South Africa

Delegates to the 2025 Grain SA congress gave their unanimous endorsement for the establishment of an agricultural technical training facility at the organisation’s Nampo facility near Bothaville in the Free State.

Agricultural role players have raised several concerns in response to the recently tabled budget, which was announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday, while the DA has rejected it outright.

South Africa has officially been granted access to export fresh table grapes to the Philippines, according to a recent statement by Minister John Steenhuisen of the Department of Agriculture. The Philippines market officially opened up to South African fresh table grapes on 26 February.

Above-normal rainfall conditions in the north-eastern parts of the country, particularly KwaZulu-Natal, between March and July 2025 are likely to increase water levels during this period, according to Cobus Olivier, a prediction research scientist at the South African Weather Service.

Nyama Battle, South Africa’s first cooking competition series celebrating street food and smoky flavours, premiered on 23 February on eTV.

SASKO recently hosted a media luncheon during which it introduced its new ‘Betterest’ white and brown premium bread loaves. David Howard, SASKO’s head of research and development, spoke to Farmer’s Weekly about the company’s approach to wheat production and milling.

The so-called trade war between the US and China presents threats and opportunities for South Africa, according to Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB Commercial, and Marlene Louw, senior agricultural economist at Absa AgriBusiness.

The increasing prevalence of grey leaf spot (GLS), caused by the fungus Cercospora zeae-maydis, and northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), caused by the fungus Exserohilum turcicum, in South Africa’s Highveld is raising concerns amongst maize farmers.

Pierre Vercueil, a farmer from Setlagoli, North West, won a New Holland TT3.45 (2WD) tractor in the CNH Parts & Service ‘Win a Tractor’ competition. The tractor was handed over during an event at New Holland NWK in Lichtenburg on 27 February.

In her recent State of the Province Address, Free State Premier Maqueen Joyce Letsoha-Mathae said that the provincial government had invested R1,9 billion in road infrastructure projects over the past financial year.

South Africa's agriculture sector achieved a record high US$13,7 billion (about R255 billion) in export value in 2024, a 3% increase on the previous year, according to data from Trade Map.

Pannar Seed (Pannar) recently hosted its Extravaganza 2025 in Val, eastern Mpumalanga, during which agronomists and farmers discussed the pressing challenges facing the grains and oilseed industry.