Between October 2025 and June 2026, South Africa imported 158k tonnes of WHEAT from CANADA. This is about 12% of our wheat imports so far in the 2025-26 marketing year.

The SHEEP farmers and WOOL industry of South Africa have had such a fantastic year. We enjoyed higher prices and better grazing veld. We are also seeing encouraging demand for wool in China, a country that buys 80% of our wool exports.

With a bumper maize crop expected in South Africa, exports are picking up pace, with the Far East accounting for a promising 72% of them. www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...

The increase in South Africa’s pork production has played a notable role in reducing pork product imports as a share of our annual consumption. Since the 2010s, we’ve seen a notable increase in domestic pork production.

South African PORK export volumes per country

South African pork production and consumption per capita

India is such a massive and important market for agriculture. Our focus in engagement with them on agricultural matters remains on the possibilities of deepening trade; lowering tariffs, and addressing phytosanitary issues.

The Director General of South Africa's Department of Agriculture is outlining the sector's policy priorities. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uev...

South Africa has 284,000 commercial farming households that keep our nation fed. It is these great South Africans, and many smallholder farmers, who will be the major stakeholders in implementing the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP). www.youtube.com/watch?v=UScn...

Here is South Africa’s long-term agricultural growth plan. Yes, the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) 🇿🇦. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWCu...

The Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) is not a document of certain farmers or agribusinesses; it is a document of ALL SOUTH AFRICAN FARMERS, AGRRIBUSINESSES, LABOUR and GOVERNMENT.

The Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) is not just about inclusivity or transformation; it is about ensuring growth and job creation, and shared prosperity in the sector. This remains a fundamental document that guides our thinking in South Africa’s agriculture.

All farmers and agribusinesses should support South Africa's Agriculture and Agro-processing master plan. This Plan prioritises inclusive growth and job creation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWCu...

South African white maize prices, Rands per tonne. South Africa has a record maize harvest of 17.25 million tonnes, up 4% from last season, and the largest harvest on record

Maize farmers are busy in the fields across South Africa, harvesting the 2025-26 maize crop. The harvest is slightly behind the last season’s pace.

Policy priorities for growing South Africa's agriculture 🇿🇦 www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uev...

Policy Priorities for a Growing South Africa's Agricultural Sector www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uev...

South African pig slaughter in April 2026 was 9.7% lower than in April 2025, at 290,106 pigs, according to data from the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) .

In this piece, I summarise our reading of the mood in the South African farming sector.

httphttps://open.substack.com/pub/wandile/p/south-africas-2025-26-summer-grain?r=3ckx9&utm_medium=ios

Congratulations to my friend @mazzucatom.bsky.social on this new work! I look forward to reading it. The book is out in major stores and on the ebook platforms.

The seed industry plays a VITAL role in our agricultural progress in South Africa (and globally). Keeping up to speed with developments in this industry and registering new innovations for the farmers is key to securing South Africa’s competitive edge in agriculture.

I have just had an uplifting conversation about GOAT FARMING in South Africa with Rauri Alcock. We haven’t always placed specific attention on this industry. But it requires more attention and will require some consideration.

THE KAROO 🇿🇦

I recently sat down with the folks at Lucentlands Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on South Africa’s agriculture, youth involvement, and more. You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrqd...

Are We Undervaluing South African Agriculture? Wandile Sihlobo www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrqd...

KAROO FARMERS THRIVE AFTER RECORD RAINFALL BOOSTS GRAZING. www.businessday.co.za/opinion/2026...

The soybean farmers are nearly done with the harvest process. About 2.6 million tonnes of the expected 2.9 million tonnes have been delivered to silos. South Africa has a record soybean crop.

South Africa exported 57,593 tonnes of maize last week, with about 74% going to South Korea. The rest went to the neighbouring countries. South Africa’s maize exports so far in the 2026-27 marketing year total 493,167 tonnes, out of the expected 3.0 million tonnes.

SA farmers and agribusinesses are in a pensive mood www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...

Retailers and restaurants that list KAROO LAMB in their establishments must source the real product and not mislead customers or be misled by their suppliers. 1/

Given the rains we have observed in the Karoo this year, it is probably fair to assume that if we experience an El Niño next year, the farmers in the Karoo should be in a good position and not be dramatically impacted for a while. The water tables and the grazing veld are good.

Farmers are saying they have never seen the Karoo region of South Africa this beautiful. The rains this year have revived the region. Sheep farmers are benefiting. We see ewes producing many lambs, the udders of the ewes are full, and the lambs gain weight very quickly. 🇿🇦

The upper Karoo region of South Africa -- from Britstown to Carnarvon, Victoria-West has also been blessed with record rainfall. It is beautiful here. 🇿🇦

It is wonderful to see how beautiful much of the Karoo and Kalahari regions of South Africa are following nice rains. In the Kalahari, the Kuruman River has begun to flow after being dry for many years.

We are seeing a growing readership. Thank you! Enkosi. My regular newsletter primarily focuses on agricultural economics and trade matters in South Africa and our region, and occasionally elsewhere. You can subscribe to it for free on the link here: wandile.substack.com

The Karoo and Kalahari are among the most beautiful regions of South Africa. We also have awesome agricultural activities here that aren’t often highlighted. 1/

The beautiful Karoo region of South Africa. open.substack.com/pub/wandile/...

SOUTH AFRICA IS PLAYING A SUPER HIGH QUALITY GAME TODAY! #BafanaBafana #WorldCup #Fifa

In the fist game, our SANGOMA didn't have a VISA. We are now back! 😅🇿🇦 #BafanaBafana #WorldCup #Fifa

SOUTH AFRICA IS PLAYING HIGH QUALITY GAME TODAY! We are DOMINATING the game BIGLY! We must get some goals. #BafanaBafana #WorldCup #Fifa

South Africa’s consumer food price inflation continues to slow www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...

From the Business Day -- News of Hormuz reopening raises hopes of price relief for farmers

The BRICS countries are among the world's agricultural powerhouses. We need to deepen trade within the group and minimise trade barriers (tariffs and non-tariff barriers).

SA’s bumper maize harvest keeps food inflation on a leash www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...

South Africa’s consumer food price inflation continues to slow. The figures released by Statistics South Africa this morning show that consumer food price inflation slowed to 1.6% in May 2026, down from 2.8% in March. This is the lowest level in 17 months.

Folks, we will release the second-quarter results of the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index, the sentiment indicator for South African farming, tomorrow, June 17, 2026, at 10 am. I will post the results and links for the data here.

Mexicans can be proud! Winning a game against the BEST COUNTRY IN AFRICA, a BRICS member, etc., etc. The vibes must be insane in Mexico City. Congratulations. We are still around! #WorldCup #SAvsMexico #FIFA

Published today in The Herald