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AGRI NEWS NET- WEEKEND NEWS RUSH Summary of the Week News 29th March 2026

AGRI NEWS NET- WEEKEND NEWS RUSH Summary of the Week News 29th March 2026

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-Welcome to our world- the real world of Farming and Agriculture in South Africa- Local and International news-   (Farmingportal.-162,000 hits per minute)

This AGRI NEWS RUSH -Some of the news stories of this week-, SUNDAY EDITION - ALWAYS ON TIME  - AGRI NEWS RUSH is now one of the most read Articles on a Sunday 

Water users in the lower Vaal-Orange River system are experiencing increasingly serious problems with chemicals and pathogens in the water, mainly due to untreated or partially treated sewage being dumped into the river by dysfunctional municipalities.

Daar is vier nuwe gevalle geïdentifiseer in die omgewing van Vrede/Memel (twee), Goudveld-distrik (een) en Ladybrand/Hobhouse (een). Die departement van landbou en landelike ontwikkeling prioritiseer dié inenting van die beeste en bykomende entstowwe is bekom.

South African farmers play a vital role in stabilising food supplies in Southern Africa. Many countries import maize, a staple crop, from South Africa. And this relationship benefits both the South African farming sector and importing countries in times of need. One of our vital partners is ZIMBABWE.

Onion harvesting in South Africa should begin when most of the tops have fallen over, but while the necks and leaves are still green. At this stage, it is important to allow the tops to dry naturally before trimming, as nutrients are still moving into the bulbs.For onions grown on raised beds or flat ground, a blade can be used to loosen the bulbs from the soil and sever the roots.

AfriForum sê die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Padagentskap se voorgestelde beleidsveranderinge kan die agentskap oormatige beheer gee oor die gebruik van grond langs paaie. Die organisasie waarsku dat die voorstelle SANRAL sal toelaat om te besluit waar fasiliteite gebou word en watter besighede bedryf word, wat boere, grondeienaars en ondernemings langs die pad kan beïnvloed.

The European Union has committed US$184 million to African maritime infrastructure under its Global Gateway Strategy, with South Africa’s Port of Durban as one of the main beneficiaries.This investment is particularly significant for South Africa’s fresh produce export sector, which ships more than 2.6 million tons of citrus annually, along with growing volumes of avocados, table grapes, and stone fruit.

Suid-Afrika gooi elke jaar meer as 10 miljoen ton kos weg – ongeveer een derde van die 31 miljoen ton wat geproduseer word. Dit kos die ekonomie sowat US$3,4 miljard (ongeveer R62 miljard), terwyl een uit vyf huishoudings met honger worstel.

South Africa has successfully opened a new agricultural export corridor into Southeast Asia with the arrival of the first official shipment of locally produced table grapes in the Philippines.

Volgens die Financial Times werk die VAE aan ʼn resolusie van die Verenigde Nasies se Veiligheidsraad saam met Bahrein om enige toekomstige taakmag van ʼn mandaat te voorsien.

Citrus exports from South Africa to the United States are still a few months away, but planning is already in full swing. The outlook for the 2026 season is significantly more optimistic compared to last year.Last year’s experience (2025): Despite the sudden announcement of tariffs, South African citrus growers remained committed to the U.S. market.

Eskom het sy vrystelling van die registrasiefooi vir sekere sonkragstelsels met ses maande verleng. Die kragvoorsiener sê dit is om die stabiliteit en veiligheid van die kragnetwerk te verseker te midde van al hoe meer mense wat na sonkrag oorskakel.

The latest USDA report has revised global cotton production for the 2025/26 season upward by 1.1 million bales to 121.0 million bales, while world mill-use was slightly lowered to 118.6 million bales.

Hierdie week se landbou-vooruitsig beklemtoon hoe nou verweef globale gebeure, plaaslike toestande en markdinamika geword het. Verskuiwende weerpatrone bring sowel verligting as risiko’s vir belangrike graanstreke, terwyl stygende geopolitieke spanninge – veral in die Midde-Ooste – volatiliteit in vleis- en graanmarkte aanwakker en insetkoste verder onder druk plaas.

South Africa wastes more than 10 million tons of food every year — roughly one-third of the 31 million tons produced — at an estimated economic cost of US$3.4 billion. At the same time, about one in five households experiences hunger.

Die Reserwebank waarsku dat rentekoerse verhoog kan word as die oorlog in Iran twee maande of langer aanhou.Die Monetêre Beleidskomitee het Donderdag besluit om die repokoers onveranderd te laat op 6,7%, hoofsaaklik weens die groot onsekerheid wat die Midde-Oosterse oorlog veroorsaak.

Despite a massive surge in maritime traffic around the Cape of Good Hope caused by the Red Sea crisis and the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz (vessel transits through the strait dropped by 94%), the Port of Cape Town is seeing almost no additional vessel calls.

Boere in die somerreënvalstreek, veral in die Vrystaat, staan op die drumpel van die kritieke stroopseisoen vir sonneblomme, waarvan sommige reeds begin het, en sojabone. Hierdie oestyd vereis groot volumes diesel vir stropers, trekkers en vervoer.

Ureumpryse skiet die hoogte in en het nou bo $800 per ton gebreek, met handel tot $830 per ton in die Midde-Ooste. Die prysbeweging lyk baie soos die skerp styging in 2021, gevolg deur die Russiese inval in Oekraïne wat in 2022 tot ’n piek bo $950 per ton gelei het.

South Africa’s 2025-26 summer grains and oilseeds production forecast remains positive, with the Crop Estimates Committee projecting a total harvest of 20.3 million tonnes. This is only 1% lower than the previous season, which was the second-largest on record.

South Africa is experiencing one of its most severe foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in years, resulting in import bans from key trading partners such as China and Zambia. This has already caused major export losses (estimated at over R1 billion in the dairy sector alone) and damaged the country’s credibility in global markets.

Prof. Johan Willemse, onafhanklike landbou-ekonoom, waarsku dat die prys van ruolie weens die konflik tussen Amerika, Israel en Iran aansienlik kan styg — selfs tot $170 per vat — en ’n ruk lank hoog kan bly. Hy baseer dit op ontledings van kenners wat die langtermyngevolge van die oorlog monitor.


South Africa imports about 80% of both fertiliser and fuel, so global conflicts in the Middle East directly reshape agricultural cost structures across the sector.For grain producers, the impact is immediate and severe because fertiliser makes up 30–40% of input costs and fuel is another major expense.

When the head of a farming household dies without a valid will, the consequences can be devastating for the entire agricultural operation and the families who depend on it. IFSA Asset Managers warns that South African farmers face particularly high risks due to the complex and illiquid nature of farming assets.

The Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism,Ivan Meyer presented a R1.149 billion agriculture budget for the 2025/26 financial year, emphasizing the importance of agriculture to the provincial economy.The South African Table Grape Industry participated in the Agri Sector Exhibition at the Western Cape Provincial Parliament as part of the budget engagement.

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Veeartsenyvereniging (SAVA) en die Herkouer Veterinêre Vereniging van Suid-Afrika (RuVASA) het die regering se nuwe konsep-inentingsplan teen bek-en-klouseer (BKS) sterk veroordeel, veral een spesifieke bepaling daarin.

KwaZulu-Natal dairy farmers are facing severe challenges with the ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, despite the arrival of 560,000 vaccine doses in the province on 11 March 2026.

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Here are 50 key international headlines capturing major global agriculture and farming trends as of Friday, March 27, 2026.

They reflect ongoing geopolitical shocks, input cost pressures, market dynamics, technology shifts, and food security concerns:

  1. Middle East Conflict Disrupts Strait of Hormuz, Threatening Global Fertilizer and Fuel Supplies
  2. Fertilizer Prices Surge 21–40% Amid Iran War and Trade Restrictions
  3. Global Agriculture Braces for 2026 Fertilizer Crisis with Ripple Effects into 2027
  4. Australia Cuts Wheat Plantings as Fertilizer Shortages Deepen
  5. Russia Restricts Fertilizer Exports to Prioritise Domestic Spring Planting
  6. China and Brazil Ease Soybean Sanitary Rules to Boost Trade Flows
  7. Russia’s Grain Exports Triple Year-on-Year Despite Regional Conflicts
  8. USDA March WASDE Report Reveals Record Global Corn Surplus and Higher Ending Stocks
  9. Global Corn Market Defined by Abundance as Brazil and Ukraine Stocks Rise
  10. FAO Warns 41 Countries Need External Food Assistance, Conflict Primary Driver
  11. Near East Tensions Raise Risks to Global Agrifood Supply Chains and Input Costs
  12. US Waives Jones Act to Ease Domestic Fuel and Fertilizer Deliveries
  13. Brazil Sounds Alarm on Soaring Urea Prices and Potential Supply Shortages
  14. Soybean Futures Decline as Trump-Xi Meeting Postponed
  15. Red Flag Warnings Issued for US Plains Amid Persistent Dry Conditions
  16. Iran War Threatens Fresh Food-Price Shock Across Developing World
  17. Middle East Conflict Exposes Fragility of Global Fertilizer Supply Chains
  18. Higher Energy and Fertilizer Costs Squeeze Grain Producer Margins Worldwide
  19. Wine Sector Faces Indirect Pressures from Fuel, Shipping, and Energy Disruptions
  20. FAO Highlights Shift Toward Integrated Agrifood Policies for SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  21. Plant Factory Market Projected to Surpass $208 Billion by 2030
  22. AgTech Trends 2026: AI, Robotics, and Biologicals Move from Hype to Field ROI
  23. Carbon Credits Evolve from Theory to Revenue Stream for European Farmers
  24. Regenerative Agriculture and Indoor Farming Gain Momentum for Climate Resilience
  25. Bioengineering and CRISPR Advance for Drought- and Pest-Resistant Crops
  26. Autonomous Tractors and Precision Agriculture Accelerate Automation Adoption
  27. Global Trade Growth Moderates in 2026 Amid Geopolitical and Weather Risks
  28. EU Green Deal Sustainability Rules Add Compliance Costs for Exporters
  29. World Bank Sees Agricultural Prices Easing but Warns of Weather and Trade Volatility
  30. Slowing Global Demand Collides with Rising Production in Major Commodities
  31. Tight Farm Margins and Profitability Pressures Dominate 2026 Outlook
  32. Vertical and Controlled-Environment Farming Ready for Take-Off
  33. Data Spaces and Digital Twins Emerge as Next Wave of Agricultural Infrastructure
  34. Legacy Succession Crisis Looms as Average Farmer Age Rises in Europe
  35. Biofuels Policy Remains Stable Despite Middle East Energy Disruptions
  36. China’s Soybean Imports Shift Further Toward Brazil Amid US Trade Tensions
  37. USDA Plans Major Dairy and Crop Purchases to Support Farmers and Food Banks
  38. Global Hunger Hotspots Worsen with Conflict and Climate Shocks
  39. El Niño Risks Raise Concerns for Crop Production Later in 2026
  40. South Africa’s Dairy Farms Race to Vaccinate Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak
  41. FMD Outbreak Highlights Vulnerabilities in Southern African Livestock Sector
  42. Innovation in Seed Varieties Focuses on Climate-Smart and High-Yield Traits
  43. Olam Agri Opens New Pasta Plant in Ghana to Reduce Food Imports
  44. Agricultural Robotics and Automation Address Growing Global Farm Labour Gap
  45. Crop Traceability Gains Urgency to Combat Food Safety and Contamination Risks
  46. Advanced Biofertilizers and Biologicals Enter Mainstream Use
  47. EU-Australia Trade Agreement Strengthens Agricultural Ties
  48. Global Agribusiness Faces Stagflation Pressures into 2026
  49. Farmers Turn to Cheaper Fertilizer Alternatives as Prices Spike
  50. Comprehensive Estate and Succession Planning Urged for Family Farming Operations Worldwide

These headlines highlight the dominant themes of geopolitical disruption (especially the Middle East conflict), input cost volatility, technological transformation, climate and weather risks, and food security challenges shaping global agriculture right now.

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FERTILIZER 

Urea prices continue to sky-rocket on a daily basis and have now surpassed $800 per ton in the Middle East, with some trades reaching as high as $830 per ton (mainly Omani product). The current price surge closely mirrors the sharp spike seen from September to December 2021, which was followed by a second spike in March 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when urea peaked above $950 per ton. Urea has more than doubled since the start of the year, with over 60% of the increase occurring in the past month alone.Major consuming markets such as India and most of Asia, which rely heavily on imported urea, are struggling to afford their usual volumes at these elevated prices. Traders remain extremely cautious about holding high-cost inventory, as history shows that such extreme urea price movements are typically short-lived spikes followed by rapid downward corrections. The key uncertainty is when the turning point will arrive.The situation in the Middle East remains largely unchanged this week, with vessel passage out of the Gulf still blocked except for a few Iranian cargoes. Arab producers are running out of storage capacity and some have reduced production due to limited storage or damage to gas supply infrastructure from Iranian attacks. Oman is the only major producer in the region operating and exporting normally, as its facilities lie outside the Strait of Hormuz. India faces ongoing fertilizer supply concerns, with some traders defaulting on committed cargoes because vessels are trapped in the Gulf. Discussions of a new urea tender are underway, but current high prices and the rapid rate of increase pose a serious challenge. Egypt and Algeria have cut back urea production due to gas shortages, with Algeria prioritising LNG exports amid global deficits. Nigeria is benefiting from the tight supply and is targeting prices around $800 per ton after recent sales at $650 per ton FOB.In Brazil, prices are rising steadily, with the benchmark notionally at $730 per ton CFR. With Iran largely absent from the market, the next imports are expected to be substantially more expensive, leading to some cargoes originally destined for Brazil being rerouted to higher-paying markets.Iran managed to export only a few urea cargoes — among the very few vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since hostilities began — but its domestic urea production has now halted completely due to damage to natural gas infrastructure and is unlikely to resume until the conflict ends.Ammonium sulphate remains in exceptionally strong demand, particularly as China has not reduced exports. Chinese prices have climbed to around $300 per ton FOB for compacted material and $270–280 per ton for crystalline, though it still trades at a significant discount to urea on a nitrogen-unit basis. Russia’s one-month ban on ammonium nitrate exports has tightened that market, pushing AN prices to $450 per ton FOB ex-Baltic with very limited availability, while CAN prices in Europe are approaching €450 per ton.Phosphate trading activity is limited due to tight availability. Indian DAP prices remain around $800 per ton CFR, but imports are minimal as buyers await subsidy updates. Saudi MAP export prices have risen to around $770–800 per ton FOB, with producers like Ma’aden exploring alternative export routes via the Red Sea to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. In Brazil, MAP prices continue to climb, prompting buyers to seek alternatives or reduce consumption, raising the risk of demand destruction. Phosphate prices have not risen in line with nitrogen, suggesting further increases are likely even if urea begins to correct.Potash markets are moving gradually higher, mainly due to increased shipping costs, with increases remaining in the single digits. Most markets stay at or below $400 per ton, though the Durban CFR benchmark has risen to $405 per ton for bulk granular product. India has paused annual contract talks after producers offered around $375 per ton, which buyers consider too high.In the broader market, Brent crude oil prices remain elevated, recently trading around $109–112 per barrel amid efforts to secure supplies. European natural gas prices (TTF) have eased slightly to $18–19 per MMBtu after spiking higher, while US prices stay low at around $3.1 per MMBtu. The South African rand continues to weaken against the dollar, closing recently near R17.12, adding further pressure on imported inputs.Forward swap prices for urea and MAP remain well below current physical levels, reflecting strong risk aversion among traders who are avoiding long positions in a rising market. Significant volatility in paper markets is expected in the coming weeks.Overall, the ongoing Middle East conflict is driving a perfect storm of supply disruptions, higher energy costs, and soaring fertilizer prices that will significantly increase production costs for farmers globally, including in South Africa, and ultimately feed through to higher food prices.

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The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by CRA and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.Just for your information. - We need to share this as this is part of Farming and Agriculture.

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