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Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has intervened to prevent the liquidation of struggling sugar producer Tongaat Hulett, warning that its collapse would devastate rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.The company, in business rescue since 2022 after a major accounting scandal, faces a provisional liquidation hearing on 27 February 2026.
The ICE-EU Robusta coffee price has dropped nearly $1,000 per ton since November 2025, but the fertilizer market is showing mixed signals. Indian urea prices stabilised after last week’s tender closed, ending speculation that had driven strong gains earlier.
The Western Cape government has set aside R100 million to buy foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine, acting early this month to protect its herds since the national government cannot compensate farmers for livestock losses caused by the outbreak.
We have received the first batch of 1 million Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccines at OR Tambo International Airport. This is a major breakthrough in our efforts to protect the national herd, farmers, and jobs. This delivery is part of a phased national rollout, more will follow. John Steenhuizen
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp published a notice in the Government Gazette of his intention to set and allocate export quotas for elephants, black rhinos, and leopards for 2026 and 2027, in line with the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act and CITES requirements.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, as Presidential Envoy for Agriculture and Land.
The global grape market is experiencing significant changes in supply dynamics, weather impacts and pricing across major origins and destinations.In the Netherlands, heavy South African arrivals are dominating, with shipments to Europe up 27% through week 7, while Indian exports are delayed and down 40–50% due to unseasonal rains reducing yields and registrations.
Eskom is spending millions on diesel-powered generation even though it has significant spare coal-fired capacity available, due to binding take-or-pay contracts with independent power producers (IPPs).In the week of 14–20 February 2026,
Minister John Steenhuisen has confirmed that farmers wanting to proactively vaccinate their herds against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) once sufficient vaccine arrives will pay between R45 and R80 per dose, depending on the supplier.
South Africa receives its first large consignment of 1 000 000 high-potency foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines from Argentina.
SA Canegrowers, representing 27,000 small-scale and 1,100 large-scale sugarcane growers, has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Ministers of Finance, Trade, Industry and Competition, Agriculture, and Public Works and Infrastructure, pleading for immediate, coordinated government intervention to stabilise the South African sugar industry.
South Africa’s consumer inflation eased slightly to 3.5% year-on-year in January 2026 (from 3.6% in December), according to Stats SA data released on 18 February. The figure came in a touch above economists’ expectations of 3.4%, but it still supports the South African Reserve Bank’s view that inflation peaked at the end of 2025 and is now trending towards the 3% midpoint of its target range.
Francois Wilken, president van Vrystaat Landbou (VL), het gesê die organisasie hou nie sy asem op vir die entstof teen bek-en-klouseer (BKS) nie, ondanks aankondigings dat miljoene dosisse in die komende weke arriveer.
The EU milk supply landscape is shifting after years of rapid growth following the 2015 end of the milk quota system, which removed production caps and drove strong expansion, especially in north-western Europe.Rabobank analysts Michael Harvey and Tom Booijink, in a recent podcast, explain that this fast increase has now stabilised.
Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon and Nigeria are increasingly serving as major source and transit countries in the global illegal trade of pangolins—the world’s most trafficked mammal—as highlighted by World Animal Protection ahead of World Pangolin Day 2026.
President Cyril Ramaphosa het gewaarsku dat die impak van klimaatsverandering groei en ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika kan belemmer. Dit volg nadat oorstromings vroeër vanjaar lewensverlies en groot skade aan infrastruktuur in Limpopo en Mpumalanga tot gevolg gehad het. Ramaphosa het vanoggend 'n sittting van die Presidensiële Klimaatskommissie toegespreek.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen confirmed on Thursday that one million doses of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine from Argentina’s Biogénesis Bagó will arrive in South Africa this weekend (21–22 February 2026). An additional 1.5 million doses are expected next week, with monthly supplies scaling up to 3–5 million doses by March.
Suid-Afrika vier 'n belangrike landboumylpaal met die eerste steenvrug-versending na China. Die minister van Landbou, John Steenhuisen, en die Chinese ambassadeur in Suid-Afrika, Wu Peng, het toesig gehou toe 20 000 houers pruime vanuit Franschhoek verske
ep is.
Wine farmers in Stellenbosch is experiencing one of its most promising vintages in recent memory. They describes the season as “a perfect golf swing,” with ideal conditions from a cold winter dormancy through bud-break, berry-set, and veraison leading to outstanding fruit quality.
South Africa’s citrus industry is experiencing strong growth in production, with exports surpassing 203 million 15 kg cartons in the recent season and potential to reach 260 million by 2032.
South Africa’s headline inflation edged down from 3.6% in December 2025 to 3.5% year-on-year in January 2026, with monthly pressure at just 0.2% month-on-month. Lower fuel prices helped offset increases in core and food inflation. Food prices remained flat at 4.4% year-on-year, despite sharp rises in meat prices.
Dr. Danie Odendaal of the Veterinary Network said at Agri Mpumalanga's FMD training school in Ermelo on 18 February that official confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) likely represent only 20% of the actual picture.
Bek-en-klouseer (BKS) is onlangs in Botswana se verre noordooste bevestig, beperk tot siektebeheergebiede 3c en 6b. Die eerste geval is op 29 Januarie by die Jackalas 1-drukgang aangemeld, met verdere besmettings in die omgewing van Moroka, Kgari, Nlapkhwane en Mulambakwena gemeenskapsveedrukgange.
Die Vrystaat en KwaZulu-Natal kry elkeen 200 000 dosisse, die Oos-Kaap 150 000, Limpopo, Mpumalanga en Noordwes elk 100 000, Gauteng 70 000, Noord-Kaap 50 000 en Wes-Kaap 30 000. Die fokus is op die ergste uitbrekingsones (Vrystaat, KZN, Noordwes) om die siekte te probeer breek.Nog 1,5 miljoen dosisse kom volgende week, en teen Maart word maandelikse aflewerings van 3–5 miljoen verwag. Die LNR belowe 20 000 dosisse per week, met produksie wat teen 2027 na 200 000 per week kan styg.
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Here is a curated selection of 50 major international agriculture headlines and trends dominating global discussions as of February 20, 2026 (drawn from recent USDA, FAO, industry reports, market updates, regional developments, and fast-moving events):
- Brazil confirms record soybean crop of nearly 178 million tons for 2025/26 – Conab cites record yields of 3,675 kg/ha.
- Safrinha corn forecast cut to 109.26 million tons, down 3.5% from last year due to planting pace and weather risks.
- South Africa’s FMD vaccine rollout accelerates: 1 million doses from Argentina arrive this weekend, 1.5 million from Turkey next week.
- Private vets now authorised to administer FMD vaccines in SA – target 80% of 14 million cattle herd by December 2026.
- Industry questions official SA FMD case numbers: ground reports suggest only 20% of real cases are confirmed.
- AfriForum urges formal national disaster declaration for FMD, water crisis and northern floods – regulations still unpublished.
- Western Cape called “milk hub” amid FMD urgency – critics question why EC (29.5%) and KZN (28.3%) milk regions waited months.
- Dairy revenue losses from FMD exceed R1 billion; per-cow impact ~R5,000 from permanent udder damage.
- SA broiler industry now more competitive than US – BFAP reports lowest feed conversion ratio (1.4 kg feed/kg meat).
- Poultry Master Plan investments (R2.2bn) drive 14.1% feed efficiency gain over decade.
- EU milk supply stabilising after quota end – Rabobank forecasts slight decline in north-western Europe over next 5–10 years.
- Stricter EU nitrogen/phosphate rules and ageing farmers to cap milk expansion; 5% global milk pool drop expected by 2035.
- Dutoit kicks off first commercial sweet onion harvest in Western Cape – targeting Spain and potential local growth.
- Dutoit plans 30% export share of 2026 onions; port delays remain top constraint for Jan–Mar window.
- Kleine Zalze calls 2026 harvest “perfect golf swing” – early start, generous yields, superb quality in Chenin, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah.
- Standard Bank: rand near fair value at ~R16/USD – modest upside possible but limited without stronger fundamentals.
- Rand strength driven by massive terms-of-trade shock from high gold/commodity prices vs stable imports.
- EU Robusta coffee indicator drops nearly $1,000/ton since Nov 2025 – farmers urged to digitise farms for carbon credits and EU compliance.
- Platforms like Dimitra Technology help producers become traceable and empowered instead of anonymous suppliers.
- Gauteng water load-shifting risks sewage entering drinking supply – expert warns of pipe damage and system collapse.
- Dr Anthony Turton: Gauteng water system nearing unavoidable failure; state deflects blame to consumers despite high Vaal Dam levels.
- Up to 50% water lost to leaks/illegal connections distorts per-capita use figures – public trust in government eroding.
- ICE-EU Robusta plunge squeezes coffee farmers – traceability, carbon projects key to escaping price-taker trap.
- South Africa’s citrus exports on track for 260 million cartons by 2032 – rail revival and rural road repairs critical.
- CGA launches GIS road-monitoring tool in Limpopo to track flood damage and coordinate urgent repairs.
- Transnet-ICTSI Durban Pier 2 JV shows port progress; citrus rail volumes up modestly to 1,254 containers last season.
- SA sugar industry warns surging imports (164,000 t Apr–Dec 2025) cost growers >R1.2bn – DBRP increase application under review.
- Tongaat Hulett liquidation threatens KZN crushing season – potential loss of mills could leave 40,000 ha of cane unprocessed.
- SA poultry imports plummet from 287,000 t (2018) to <40,000 t bone-in (2024) – exports at ~55,000 t, mainly to Africa/UAE.
- HPAI vaccine access remains restrictive for poultry – industry calls for relaxed rules and state support matching FMD efforts.
- Global palm oil output expected to decline in 2026 – lower yields in Indonesia and Malaysia cited.
- GEOGLAM reports positive global conditions for wheat, maize, rice and soybeans at end-January 2026.
- USDA bumps US corn export projections; export inspections show week-on-week gains for corn and wheat.
- Drought intensifies across lower 48 US states – latest monitor shows worsening conditions.
- NCC forecasts second consecutive drop in US cotton acreage for 2026.
- Iowa farmland auctions active in February – 7,300 acres across 37 counties traded.
- Soybean and grain futures rise on demand signals ahead of USDA reports.
- Strong winds forecast for key US farming regions next week.
- Michigan opens 2026 Value-Added, Regional Food Systems and Supply Chain Grants cycle.
- Tri-State High Tunnel School 2026 Webinar Series launches next week.
- Eastern Shore Vegetable Grower Meeting set for 18 February in Maryland.
- Milk Quality from the Udder World Trainer Certification Program scheduled for 18 February.
- House Environment and Agriculture Committee session held 18 February.
- US ethanol production and stockpiles increase week-on-week.
- Input considerations for 2026 crops focus on risk management amid volatility.
- Ohio State University to release new high-yield wheat variety this fall.
- Iowa farmland values steady despite “boring” market conditions.
- Global agriculture companies 2026 list updated – seeds, agrochemicals, machinery and AgTech leaders highlighted.
- UN stresses closing gender gaps in farming to boost worldwide food security and resilience.
- 2026 designated International Year of the Woman Farmer by UN – focus on women’s role in nutrition and economic stability.
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VIDEO from the MEDIA
EXCLUSIVE: What happens to movement and control after vaccinations?
— African Farming (@africanfarming_) February 21, 2026
We’re at OR Tambo Airport witnessing a historic moment as South Africa receives its first large consignment of 1 000 000 high-potency foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines from Argentina.
African Farming… pic.twitter.com/Z5gELPap3N
Highlights: @Action4SA Member, @AtholT says that, in the foot-and-mouth disease national disaster, vaccinating clean herds mitigates devastating production losses and livestock mortality. #SONADebate #SONA2026 pic.twitter.com/uabYHKPDjz
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) February 18, 2026
How the Netherlands outsmarted the ocean with technology. pic.twitter.com/PLvLFd65Fm
— Documenting Saylor (@saylordocs) February 20, 2026
#FMDVaccines 🎥LIVE | FMD RESPONSE IN ACTION📍🇿🇦
— National Department of Agriculture (@DOAgov_ZA) February 21, 2026
As the first shipment of ONE MILLION high-potency Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines arrives in the country, Minister John Steenhuisen speaks to @Newzroom405 at OR Tambo International Airport.
🛬 This milestone delivery marks… pic.twitter.com/RCD4tCNG6J
They are here!
— African Farming (@africanfarming_) February 21, 2026
South Africa receives its first large consignment of 1 000 000 high-potency foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines from Argentina.
African Farming Digital Editor Maile Matsimela is reporting from OR Tambo Airport.@DOAgov_ZA @jsteenhuisen @MaileMatsimela2 pic.twitter.com/vn6G8Fc6XY
