South African News
Highveld frost gives farmers a fright — but maize likely to shrug it off
Farmers across the Mpumalanga Highveld awoke to unexpected frost, with reports of minimums near 3–5 °C in Ermelo, Amersfoort, Val and Balfour. While the chill surprised growers, agronomists say summer grain is largely safe at this early stage. Soybeans are more vulnerable; leaves can blacken if exposed to ice for several hours. Maize, however, remains well-protected while growth points are still below ground and is expected to recover even if lightly affected. Forecasters warn at least three more cold fronts may follow before November, potentially bringing further cold, hail, strong winds and tornado-type storms.
Read full story: African Farming
Date published: October 22, 2025
South Africa courts Indonesia to widen agricultural export footprint
Wandile Sihlobo argues that South Africa’s diplomatic visit to Indonesia – followed by Malaysia and Vietnam – is a strategic step in diversifying export markets for agriculture. Indonesia currently absorbs just 0.3% of South Africa’s farm exports, despite importing roughly US$29 billion of agricultural goods annually. While global suppliers dominate Indonesian demand for staples such as wheat, sugar, soy and beef, South Africa sees scope to grow wine, beef and fruit sales if tariff and phytosanitary barriers can be eased. With half of South Africa’s agricultural output already exported by value, sustained growth hinges on opening and securing new markets through more assertive trade diplomacy.
Read full story: Agricultural Economics Today
Date published: October 22, 2025
African News
Kenya must scale up climate-smart aquaculture to close its fish protein gap
Kenya eats far less fish than global health guidance, with consumption at 2.5 kg per person versus the WHO’s 10.4 kg. Tilapia and Nile perch demand already exceeds supply, signalling space to expand aquaculture. Research highlights climate-smart, integrated fish farming and better post-harvest systems as core to raising output, cutting spoilage and strengthening the blue economy. Barriers include smallholder capital limits, gender-blind policy, weak cold chains, climate stress and overfishing. The article calls for modern cold storage, digital traceability, concessional finance for women and youth, regional value-chain integration and public campaigns to lift fish intake and food security.
Read full story: Down to Earth
Date published: October 23, 2025
Global News
Good rains push South American soybean and maize planting ahead of schedule
South American row-crop planting is running ahead of the seasonal norm on the back of favourable moisture. Analyst Michael Cordonnier reports 25% of Brazil’s soybeans are in the ground, with Mato Grosso at 43% and Paraná at 39%. Rains remain generous in southern Brazil and are improving in the centre. In Argentina, maize is 30% planted and soybean sowing is just beginning. The agriculture ministry there expects the largest soybean export volume in 15 years, helped by excellent soil moisture and diverted Chinese demand amid the US–China trade war. Paraguay is also completing one of its fastest soybean campaigns in years.
Read full story: Brownfield Ag News
Date published: October 22, 2025
Drones take over apple hauling for farmers in northwest China
Growers in Jingning County, Gansu Province, have begun using drones to ferry freshly picked apples from orchards. Each flight can lift around 50 kg, easing labour needs and sidestepping rough terrain that makes manual or vehicle transport slow and costly. The move highlights accelerating adoption of unmanned aerial systems in Chinese agriculture for logistics as well as crop care, with the aim of increasing efficiency, reducing post-harvest bruising and speeding fruit to market.
Read full story: Xinhua
Date published: October 23, 2025
BNZ’s “First Farm” pairs cheaper capital with mentoring to help young New Zealanders buy in
BNZ has launched the First Farm initiative to make dairy farm or herd ownership more attainable for first-time buyers amid tight rural credit conditions. The scheme lowers deposit requirements and matches every successful applicant with an experienced farmer mentor for their first two seasons, offering hands-on guidance in planning, cashflow, governance and people decisions. BNZ frames the programme as a way to ease inter-generational succession — with only a third of farmers having formal plans — while retaining know-how in the sector. The bank intends to scale similar blended finance-plus-capability models into other agricultural sectors.
Read full story: NZA
Date published: October 23, 2025
Scottish arable growers told to tighten costs as cash-flow pressure bites after poor spring
Monitor Farm Scotland warns that weather-hit spring barley and weak commodity prices are squeezing arable margins and will pressure cash flow into 2026. Drought and high nitrogen pushed much barley into feed rather than malting, leaving some grain unsold as farmers now face spring input purchases. Advisers urge growers to map cash flow, use benchmarking tools and exploit support schemes such as FAS Specialist Advice grants. Some are switching to winter wheat and oilseed rape, but caution is urged. Despite individual pain, first official estimates point to a strong 2025 Scottish harvest led by record winter crop yields.
Read full story: The Scottish Farmers
Date published: October 23, 2025
