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At the beginning of a new news season and summer of 2026/2027 we need to look into the future and ask what do we see regarding farming and agriculture, the government, the corporate world and the real farmer.The future is here, but it is divided.As we enter the summer season of 2026/2027 the thermometer is not the only thing that is hot.
Drier conditions will continue over the interior in the next few days, with hot weather initially over most of the interior and the east to southeast coast. Cooler air will move in from the west from Sunday into Monday.
PSG Chief Executive Officer Francois Gouws says the more than 50 legal challenges to contested South African laws are positive for the country because they will bring greater clarity and improve business confidence after years of policy uncertainty. He noted that clearer communication of court decisions helps people understand the legal landscape and encourages investment.
The global blueberry market is in a tight transition period as Northern Hemisphere supply ends and overseas supply begins, with limited availability and elevated prices in several European markets.In the Netherlands and Germany supplies are tight and prices remain high, with retailers moving to smaller packs of 125g and 250g instead of 500g.
The International Grains Council revised global maize production higher in its October 15 report, now pegging 2026-27 output at 1.307 billion tonnes, up from 1.301 billion in September but still 3 percent lower than last years 1.347 billion.
Rising energy and fertiliser costs driven by the conflict in the Middle East are hitting smallholder farmers hard and driving up agricultural commodity prices, fuelling fears of a global food crisis.
The Agricultural Research Council has defended spending more than R81 million on its proposed foot-and-mouth disease vaccine manufacturing facility, stating the money covered vaccine development, technical planning, engineering services and regulatory compliance over more than 15 years. Construction has still not started.
Mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund points to another big fuel price hike in November, with record highs likely.Petrol is showing an under-recovery of R2.26/l for 93 and R2.28/l for 95, while diesel is at R1.37/l and R1.46/l for 0.05% and 0.005% sulphur. Paraffin is at R3.36/l. If this holds, both petrol and diesel will break the all-time highs set earlier this year in May and June.
Although foot-and-mouth disease has dropped out of the headlines, 1,501 outbreaks remain officially open as of 30 September 2026, according to the Department of Agriculture.The latest report lists 2,871 outbreaks in total, with 1,370 reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health as resolved and closed.
South Africas total trade surplus narrowed 35% year-on-year in Q2 2026 as exports rose 15% but imports rose 22%, driven by oil prices and shipping and logistics costs linked to the Middle East crisis.Agriculture remained a net exporter with a steady performance: exports were R74 billion, up 3.5%, and imports were around R37 billion, up 4.2%, leaving net trade almost unchanged from 2025.
South Africas flue-cured tobacco industry is shrinking fast as cheap, allegedly illicit cigarettes push out the legal market.According to Francois van der Merwe of Limpopo Tobacco Processors, the number of flue-cured growers has dropped from 241 to 73 since Covid-19, with production down 54% and legal cigarette volumes down 53%.
At the AgriSA Congress in Irene, Centurion, Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp said reliable agricultural finance remains a critical constraint for South African farmers. He criticized the Land Bank for late funding decisions, saying farmers leasing government land struggle to secure loans without title deeds and called for blended finance solutions to provide certainty before planting.
Following a strong 2026 harvest, early indicators for South Africa’s 2027 wine grape season are positive, supported by favourable flower cluster initiation in 2025, good post-harvest rainfall that replenished vineyard reserves, and strong early vegetative growth.
Western Cape exports to the US have fallen by almost R6.9 billion, creating major pressure on agriculture, manufacturing and jobs. The US has dropped from the provinces second-largest to fourth-largest export market as changing US trade policy and tariffs disrupt established trade.
The proposed animal identification regulations recently opened for public comment are invalid because they were drafted under the wrong law, according to the red meat industry.The regulations proposed by Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp were incorrectly drafted under the Animal Improvement Act (Act 62 of 1998).
Sauvignon Blanc South Africa announced the ten winners on Wednesday, 14 October, at Weltevreden Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. The garden celebration brought together wine, art and music, with masters of ceremonies Ryan O’Connor and Success Lekabe treating guests to a sculpture hunt that culminated in the reveal of the Top 10 from the 20 finalists.
Die Verenigde Nasies sê die aantal mense wat op verskeie vlakke van armoede leef, het die eerste keer in 15 jaar toegeneem tot 1,2-miljard. n Wêreldwye armoede-aanwyser toon dis 51,5-miljoen meer mense as verlede jaar. Onder die 1,2-miljard mense is 617-miljoen kinders, en 83-persent woon in landelike gebiede.
The highest price achieved was R358.85/kg clean (R263/kg greasy) for a single bale of 17-micron Merino fleece. The All-Merino indicator declined by 1.7%.Prices for long, certified wool were:17 microns: R320/kg
18 microns: R305/kg
19 microns: R275/kg
20 microns: R250/kg
22 microns: R215/kg
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- Government plans drought measures as strong El Niño threatens 2026/27 summer season
- AgriSA sets five priorities: land reform, water, labour, rural safety and trade
- Land reform must protect property rights and deliver commercially viable farms – AgriSA
- SA enters El Niño season in stronger position than 2015/16 with 90% dam levels
- Free State, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo most vulnerable to drier conditions
- High-level El Niño preparedness roundtable held in Pretoria
- AgriSA and ISS sign MoU to improve rural crime data collection and analysis
- Minister Aucamp calls for rural crime and farm attacks to be priority crimes
- Minister Aucamp urges greater unity across the agricultural sector
- Land Bank must step up support for farmers, says Agriculture Minister
- Petrol rises above R30 per litre, raising planting and transport costs
- High diesel prices squeeze summer crop producers at critical planting time
- Calls grow for General Fuel Levy and RAF levy cuts to ease pressure on farmers
- Concerned Citizens group plans national shutdown over fuel prices
- Tractor sales decline 18% year-on-year in September amid higher input costs
- Combine harvester sales show modest recovery
- White maize holds firm on SAFEX despite large local supplies
- Latest SAFEX prices: white maize R4 294/t, yellow maize R4 137/t, sunflower R10 558/t
- Soybean prices ease while sunflower remains supported by processing demand
- Wheat harvest forecast to fall to eight-year low of 1.81 million tonnes
- Wheat imports expected to rise to around 2 million tonnes
- Record maize crop of about 17.5–18 million tonnes supports food security
- Crop Estimates Committee to release planting intentions report on 27 October
- Summer planting begins amid El Niño uncertainty and elevated input costs
- Favourable soil moisture and recent rains give planting season a positive start
- South Africa throws away 10.3 million tonnes of edible food as millions go hungry
- World Food Day highlights ongoing food insecurity challenges
- Agricultural sector could grow around 8% in 2026, says Wandile Sihlobo
- Primary agriculture employs about 944 000 people
- Agricultural exports remain strong, up about 10% year-on-year in Q2
- Russia expands agricultural trade mission to South Africa
- New cherry export protocol to China signed
- Efforts underway to open blueberry and red-meat markets in China
- Early wine grape season shows good potential after favourable flower initiation
- Elevated wine stocks and softer demand put pressure on value chain
- Livestock producers still contending with foot-and-mouth disease
- Pork sector deals with residual effects of African swine fever
- Lamb prices break R110/kg amid limited supply
- Potato and tomato prices surge in vegetable markets
- Banana prices rise while oranges recover
- Macadamia industry advances research against Felted Coccid
- Consumer food price inflation remains near historic lows at 0.7%
- Grain stocks and technology investments strengthen sector resilience
- AgriSA Congress focuses on implementation and collaboration
- President Ramaphosa calls for transformation and release of 2.5 million hectares of state land
- Focus shifts to commercially viable black commercial farmers with title deeds
- Logistics, energy pricing and rural roads highlighted as competitiveness issues
- Biosecurity and rural broadband listed among economic priorities
- Farmers warned to remain vigilant against livestock theft and security breaches
- Sector urged to shift from volume to value amid elevated stocks and market pressures
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South African Dam Levels Report – Start mid October 2026
National dam levels remained strong in mid-October 2026, averaging around 97–98% of capacity. This was slightly lower than the previous week but still well above the same period last year (approximately 93%).Key provincial averages around 12–13 October included:
- Northern Cape: about 102–103%
- Free State / North West / Gauteng: generally above 100%
- Mpumalanga: 98.7%
- Limpopo: around 98.5%
- Eastern Cape: about 95%
- KwaZulu-Natal: around 88%
- Western Cape: approximately 80–81%
Major individual dams:
- Vaal Dam: 108.2% (slight rise week-on-week and higher than the previous year’s 102.8%)
- Gariep Dam: around 100–101%
- Vanderkloof Dam: about 104.5%
- Bloemhof Dam: roughly 98%
- Theewaterskloof Dam (Western Cape): approximately 74–75%
- Overall Western Cape Water Supply System: around 74.5–75%
The high national storage provides a solid buffer for irrigated agriculture heading into the summer season, although rain-fed farming areas remain more exposed to the developing El Niño risk. Levels in the Western Cape continue to lag the rest of the country.
FMD remains widespread. As of the Department of Agriculture’s 30 September 2026 report, 2 871 individual outbreaks had been recorded nationwide, of which 1 501 were still officially open and 1 370 closed. Open outbreaks exist in all nine provinces, with the highest numbers in the Eastern Cape (421 open) and KwaZulu-Natal (346 open). Both SAT1 and SAT2 strains continue to circulate. Progress has been made through increased private-sector vaccine production, but full resolution is complicated by wildlife carriers (especially buffalo) and the scale of the national herd. Movement controls and vaccination campaigns remain in place in affected areas.
A significant new outbreak was confirmed on 23 September 2026 in the previously FMD-free zone of Karasburg (ǁKharas Region) in the south. By early October the number of confirmed cases had risen to around 127–129 across 15–17 farms. A second outbreak was confirmed in early October in the Zambezi Region (Kalala Island). The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) suspended Namibia’s FMD-free status for the southern zone. Nationwide movement and slaughter restrictions were imposed (later partially eased north of the veterinary cordon fence). Exports of cloven-hoofed animals and products to key markets, including the EU, China, South Africa and the United States, were halted. The livestock sector faces substantial economic losses
Authorities in all three countries emphasise the need for closer cross-border collaboration on surveillance, vaccination and movement control. South Africa has already supplied vaccines to neighbouring countries. Trade in live animals and red meat between the three nations remains heavily restricted, contributing to tighter supply and firmer prices in some markets.
According to the latest Agricultural Market Trends (AMT) weekly livestock report (around 13–14 October 2026), live goat prices were mixed:
- Large goats: approximately R52.83/kg
- Medium goats: around R63.86/kg
- Small goats: about R75.65/kg
- Breeding females: roughly R56.58/kg
- At the national Indigenous Veld Goat auction in Bloemfontein (early September, reported mid-October), demand for female goats was particularly strong as farmers rebuild herds. A top Cape Lobear ram sold for R28 000 and a commercial female reached R25 000. Average prices for stud ewes (with or without lambs) ranged from roughly R8 000–R11 000 for Cape Lobears, with lower figures for Mbuzi and other types.
- At the Alphaeton production auction in the Eastern Cape (September), Savanna rams averaged about R18 000 (top R24 000) and Boer goat rams averaged R11 500 (top R13 000). Ewes traded at lower averages.
Ongoing foot-and-mouth disease restrictions in South Africa and neighbouring countries (especially Namibia) continue to limit cross-border livestock movement, supporting tighter local supply and firmer prices across the red-meat complex, including goats. High feed and input costs remain a challenge for producers, while consumer demand for more affordable protein could benefit goat meat if sheep prices stay elevated.Overall, the goat market is showing mixed but generally supported levels, with breeding stock attracting good interest at quality auctions and commercial slaughter animals facing mild seasonal pressure.
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OOM KERNEELS
Van die Plaas af:
Dis alweer die middel van die maand en 'n nuwe seisoen is om die draai - maar dit is warm. My honde lê permanent onder krane of klim sommer in waterkrippe. Die dae is warm en die nagte koud. Ek moes vanoggend teen drie-uur die kombers nader trek. Dit lyk darem of ons die week so bietjie lafenis gaan kry met reën, ek sien daar is 'n kouefront in die Kaap. Die weer is deurmekaar.
Die groot manne het die week in Pretoria bymekaar gekom vir die jaarlikse kongres. Daar is baie bespreek en die Minister van Landbou is baie gewild onder boere.
Ek lees ook so tussen die lyne dat die bek-en-klouseer ons nog nie wil laat gaan nie. Die is nou minder in die nuus, maar dit lyk of daar 'n paar boeboes plaasgevind het met die inenting. Nou hoor ek by 'n goeie vriend dat hy iewers gelees het dat- die Nuwe minister word as goeie leier geprys omdat hy toegegee het dat boere self teen bek-en-klouseer moet inent - op eie koste, R46 per bees, plus oormerking en naspeurbaarheid.Staatsveeartse stem nie saam nie, boere wil nie betaal nie. As staat nie 14 miljoen koeie plus kalwers - 28 miljoen diere - binne ses maande inent nie, moet boere weer en weer betaal.
Rekord pryse word darem behaal met die jaarlikse stoetvee-veilings en dit is goed as ons boere so baie geld kry vir hulle harde werk.Namibië is hard aan die werk om bek-en-klouseer onder die knie te kry. Die hele suide van Namibië is vol tolhekke waar jy jou moet steriliseer. Hier in Suid-Afrika is daarvan gepraat maar nie eintlik iets gedoen nie.
Voertuigvervaardigers moet maar seker maak vir wie hulle voertuie gee om hulleself te bemark, veral as dit kom by sogenaamde televisie-persoonlikhede en die "Who is Who". 'n Goeie vriend van my het 12 voertuie by 'n maatskappy bestel en toe sien hy op sosiale media dat een van die sogenaamde gewilde persoonlikhede so een verniet ry en toe kanselleer hy dit. Want soos hy sê, hy het geen ooghare vir die man nie omdat hy so arrogant is en so lelik praat. Ons sien baie banale gedrag by die manne met hulle baie geld en besittings wat oral 'n luukse lewe voer.
Ek hoor daar is groot rondetafelbesprekings in Pretoria gehou oor El Niño en die uitwerking daarvan op boere. Ek hoop daar was werklik boere teenwoordig, want as jy nog nie pit in die grond gesit het nie en weet wat dit is om nie te oes nie, dan weet jy niks behalwe dit wat jy iewers geleer het of gesien het.
Daagliks hoor ek van al die kompetiese wat gehou word in die landbou en dis een funksie op die ander en die manne en dames kuier heel lekker. Net jammer dat ek sien hoe hulle mekaar se idees volg. Dis goed om mense te beloon en ons moet ons jongmense die kans gee.
Kos is baie duur en die manne daarbo moet hulle salarisse begin sny en hulle duur strandhuise begin verkoop want hulle melk die verbruikers leeg. As ek sien wat is die prys in winkels en ek sien wat ek kry, dan lewe iemand baie lekker.
Petrol en diesel en die rentekoerse is ons land se doodsteek. En dit gaan nie beter word nie, want ons kaste is leeg gesteel.
In die ou dae het Boereverneukers op die plaas aangekom met baie stories- vandag is hulle nog daar- maar net in 'n pak klere, netjies en baie slim met al die nuwe tegnologie en syfers- en dan is daar nog steeds HANS KAKIES onder ons waarvoor ons baie versigtig moet wees.
Boere politiek is aan die orde van die dag in Suid-Afrika en mens hoor maar alles so tussen die lyne. In die ou dae kon jy baie skinder nuus gehoor het op die plaaslyne. Jy moet net die telefoon stadig optel en sorg dat jy nie hard asemhaal nie en dat jy in 'n stil plek is. Die vrouens en die mans kon lekker skinder en het alles geweet van jou en jou besigheid. Vandag is dit net boodskap vêr met die slimfoon.
Getruida het my geroep vir 'n lekker koffie en melktert- so ek groete tot volgende week. Dankie vir al die boodskappe - goed of sleg- trek die skoene aan as dit jou pas.
Groete uit die Vrystaat
Tot volgende week.
Mag julle almal ’n lekker week he ons gesels weer. OOM Kerneels.
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