The Gariep Dam was 120.4% full and the Vanderkloof Dam 112.4% full on Monday morning, both spilling into the Orange River system. Although high water levels are currently moving through the Lower Orange River, the flood is moderated by lower inflows from the Vaal River (around 900 cumecs).

Land reform remains one of South Africa’s most complex and politically sensitive issues, aimed at redressing the legacy of colonial and apartheid-era dispossession.

In 2026, amid growing pressures on South African agriculture — including climate change, rising input costs, and market uncertainty — the focus has shifted strongly to resilience. The theme of this year’s Nampo Harvest Day is “Veerkragtigheid deur innovasie” (Resilience through Innovation).The event will take place from 12 to 15 May 2026 in Bothaville.

South Africa’s 2025-26 maize marketing year, which ended in April 2026, delivered a strong harvest of approximately 16.5 million tonnes, well above the country’s domestic requirement of around 12 million tonnes. However, exports fell short of expectations, reaching only 2.0 million tonnes compared to the initial forecast of 2.4 million tonnes.

Die jaarlikse inflasiekoers vir alkoholiese drankies en tabak, wat 12,6 persent van die verbruikersmandjie uitmaak, het in April op 1,8 persent gestaan, af van 4,9 persent in die ooreenstemmende tydperk verlede jaar.

Winter storms hitting the Western Cape in May 2026 have been unusually intense for this time of year, with heavy rainfall more typical of June to August. According to independent agricultural meteorologist Johan van den Berg, April and May rainfall in the winter rainfall region has shown a significant long-term decline over the past 30 years.

Die gemiddelde pryse van tabak het met 4,8 persent gestyg, vanaf 'n 5,4 persent styging verlede jaar April. Dit is hoofsaaklik toegeskryf aan die laer inflasiekoers van pyptabak, wat van 11,5 persent tot 7,6 persent gedaal het.

NAMPO Harvest Day 2026, also known as Nampo, is South Africa’s largest agricultural exhibition, organised by Grain SA. It ranks among the biggest privately owned agricultural shows in the Southern Hemisphere. The main event runs from 12 to 15 May 2026 at NAMPO Park in Bothaville, Free State.

Agricultural chemical company Bayer and oil giant BP have formed a strategic alliance to commercially expand the cultivation of camelina as a cover crop for biofuel production.

Agricultural machinery sales in South Africa remain robust, largely supported by orders placed earlier when farmers’ finances were strengthened by the strong 2024-25 harvest under favourable La Niña conditions.

The confirmation that two vaccinated commercial dairy herds in KwaZulu-Natal have contracted foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has sharply intensified criticism of South Africa’s FMD vaccination strategy and exposed the vulnerability of the dairy industry.

China has opened a major two-year window of opportunity for South African agriculture by removing import tariffs on a wide range of African agricultural products from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028.This zero-tariff arrangement falls under the China–Africa Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Prosperity (Caepa).


The distinction between food security and food sovereignty, though subtle in language, carries profound implications for policy and autonomy. Food security centers on access — ensuring people have sufficient, safe, and nutritious food available at all times, regardless of its origin.

The FAO Food Price Index rose for the third consecutive month in April 2026, reaching an average of 130.7 points. This represents a 1.6% increase from March and a 2.0% rise compared to the same period last year.The increase was driven primarily by a sharp 5.9% jump in vegetable oil prices, which reached their highest level since July 2022.

Two vaccinated dairy herds in KwaZulu-Natal have been infected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), roughly eight weeks after their first vaccination. In both cases, the virus came from unvaccinated cattle on neighbouring farms.These outbreaks are not evidence that the vaccine doesn’t work — they are evidence that the government’s current vaccination plan is failing.

The South African Weather Service has issued a high-level Level 8 severe storm warning for the Western Cape as a strong cold front approaches.The warning is in effect from Sunday, 10 May to Tuesday, 12 May 2026.

Saai is uiters geskok oor Minister John Steenhuisen se flagrante leuens en ooglopende teenstrydighede in sy antwoorde oor die koste van bek-en-klouseerentstof in die parlement, en veral oor sy vermetelheid om Saai van die verspreiding van misinformasie daaroor te beskuldig.

The current surge in South African wool prices still has some way to go before reaching the previous peak of June 2018, when real prices hit R349 per kilogram. Even today’s stronger prices remain significantly below the massive wool price boom experienced in 1951/52.

Some cattle in KwaZulu-Natal that had already received their first vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have become reinfected.Farmers say this is happening because the government’s vaccination window is too long.

When diesel prices rise in South Africa, the impact goes far beyond motorists at the pump. Diesel is the hidden fuel that powers the entire economy — from trucks transporting food, to harvesters in the fields, mining operations, cold chains, construction, and backup generators during power shortages

Apple farmers in the high altitudes of South Africa’s eastern Free State are currently harvesting the last two cultivars of the season, Cripps Pink and Cripps Red. Doug Osler of Lone Tree Farms reports a very good crop this season in both quantity and quality.

Die minister van handel, nywerheid en mededinging, Parks Tau, bly gekant teen die likwidasie van Tongaat Hulett en is vasbeslote om meer as 40 000 werksgeleenthede te red. Tau het KwaZulu-Natal se LUR vir vervoer en menslike nedersettings, Siboniso Duma, en die Zoeloe-koninklike kanselier, Inkosi Malusi Zondi, in die Koning Cetshwayo-distrik ontmoet.

No medium in farming and agriculture give you so much news at one address - 

‼️It's bad out there guys! Strong winds taking down big trucks with ease. Please don't take chances. Parts of Western Cape, Riversdal, Ceres, Worcester and others, Eastern Cape in PE and other areas and KwaZulu-Natal at Van Reenen on N3 are affected. pic.twitter.com/nQBRDqGICX

— Commander!!! (@maetsebane) May 11, 2026

Gariepdam gister (10 Mei), 121% vol.
Video: Niel Kruger. pic.twitter.com/IC7XtOic22

— White Lion II (NDDN) Wittoslav Lionovski (@WhiteLionII1) May 11, 2026

@GrainSA is another proud partner of Nation in Conversation 2026. We look forward to having the important conversations together.

See you there! Book your place now at: https://t.co/qVW6iCSjko #NAMPO2026 #ResilienceCreatesAdvantage #NIC2026 #NationInConversation2026 pic.twitter.com/TkxVATCFM4

— NationInConversation (@NationConverse) May 11, 2026

@GrainSA is another proud partner of Nation in Conversation 2026. We look forward to having the important conversations together.

See you there! Book your place now at: https://t.co/qVW6iCSjko#NAMPO2026#ResilienceCreatesAdvantage#NIC2026#NationInConversation2026pic.twitter.com/TkxVATCFM4

— NationInConversation (@NationConverse) May 11, 2026

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