2025
Increase in seed theft from Free State farms
Farmers call for tech to combat cross-border crime
Media Releases 2025
Festive-season safety guidelines for farms and farmers
As the festive season approaches, crime trends in the Free State — including farm attacks and other property-related offences —
Ideology Over Infrastructure: Farmers Pay the Price for Government Failure
“While job creation remains a national imperative, it cannot be the key performance indicator (KPI) for the maintenance of critical
Vrystaat Landbou Urges Action as Foot-and-Mouth outbreaks escalate in Free State
Free State Agriculture (FSA) / Vrystaat Landbou notes with grave concern the escalating outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) across several
Increase in seed theft from Free State farms
Free State Agriculture (FSA) has expressed concern about the increase in seed theft that has been occurring from farms in
Road Repair Funds Dry Up: Free State Farmers Forced to Foot the Bill
“One third into the government’s financial year and project funds are already depleted, leaving only enough to cover the Department’s
Farmers call for tech to combat cross-border crime
Free State Agriculture (FSA) attended a consultation meeting with border farmers in the Wepener and Boesmanskop/Zastron areas on 29 September
Vrystaat Landbou rejects Ramaphosa’s land reform remarks
Vrystaat Landbou (VL) strongly rejects President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent remarks in which he compared South Africa’s land reform efforts to
Free State Border Farmers Suffer From Intentional Arson
Free State Agriculture (FSA) has expressed concern about the ongoing problem of veld fires on farms along the RSA/Lesotho border,
Confirmed Case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the Free State
Free State Agriculture (FSA) notes with concern the confirmed outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Moqhaka Local Municipality, within
Community to close R708-road over unsafe road conditions and ongoing government inaction
The Clocolan Agricultural Society, local taxi associations, and business leaders have issued formal notice of the planned closure of the
Illegal Dog Hunting: A Growing Concern for Farmers
Free State Agriculture’s Rural Safety Committee has taken serious note of the increasing incidents of illegal dog hunting, especially in
PSIRA amendments could harm the safety of farming communities
Free State Agriculture has made a submission to PSIRA on proposed amendments to the Private Security Industry, which include strict
Biometric identification of animals used to combat livestock theft
Biometric identification of animals will be used by Free State Agriculture to address livestock theft, through collaboration with ID-Scan. Free
President Trump’s support for South Africa’s farmers welcomed
Free State Agriculture welcomes the support pledged to the agricultural sector this week by President Trump. According to Francois Wilken,
National Minimum Wage 2025
The Department of Labour and Employment has announced a 4.4% increase in the national minimum wage for farm workers effective
ESKOM price increase ‘unaffordable for agriculture’
“Free State farmers are extremely disappointed with the price increase approved by NERSA for ESKOM”, says Francois Wilken, president of
Expropriation Act: Free State Agriculture pledges to protect property rights
After months of anticipation, the Expropriation Act has been signed into law by President Ramaphosa, but Free State Agriculture (FSA)
Farmers are the heart of the value chain
By: Francois Wilken, Farmer & President of Free State Agriculture Which came first? The chicken or the egg? Or in