Botswana’s ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis is putting increasing pressure on the country’s beef industry, with at least 6,600 cattle stranded at two large private feedlots and calls growing for government support. South Africa’s Department of Agriculture says it has not received a formal request from the Botswana government to assist with accepting, slaughtering or ...

By: Brandon Moss South Africa’s agricultural community gathered at Bredasdorp Park in the Western Cape from 9 to 12 September 2026 for NAMPO Cape, one of the country’s leading agricultural exhibitions. Held under the theme “Together We Grow,” the event brought together farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, technology providers, financial institutions and agricultural organisations to discuss the ...

South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province is making progress towards its target of vaccinating 80% of the estimated 2.5 million cattle population against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), as authorities intensify efforts to prevent further outbreaks. KwaZulu-Natal has been among the provinces most severely affected by the FMD outbreak that began in 2021. The disease has placed significant pressure ...

South Africa has introduced a new digital portal to strengthen the country’s response to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) while supporting efforts to restore international confidence in its livestock exports. The Department of Agriculture’s new online reporting system allows livestock producers to apply for voluntary vaccination approval, submit vaccination records and improve disease traceability as government works ...

South Africa has approved a new national framework for managing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), introducing updated control measures aimed at improving outbreak response, protecting livestock farmers, and maintaining agricultural trade. The new regulations were approved by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and will take effect once published in the Government Gazette. They replace the 2019 FMD Contingency ...

You Cannot Spray Everything. But You Can Do This More than a year after Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) first triggered widespread concern across South Africa and neighbouring countries, the outbreak continues to affect livestock operations unabated. Confirmed new cases have climbed from 932 in March 2026 to 2,034 by 22nd May, now affecting all ...

South Africa’s FMD vaccination campaign is showing promising early results, with government reporting strong progress in containing the spread of the disease across the country’s livestock sector. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen confirmed that more than 2 million animals have been vaccinated since February 2026, with early data indicating that the strategy is effectively protecting herds. ...

South Africa’s agriculture sector faces disease outbreaks, rising input costs, and export pressures despite a positive grain production outlook. South Africa’s agricultural sector entered 2026 on uncertain footing, with disease outbreaks, rising input costs, and global geopolitical tensions placing pressure on farmers and agribusinesses. According to the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz), the first quarter of ...

South Africa is currently facing one of its most serious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crises in years – one that has already locked South African farmers out of some markets. Daneel Rossouw, Head of Sales for Nedbank Agriculture, argues that stronger biosecurity measures are essential for South Africa’s livestock sector to maximise its role in global ...

Republic of South Africa: The Parliament The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture today received an update from the Department of Agriculture on the vaccination of cattle against foot and mouth disease (FMD), following an outbreak across the country. The committee heard that the department is currently distributing a million vaccine doses to outbreak areas in the ...