-Welcome to our world- the real world of Farming and Agriculture in South Africa- Local and International news-
This AGRI NEWS RUSH -Some of the news stories of this week-, SUNDAY EDITION - ALWAYS ON TIME - AGRI NEWS RUSH is now one of the most read Articles on a Sunday
Foot-and-mouth disease must be declared a national disaster. To save the livestock industry, regulations must be amended to shift pressure away from the state which has failed dismally in its responsibilities to the private sector and to farmers themselves. Since Minister Steenhuisen’s announcement in November 2025 that all cattle (approximately 14 million) would be vaccinated, pigs and calves have begun dying from the disease. The dairy, red meat and stud livestock industries have been plunged into an existential crisis, and the Department of Agriculture, which is legally mandated to control and manage the disease, has largely lost the trust of farmers.
South African white and yellow maize futures have fallen to four-year lows, driven by a stronger rand, global oversupply, and the return of La Niña rains.White maize futures are down 35% over the past year to around R3,400/ton, while yellow maize is 18% lower at about R3,350/ton — levels not seen since late 2021.
Bek-en-klouseer moet as n nasionale ramp verklaar word. Om die veebedryf te red, moet regulasies gewysig word om druk van die staat, wat klaaglik in sy funksies gefaal het, na die private sektor en na boere self te verskuif.
The Milk Producers' Organisation (MPO) is more uncertain than ever about the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) situation and vaccine availability as 2026 begins, and is now considering legal action.The MPO has instructed its legal team to prepare a High Court application to compel the government to implement appropriate FMD control measures.
Vyf-en-veertig nuwe gevalle van bek-en-klouseer is in die Vrystaat bevestig. Daar is altesaam honderd-94 gevalle in die provinsie. Volgens die departement v an Landbou in die Vrystaat is die uitbrekings onder meer in Heilbron, Deneysville en Sasolburg.
Stock theft remains a major threat to South African producers and rural livelihoods, undermining economic stability in the red meat sector.
Amerika het 'n olietenkskip in die Karibbiese gebied onderskep - die vyfde vaartuig sedert Washington met sy aanslag op olieuitvoere van Venezuela .
begin het.
South Africa’s borders are tightening up on agricultural products as thousands of travellers return after the festive season.The Border Management Authority (BMA) has issued a strong warning: fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds, live animals, and animal products may not be brought into the country without the correct import permits and declaration.
Die Zambezirivier by Katima Mulilo het effens gestyg van 0,88 meter tot 0,91 meter vanoggend. Dit is aansienlik hoër as die 0,33 meter wat op dieselfde datum verlede jaar gemeet is. Die Okavangorivier by Rundu vloei teen 4,88 meter, 'n effense daling in watervlak vergeleke met 5,69 meter verlede jaar.
The South African grape season is unfolding very differently than expected, mainly due to severe disruptions at the Cape Town port.Strong winds have caused the worst performance on record, with vessels delayed by one to two weeks.
The 2026 grape harvest will commence in the next two weeks, starting with our main Cap Classique cultivars, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. From there, harvest will roll across our 10 wine regions, continuing right through to mid-April.
Koringpryse bly laag en daar is min hoop op ’n groot styging in die afsienbare toekoms — wat nog ’n moeilike wintergraanseisoen vir Wes-Kaapse boere voorspel.Die wêreldkoringmark het ’n groot aanbod en hoë voorraadvlakke, met die VSA wat sy grootste oes nóg stroop en Brasilië wat ’n rekord-aanplanting vir 2025/26 doen.
Saai and Agri All Africa Chairman Theo de Jager says the current foot-and-mouth outbreak is the worst livestock farming disaster in South African history.De Jager is a South African agricultural leader, farmer, and policy advocate, best known for his role in organised agriculture.
Die landbouministerie het 'n beroep gedoen op gekwalifiseerde Namibiese maatskappye om hul belangstelling uit te spreek in die ontwikkeling van 'n kommersiële stelsel vir die gradering, waardasie en belasting van landbougrond.
South Africa holds about 2.5 million hectares of high-potential agricultural land acquired under the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS), yet very little has been released to black farmers with secure title deeds.
Die landbouministerie sê daar is 'n hewige kommandowurm-uitbreking in die Lake Lyambezi-gordelgebiede in die Zambezi-streek. Die hoof-wetenskaplike beampte van landbou, Rodrick Maswabi, sê kommandowurms en sprinkane het as gevolg van swaar reën verskyn.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a new group of 25 commissioners to the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) for a fresh five-year term running from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.The PCC is an independent, multistakeholder body established in 2020 to advise government on climate change response, the just energy transition, and building social partnerships around climate action.
South Africa’s commercial pig industry is now facing a serious new threat with the first confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in a commercial pig farm in the Free State (Sasolburg district), plus two suspected cases in KwaZulu-Natal (near Winterton and Bergville).Until recently, pigs kept under strict biosecurity on commercial farms had largely escaped FMD, unlike the widespread outbreaks in cattle.
Oliepryse het Dinsdag met amper 2 persent gedaal terwyl die mark verwagtinge van ruim wêreldvoorraad vanjaar opgeweeg het teen onsekerheid rondom Venezolaanse ru-olieproduksie. Kenners meen dat olievoorraad in 2026 voldoende sal wees, met of sonder 'n toename in produksie van die Opul-lande.
Digital agriculture promises efficiency and higher profits, but it raises a rarely asked question: are these tools truly helping growers, or are they mainly harvesting information from them?Every decision a farmer makes—planting dates, fertilizer rates, cultivar choices—creates valuable data.
Gebaseer op huidige meteorologiese data, is daar 'n beduidende weerstelsel wat oor oostelike Suider-Afrika in beweeg. Die stelsel is nie 'n enkele "benoemde" tropiese sikloon soos Eline in 2000 nie. In plaas daarvan ervaar die gebied wydverspreide, hewige donderstorms en gelokaliseerde oorstromings met Geel Vlak 4 en Vlak 2 waarskuwings wat vir van in Suid Afrika verwag word.
TLU SA excitedly announces that registrations for the annual Young Farmer Conference are officially open. The event will take place on 13 March 2026 at Gecko Ridge, Mooiplaas, Pretoria. This year's theme is "Farmer 2.0: The new generation farmer & Agri Expo."
Kennis van dokumentasie vir veeverhandeling is uiters belangrik – elke boer, afslaer en agent moet die relevante wette goed ken om probleme met veediefstal en boetes te vermy.
South Africa–Venezuela trade remains modest, with oil historically forming the core of their limited economic ties, but recent US military action in Venezuela has thrust the issue back into focus.Diplomatic relations between the two countries date back to 1993, supported by embassies and a 2008 framework agreement covering energy, mining, and agriculture.
South Africa’s dams are filling up fast as the summer rainfall season brings widespread inflows, with several provinces now reporting levels at or above full capacity.According to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s weekly report dated 5 January 2026, the national average continues to rise, though conditions vary by province.
Die verhouding tussen produsent en verbruiker is veel meer as ’n eenvoudige ekonomiese transaksie waar kos op ’n winkelrak beland en geld by ’n betaalpunt verwissel.
South Africa’s relationship with BRICS offers limited economic benefits so far, with the main exception being deeper trade ties with China. The grouping remains largely political, lacking a formal free trade agreement or strong economic framework.Intra-BRICS trade is low compared to external partners, with high tariffs persisting on many products.
Bek-en-klouseer (BKS) veroorsaak groot frustrasie en onsekerheid in die veebedryf, met min nuus of vordering vanaf die staat oor die nasionale inentingsplan.Die Melkprodusente-organisasie (MPO) oorweeg nou regstappe.
Foot-and-mouth disease must be declared a national disaster. To save the livestock industry, regulations must be amended to shift pressure away from the state which has failed dismally in its responsibilities to the private sector and to farmers themselves.Since Minister Steenhuisen’s announcement in November 2025 that all cattle (approximately 14 million) would be vaccinated, pigs and calves have begun dying from the disease.
Voorbeelde van onbeantwoorde vrae aan minister John Steenhuisen sluit in: hoekom het die departement eers in Maart 2025 op ’n November 2024-uitbreking in KwaZulu-Natal gereageer? Hoekom is regulasies oor entstofbeskikbaarheid nie nagekom nie?
South Africa is heading for another significant fuel price cut in February 2026, based on early data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) showing large over-recoveries for petrol and diesel.As of the first week of January, petrol is showing an over-recovery of around R1.20 per litre, while diesel has a bigger one of about R1.75 per litre.
Suid Afrika se landbouministerie handhaaf streng bewegingsbeheer op beeste, skape, bokke en varke in Gauteng en ander hoërisikogebiede om die verspreiding van bek-en-klouseer te beperk. Minister John Steenhuisen sê dit is noodsaaklik om dierebeweging te beheer ten einde die verspreiding van die siekte te voorkom en boere en nasionale voedselsekerheid te beskerm.
Global orange markets in early 2026 are shaped by diverging supply trends across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, influenced by weather, harvest timing, regional demand, and logistics.Italy is in peak season with blood oranges (Ippolito, Tarocco Rosso, Moro) offering excellent quality and larger sizes, though volumes are slightly lower.
READ MORE ( Stats) Listen to all our Daily Audiocast - It is doing very good. But also see that some news mediums like to follow us.
MORE GOOD NEWS - AUDIO AGRI NEWS NET which was selected by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Agriculture Podcasts, Top 100 Farming Podcasts and Top 100 Sustainable Agriculture Podcasts on the web. READ MORE
NEWS on AGRI NEWS NET - For more news visit www.agrinewsnet.co.za - This is just a a summary of a few stories- much more on www.agrinewsnet.co.za
WATCH OUT- NEW program on the way - exclusive to CRA MEDIA and the FARMERS of South Africa - 2026
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by CRA and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.Just for your information. - We need to share this as this is part of Farming and Agriculture.
AGRI NEWS NET stands as South Africa’s leading source for farming and agriculture news, delivering trusted, up-to-date content 7 days a week, 365 days a year. With over 50 “good news stories you can trust,” the platform is driven by 30 years of practical farming and media experience, ensuring a deep understanding of the needs and realities of farmers and the agricultural sector. AGRI NEWS NET prides itself on being committed, independent, focused, and always on time. As part of the CRA Group, the platform leverages its extensive expertise to provide reliable, farmer-centric news. Its content is compiled using advanced AI technology, ensuring accuracy and relevance while staying connected to the broader global farming and agriculture community. For the third consecutive year, AGRI NEWS NET’s Daily Audiocast has been ranked among the top 15 agricultural podcasts on Feedspot, a testament to its quality and impact. The audiocast delivers concise, engaging updates, making it a go-to resource for farmers, industry professionals, and agriculture enthusiasts seeking timely insights. With a focus on “good news stories,” AGRI NEWS NET highlights positive developments, innovations, and successes in South African agriculture. Rooted in real-world farming knowledge and media expertise, AGRI NEWS NET bridges the gap between farmers, policymakers, and the public. Its AI-driven platform ensures comprehensive coverage, from local issues . By focusing on practical, trustworthy content, AGRI NEWS NET empowers the agricultural community to stay informed and inspired.
