Author | Lightnews

Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 1d

Tractor sales totalled 758 units in September 2025, representing an increase of almost 15% from the 660 units sold in September 2024.

Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 1d

South Africa’s tractor sales have generally been robust this year, signalling optimism about the 2025-26 agricultural production season that started this month (and financial benefits from the better harvest in the last season).

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 2d

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 2d

It appears that Brazil will have a generally strong start to the 2025-26 summer grain and oilseeds season.

“ All of Brazil’s summer crop areas should get rain in the coming ten days to two weeks, and sufficient amounts are expected to support crops favorably”-- Michael McDougall

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 2d

It has been pretty difficult to get a sense of the U.S. grains and oilseed crop conditions since the government shutdown. People in the grain markets are generally unsure of crop conditions through the harvest, which should be mostly complete by now.

Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 4d

From new stone-fruit agreements with China to growing talks with Indonesia and Vietnam, October 2025 has been all about expanding our market reach in Asia.

But can we secure lower tariffs and real opportunities for South African farmers?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsX4...

Ep 23 - New China trade protocol for SA stone fruit

YouTube video by agriview wandile

www.youtube.com

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 4d

South Africa's agricultural exports to the U.S. surged by 26% in the second quarter of 2025, reaching $161 million.

www.cnbcafrica.com/media/776121...

S.Africa's agricultural exports to U.S surge despite tariffs - CNBC Africa

South Africa's agricultural exports to the U.S. surged by 26 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, reaching $161 million, despite the looming threat of tariffs imposed by the U.S.

www.cnbcafrica.com

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 4d

There is a lot of wheat in the global market, and the easing of prices reflects these ample supplies.

The 2025-26 global wheat harvest is forecast at a record 827 million tonnes.

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 4d

South Africa’s food price inflation is likely to continue moderating due to an ample grain harvest.

Here is a brief synopsis of the harvest conditions. open.substack.com/pub/wandile/...

South Africa’s food price inflation is likely to continue moderating due to an ample grain harvest

Thanks for reading Letters from an Agriculturalist!

open.substack.com

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 4d

We are in a La Niña season. The Southern Africa region will likely get nice rains through to February 2026.

The governments in our region must help farmers get to the fields.

We no longer have the robust aid programmes that assisted some countries.

Prioritise agriculture!

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 4d

The recent rains have been superb for the upcoming agricultural season in most regions of South Africa.

I am receiving encouraging messages from some farming regions.

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 4d

We have had one of the superb agricultural seasons in South Africa. Our staple grain, maize, stands at 16.32 million tonnes, 27% higher than the crop for the 2023-24 season.

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 5d

China’s possible resumption of US agricultural purchases is unlikely to alter the path of diversification China is on.
open.substack.com/pub/wandile/...

On US–China Agricultural Trade Developments

China’s possible resumption of US agricultural purchases is unlikely to alter the path of diversification China is on.

open.substack.com

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 6d

Rainfall predictions bode well for South Africa’s 2025-26 summer crops.

open.substack.com/pub/wandile/...

Rainfall predictions bode well for South Africa’s 2025-26 summer crops

The La Niña-induced rains may persist through to February 2026, a key period for summer grains and oilseeds.

open.substack.com

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 7d

Grain Abundance in South Africa Bodes Well for Moderating Food Price Inflation.

open.substack.com/pub/wandile/...

Grain Abundance in South Africa Bodes Well for Moderating Food Price Inflation

We have an ample harvest for 2024-25 season and the 2025-26 looks promising

open.substack.com

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 8d

From a production side, the crop looks promising, and the harvest should begin in a few weeks. 3/

Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 8d

What we heard from the interactions left us immensely encouraged. The harvest is looking great, as you can see in my hand, and the lingering issue in many people's minds is the challenge posed by U.S. tariffs. 2/

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 8d

Yes, I am on a farm in reasonably hot weather in Kakamas, in the Northern Cape, where we met with table grape farmers earlier today. 1/

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 9d

Agricultural solutions for growing food poverty in South Africa.

Watch the whole conversation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53d...

Ep 22 - Agricultural solutions for growing food poverty in SA

YouTube video by agriview wandile

www.youtube.com

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 9d

Some Rain Would be Helpful for a Timely Start of the 2025-26 Crop Season in the Western Regions of SA

open.substack.com/pub/wandile/...

Some Rain Would be Helpful for a Timely Start of the 2025-26 Crop Season in the Western Regions of SA

Still, these are early days, noting to worry about

open.substack.com

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 11d

For example, so far in the 2025-26 marketing year, South Africa has imported 77,524 tonnes of yellow maize for feed in the country's coastal regions. These importers mainly take advantage of the affordable prices of Argentinian supplies. 4/

Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 11d

While South Africa has an ample harvest and will remain a net exporter of maize, minor imports of yellow maize from Argentina are expected to continue for South Africa's coastal regions. 3/

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 11d

The current marketing year only ends in April 2026. We will likely see more robust export activity later in the year and in early 2026, when demand in the region is expected to be strong. 2/

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 11d

South Africa exported 49,066 tonnes of maize last week, with about 64% going to Zimbabwe and the rest to other countries in the Southern African region.

This placed South Africa's 2025-26 maize exports at 778,363 tonnes, out of the expected seasonal exports of 2.24 million tonnes. 1/

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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 11d

South African wheat farmers have started delivering the new crop

open.substack.com/pub/wandile/...

South African Wheat Farmers have Started Delivering the New Crop

Farmers have delivered about 45,420 tonnes of wheat to commercial silos

open.substack.com

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