutal reality of predator damage at Nampo Cape
Predation Management Western Cape is raising awareness at Nampo Cape about severe livestock losses, demonstrating why regional predator control, professional hunting, and collaboration are essential to protect sheep.
