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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
South Africa has a bird flu policy on paper, but the government is not following it. This creates an impossible situation for chicken farmers: the rules demand they act responsibly, yet government makes it extremely difficult to do so. As a result, especially small farmers get punished when things go wrong.The biggest problem is the failure to pay compensation when birds are culled.
Koue en bewolkte toestande word vir die naweek van Saterdag 20 en Sondag 21 Junie oor hoofsaaklik die sentrale en oostelike dele van Suid-Afrika voorspel, terwyl die verre westelike dele warm tot baie warm kan wees, volgens die Suid-Afrikaanse Weerdiens.
South Africa is losing an estimated R26 billion a year in revenue because almost half of all treated water never reaches consumers or earns income. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina told Parliament this “non-revenue water” sits at a national average of 47.3%, or more than 2.1 billion kilolitres annually, costing R12.41 per kilolitre to supply.
There is a common argument that even after the High Court ruling on 25 May, nothing has really changed. Farmers still cannot vaccinate against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and the gates remain shut.The author agrees that many of the facts in this argument are correct, but says the real issue is not the facts — it is the question being asked.
The US-Israel war with Iran represents the latest major setback for Africa’s development, compounding existing challenges such as rising conflict, declining global aid, weakening multilateralism, and the retreat from globalisation. It calls for a fundamental rethink and positions an African agricultural revolution as a potential key solution.
South Africa is successfully opening new meat export markets in Asia and the Middle East, but local producers and exporters say they are losing large amounts of money because of slow government processes blocking access to markets that are already open.
Agriculture is far too important to be shaped by political theatre, social media trends, or the loudest voices online. The proposed replacement of the Minister of Agriculture should encourage a broader discussion about how decisions affecting farmers are made, whose voices are heard, and whether evidence, expertise, and democratic representation are being given the weight they deserve.
This week’s news is marked by high uncertainty across global markets, geopolitics, weather patterns, and the broader economic outlook. A potential peace agreement between Iran and the United States is a major focus, as it could significantly affect international oil prices, global market sentiment, and the rand
South Africa has sufficient vaccines, veterinarians, cold-chain infrastructure, and willing farmers to control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) through vaccination, but it lacks an effective plan that matches the biology of the disease.
On 18 June 2026 the ANC released a statement attacking the DA’s proposed GNU reshuffle — moving John Steenhuisen from Agriculture and replacing him with Willie Aucamp. Framed as a constitutional argument, the ANC accuses the DA of hypocrisy, disrespecting presidential authority, undermining the GNU and being uncomfortable with transformation.
On 18 June 2026 the ANC released a statement attacking the DA’s proposed GNU reshuffle — moving John Steenhuisen from Agriculture and replacing him with Willie Aucamp. Framed as a constitutional argument, the ANC accuses the DA of hypocrisy, disrespecting presidential authority, undermining the GNU and being uncomfortable with transformation.
Why US President Donald Trump’s military conflict with Iran, which began on 28 February 2026, did not trigger the catastrophic global oil crisis many had feared. Although oil prices spiked to around $120 per barrel (an 83% rise), the increase fell far short of the nearly 300% surge seen in 1974, and prices are now declining rapidly following a ceasefire that may reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
An emerging El Niño weather pattern is expected to significantly influence global freight markets, cargo flows, and commodity trade in the second half of 2026 and into 2027.The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has placed an 80% probability on El Niño developing between June and August 2026, with a high chance of it persisting through the rest of the year.
South Africa’s 2025/26 soybean harvest is forecast at a record 2.9 million tonnes, driven by higher yields and expanded plantings.Growth in the crop has been fueled by rising demand for soybean meal from the animal feed sector, especially poultry. Poultry consumption per person has nearly doubled in 17 years to about 41 kg, pushing feed demand up.
The latest quarterly report from Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) highlights ongoing efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and practical support in South Africa’s livestock sector.
Willie Aucamp is preparing to take over as South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture at a critical time, following John Steenhuisen’s departure amid heavy criticism over the government’s handling of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak.Here are the key facts about Aucamp:He is 54 years old (born 26 February 1972 in Thabazimbi, Limpopo).
On 18 June 2026 the ANC released a statement attacking the DA’s proposed GNU reshuffle — moving John Steenhuisen from Agriculture and replacing him with Willie Aucamp. Framed as a constitutional argument, the ANC accuses the DA of hypocrisy, disrespecting presidential authority, undermining the GNU and being uncomfortable with transformation.
Youth involvement is essential for a sustainable future in agriculture and food production. While the agri value chain now stretches far beyond the farm gate and needs scarce skills, many young people still don’t see agriculture as the diverse, tech-driven industry it’s become.:Beyond the farm gate: Agri today includes logistics, finance, tech, research, marketing, exports, and more.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire and diplomatic efforts to end the Israel-Iran conflict is expected to bring relief to South African agriculture.Lower fuel and fertiliser costs are anticipated, which will be particularly welcome ahead of the 2026/27 summer cropping season. Fertiliser prices are currently around 50% higher than a year ago due to the disruptions caused by the conflict.
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Beef carcass prices remained relatively firm in early June 2026:
- A2/A3 Beef: Around R63.75 – R63.93/kg
- AB2/AB3: Around R61.50 – R62.58/kg
- B2/B3: Around R59.00/kg
- C2/C3: Around R57.65 – R58.24/kg
- A2/A3 Lamb: Around R106 – R110/kg
- Feeder Lamb: Around R52/kg
Chicken prices remained under pressure due to weaker consumer demand.
- Whole fresh chicken (retail average): Around R68 – R69/kg
- Producer/wholesale frozen chicken: Low to mid R35/kg range
Pork prices have dropped noticeably:
- Porker carcasses: Around R36 – R37/kg (with recent week-on-week declines)
- Retail pork products: Averaged around R128/kg in May, also softening
Red meat (beef and lamb) prices are holding firmer than chicken and pork. Chicken and pork are under pressure from softer consumer spending and improved supply in some segments. Prices vary by region, grade, and between wholesale, carcass, and retail levels.
- White Maize
- June 2026: ± R3,090/ton
- July 2026: ± R3,100 – R3,154/ton
- Yellow Maize
- June 2026: ± R3,144 – R3,180/ton
- July 2026: ± R3,172 – R3,210/ton
- Bread Milling Wheat (June 2026): ± R5,761 – R5,820/ton
- Soybeans
- June 2026: ± R6,792 – R6,807/ton
- December 2026: ± R7,120/ton
- Sunflower Seeds
- June 2026: ± R8,875 – R8,899/ton
- July 2026: ± R8,927/ton
Grain and oilseed prices remained under pressure during the third week of June due to a large expected domestic harvest, good stock levels, and softer global trends. White and yellow maize traded in a relatively narrow range, while oilseeds showed some firmness but stayed volatile.Prices can change daily based on weather, currency movements, and international markets. Let me know if you want a more detailed breakdown or comparisons to the previous week.
30 Key South African Headline News Stories in Agriculture, Farming & Agritech as of Friday, 19 June 2026:
- Widespread but unconfirmed reports emerge of a DA-proposed cabinet reshuffle, with John Steenhuisen reportedly moving from Agriculture Minister to Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
- Willie Aucamp tipped to become the new Minister of Agriculture in proposed DA GNU changes.
- Farmers give John Steenhuisen a 'two out of 10' rating over his handling of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) response.
- South Africa’s agricultural exports surge 11% in Q1 2026, reaching US$3.7 billion.
- Agricultural trade surplus hits a record US$1.55 billion in Q1 2026.
- Fruits, nuts, and horticulture drive South Africa’s record agricultural export performance in early 2026.
- Ongoing foot-and-mouth disease crisis continues to hammer livestock exports and sector confidence.
- Government procures 13.5 million FMD vaccine doses; over 4.4 million animals vaccinated by late May.
- Positive farming fortunes at the start of 2026 despite FMD and looming El Niño risks.
- Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index drops below neutral (to 45 points) in Q2 2026 due to FMD and other pressures.
- NAMPO 2026 concludes with strong focus on innovation, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.
- Mixed growth outlook for 2026: Crops and exports shine while livestock (cattle and pork) faces pressure.
- Delayed harvests raise concerns despite record maize crop forecasts.
- Tractor and agricultural machinery sales decline in May 2026 amid uncertainty.
- SA–Italy agricultural pact signed to boost Africa expansion and EU market access.
- Communal farmers need targeted support to unlock greater agricultural potential.
- Cybersecurity weaknesses in agricultural supply chains emerge as a growing threat.
- Telkom Smart Agritech showcases AI-powered solutions for food security and efficiency.
- Higher input costs combined with projected El Niño raise fears for the 2026-27 season.
- South Africa aims to increase corn exports by 50% in 2026/27 on the back of a strong harvest.
- Agriculture sector supports approximately 960,000 jobs amid export-led growth.
- Agbiz Congress 2026 addresses shift from survival to expansion and sector growth strategies.
- Middle East tensions disrupt fertiliser supplies and reshape SA agriculture input costs.
- Omnia secures fertiliser supply chains amid global conflict risks.
- Youth empowerment highlighted as critical to the future of South African agriculture.
- New irrigation specialists graduate from Taung Agricultural College.
- Innovative wastewater-to-food projects (e.g., UCT Water Hub) advance sustainable farming.
- Sclerotinia detection camera wins innovation award for agricultural research.
- High-tech robotic dogs deployed to guard valuable corn crops.
- SA ranked among the world’s top 30 food-exporting nations.
- Parliament’s Select Committee expresses concern over North West province’s FMD response.
- SA-Botswana action plan endorsed to combat cross-border FMD outbreaks.
- Positive mood at NAMPO 2026 despite mixed sectoral outlook for the year.
- Gross value added in agriculture expands 3.9% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2026.
- Calls grow for tighter biosecurity and modernised systems in the 2026 agricultural agenda.
- Logistics inefficiencies and poor road maintenance remain major concerns for farmers.
- Precision farming, IoT, and mechanisation programmes gain traction for smallholders.
- African swine fever adds pressure alongside FMD in the pork industry.
- Agritec Africa events (regional editions) highlight growing focus on agri-tech innovation.
- Rumours of cabinet changes reveal deeper erosion of confidence in current agriculture leadership amid FMD crisis.
These stories reflect a sector showing strong export resilience and innovation but grappling with biosecurity challenges (especially FMD), climate risks, and political developments. The situation with the reported cabinet reshuffle remains unconfirmed by the Presidency.
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- The outbreak continues to spread across the country, with thousands of confirmed cases recorded since the beginning of 2026.
- KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State remain the hardest-hit provinces, followed by North West and others.
- By early April 2026, over 1,300 cases had already been reported nationwide, and numbers have continued to rise.
- Government has launched its largest-ever vaccine acquisition programme.
- By late May 2026, nearly 4.4 million animals had been vaccinated.
- Large new shipments have arrived, including millions of doses from Biogenesis Bago and approvals for additional millions from Dunevax/Dollvet.
- Vaccination is being accelerated, with priority given to high-risk and dairy herds.
WATCH OUT- NEW program on the way - exclusive to CRA MEDIA and the FARMERS of South Africa - 2026
- Mostly cool to cold conditions across the country.
- Partly cloudy skies dominate, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers possible, especially over the eastern parts, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and parts of the central interior (Free State, North West, and Northern Cape).
- Very cold mornings in the interior, with minimum temperatures dropping close to freezing in some high-lying areas.
- Winds will be moderate, with stronger south-westerly winds along the southern and eastern coasts.
- Sunday 21 June: Similar pattern — cool to cold with scattered showers possible in the east. Slightly warmer in the Western Cape.
- Monday–Tuesday: A new cold front is expected to approach, bringing increased chances of rain, especially in the Western Cape and along the south coast. Cooler temperatures and stronger winds are likely.
- Temperatures will remain below average for this time of year, with daytime highs mostly in the mid to upper teens in the interior.
- Winter weather is firmly in place: cold fronts moving through regularly.
- Western Cape: Wettest region with regular rain and strong winds.
- Interior (Gauteng, Free State, etc.): Dry and cold mornings, with occasional light showers.
- Eastern provinces: Higher chance of showers and morning mist/fog.
|
Fertilizer
|
Current Average Price (June 2026)
|
Month-on-Month Change
|
Year-on-Year Change
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Urea (46)
|
R21,008.50
|
+5.10%
|
+90.67%
|
|
LAN (28)
|
R19,125.00
|
-3.98%
|
+105.26%
|
|
MAP
|
R22,859.50
|
+8.24%
|
+29.98%
|
|
Potassium Chloride (MOP)
|
R11,241.50
|
+6.64%
|
+9.95%
|
- Fertilizer prices remained firm to higher in June despite some softening in global urea prices.
- MAP recorded the biggest monthly increase due to global supply disruptions (Strait of Hormuz), higher sulphur and ammonia costs, and reduced Chinese exports.
- Urea rose locally even as international prices eased, likely due to lagged effects from earlier purchases and exchange rate movements.
- LAN was the only product that declined slightly month-on-month.
- Year-on-year, prices are significantly higher across the board, especially nitrogen products (Urea and LAN).
(as of 15–16 June 2026)National OverviewSouth Africa’s major dams are in a very strong position for this time of year, with most provinces showing high storage levels following good rainfall earlier in 2026.Provincial Dam Levels (Average % Full)
|
Province
|
% Full (15/16 June 2026)
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
|
North West
|
103.1%
|
Very high
|
|
Free State
|
101.5%
|
Very high
|
|
Northern Cape
|
101.2%
|
Very high
|
|
Gauteng
|
100.8%
|
Very high
|
|
Limpopo
|
100.6%
|
Very high
|
|
Mpumalanga
|
99.6%
|
Very high
|
|
Eastern Cape
|
91.0%
|
Strong
|
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
90.7%
|
Strong
|
|
Western Cape
|
74.6%
|
Lowest in the country
|
- Western Cape (including Cape Town system) stands at 73.6% – 74.6%, significantly better than the same time last year but still the weakest region.
- Many dams in the interior and northern provinces are at or above 100% (spilling or very full).
- Several dams in the Garden Route and Eastern Cape have been overflowing in recent weeks due to heavy rainfall in May and early June.
- Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS): Remains very strong (around 100%+).
- Cape Town / Western Cape Water Supply System: Stable at 73.6% (15 June 2026).
South Africa entered the second half of 2026 with excellent dam levels in most parts of the country. Water security is currently good, although the Western Cape continues to lag behind the rest of the country
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OOM KERNEELS
Vandag gesels ek in Afrikaans.
Dis lekker koud hier in die Vrystaat en dis tyd om die onderklere bietjie meer te maak en nader na die kaggel te skuif en sommer lekker na te dink ten spyte van alles wat hierdie week in landbou gebeur het. Sommer so met die instrapslag skryf -Ons waardeer al ons Vader en Pappas' op hierdie dag en ons dank hulle vir al hulle ondersteuning, harde werk en "support"-
Maandag het die bom gebars toe ons liewe minister van Landbou sommer summier weg is op aanbeveling van sy eie mense. Dit was ’n redelike dapper stap, maar ja, “the proof is in the pudding”, soos die Engelse sê. Daar is baie te sê oor die minister se doen en late, maar hy was baie bedrywig, het hard gewerk en ’n departement gekry wat lelik verwaarloos was. Saam met dit moes hy nog saamwerk met ANC-lede in sy departement wat nie altyd baie gewillig was om saam te werk nie.
Daar is baie tweespalt oor die minister se manier hoe hy met bek-en-klouseer hanteer het, en daar is baie stories wat ek so deur die “grapevine” hoor – maar wie weet wat waar is en wat nie. Ons dank die minister vir sy harde werk. Die nuwe aangestelde minister sal sy sokkies moet optrek en al die boere tevrede stel.
Dis alweer Sondag en die Edele President, moet nog al hierdie voorstelle goedkeur van die DA – en dit moes eintlik al Vrydag gebeur het. Maar soos ons die ANC ken, is daar dalk weer ’n ander agenda. Die verkiesing kom nader en daar is dinge wat die ANC will verander tot hulle voordeel. Die ANC wil sy neus al dieper in landbou insteek en dit kan wees dat die voorstelle nie aanvaarbaar is nie. Intussen se die Edelagbare President dat hy sy tyd sal vat voor hy 'n antwoord sal gee-
Intussen sit ons maar en kyk. Ek het gister bietjie rugby gaan kyk by die skole. Ek is net verbaas oor ons ouers wat so opgewonde raak oor julle seuns wat rugby speel. Van hulle is so oorgewig en kan dalk regtig eendag ’n hartprobleem ontwikkel met al die opgewondenheid – en die taalgebruik is nie baie mooi nie. Ons moet sekerlik respek hê en voorbeeld stel. Van die onderwysers wat die spanne afrig is ook nie juis n voorbeeld nie- die taalgebruik en skree is regtig banaal. Dis nou maar my eie mening- dis seker hoe dit werk in 2026.
So verloor die Bulle in Ierland en die Springbokke druk hulle stompe af. Dis ’n nuwe week wat voorlê en ons moet maar kyk wat gebeur. Ons boer, stroop mielies en is besig met allerhande ander dinge, en ons hoop dit is ’n goeie week.
Groete Oom Kerneels.
Ncoooo bakithi our city boyfriends and husbands bakithi, that yooooooo....🫢🫢🫢🫢🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/jjZO66J49I
— Zanele Mokoena 🇿🇦 (@zahMokoena) June 17, 2026
The man x the dog vs the sheep 🤭 pic.twitter.com/mUwRD2Xx3g
— Kgoshi Ya Lebowa (@Mothematiks) June 17, 2026
WATCH | In response to the DA’s request for a cabinet reshuffle, President Cyril Ramaphosa says that only the president has the authority to appoint and remove ministers, “Finish and klaar.” He adds that a consideration will be made and thereafter a decision taken. pic.twitter.com/YVTEUj2BV6
— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 20, 2026
"Land in White hands is stolen property. Express that in the section itself, because then you'll be able to say you're expropriating ... you're just redressing." pic.twitter.com/GcFOUlpzpz
— Alice VL (@RiseAgainstEvil) June 20, 2026
