29 July '26 - Today in Farming

South African News 

South Africa Launches FMD Portal to Boost Livestock Exports

South Africa's Department of Agriculture has launched an online portal allowing cattle owners to apply for permission to voluntarily vaccinate livestock against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The system enables farmers to register, notify authorities before vaccination and submit reports afterwards, improving disease traceability as the country seeks to regain its FMD-free status with vaccination from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Farmers will fund voluntary vaccinations, while government support will continue in outbreak areas and for producers unable to afford vaccines. The initiative is expected to strengthen disease control and support the recovery of livestock exports.

Read full; story:SA Freight News 

Date Published: July 28, 2026

Farmers Urged to Prepare for El Niño Planting Challenges

South African farmers are being encouraged to plan carefully for the 2026/27 summer planting season as forecasts indicate a more than 90% chance of an El Niño weather pattern bringing drier conditions and erratic rainfall. Experts say strong soil moisture, replenished reservoirs and record maize stocks from the previous harvest will help reduce immediate food security risks. Farmers are advised to use drought-tolerant seed varieties, improve irrigation, adopt conservation farming practices and strengthen risk management. Despite weather uncertainty and rising input costs, agricultural specialists believe careful planning and resilient farming practices can still deliver successful harvests.

Read full; story:Food For Mzansi 

Date Published: July 29, 2026

African News 

Malawi Students Promote Farming Innovation After International Success

Students from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) are encouraging Malawi's smallholder farmers to adopt locally developed agricultural technologies after winning second place at the China-Africa Innovation Challenge in Kenya. Their project focuses on technology-driven small-scale farming to improve crop yields, food security and household incomes. With agriculture supporting around 80% of Malawi's economy, researchers say investing in young innovators is essential to help farmers tackle climate change, extreme weather and low productivity. The team hopes its international recognition will attract greater support for agricultural research and the adoption of modern farming technologies.

Read full; story:All Africa 

Date Published: July 29, 2026

Global News 

Dairy Farmers Install Cooling Systems as Heat Reduces Milk Yields

Dairy farmers across south-west England are investing in cooling systems, including large fans and sprinkler "cow showers", to protect cattle from increasingly frequent heatwaves. Prolonged hot weather has reduced milk production by up to 20%, while drought has left grassland scorched, forcing farmers to use winter feed months earlier than planned. Experts from the Royal Agricultural University and the Met Office warn that hotter, drier summers are becoming more common, requiring farms to adapt. Despite rising costs and climate challenges, young dairy farmers remain committed to improving resilience and securing the future of their businesses.

Read full; story:BBC News 

Date Published: July 29, 2026

Weaker Demand Could Limit Argentina's Sunflower Planting

Argentine farmers may scale back sunflower planting for the 2026/27 season as weaker global demand and falling prices reduce the crop's profitability. Lower import demand from the European Union and Turkey, combined with an expected record sunflower harvest in Russia, is likely to increase global supplies and put further pressure on prices. Analysts believe many growers could instead favour maize, wheat or soya beans, leaving sunflower acreage largely unchanged from last season. Reduced production could also affect Argentina's crushing industry, with processing plants expected to operate below capacity and sunflower seed exports forecast to fall sharply.

Read full; story:Ukr Agro Consult 

Date Published: July 28, 2026

Canada Shapes Rural Development Plan Around Community Priorities

The Canadian Government is developing a new Rural Development Action Plan after consulting people, businesses, organisations and local authorities from rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities. Feedback highlighted the need for policies and funding that reflect local circumstances, improve access to government programmes and keep economic benefits within rural areas. Participants also called for greater investment in infrastructure, workforce development, community leadership and long-term resilience, while recognising the vital contribution rural communities make to food production, energy, natural resources and national security. The action plan, due later in 2026, aims to support sustainable growth and strengthen rural communities across Canada.

Read full; story:Farms.com

Date Published: July 28, 2026

Monsoon Rains Boost India's Summer Crop Planting

Improved monsoon rainfall has accelerated summer crop planting across India, reducing an earlier sowing shortfall caused by delayed and below-average rains. By 24 July, farmers had planted 78.7 million hectares of summer crops, narrowing the deficit to less than 5% compared with the previous year. Rice, soybean, maize and cotton planting remain below last year's levels, although sugar cane acreage has increased slightly. India's reduced rainfall deficit has allowed many farmers to begin transplanting rice, easing concerns over crop establishment. As a major rice exporter and vegetable oil importer, India's planting progress remains important for global agricultural markets.

Read full; story:Farmtario

Date Published: July 28, 2026