The fall-out from the spectacular explosion of the chemical factory Lubrizol near Rouen on 26th September not only nearly asphyxiated local inhabitants with clouds of soot swirling in the air, it has also infiltrated the soil a…
Lubrizol. deadly explosion in Rouen Read Post »
Agricultural land prices in Europe are declining in the UK, France, Slovenia, and Denmark, according to Eurostat’s latest figures*.
The figures are for 2017, and were published end May this year; prices can be compared to previous years’, going back…
Agricultural Land Prices: France and Europe 2019 Read Post »
The European Food Safety Authority EFSA has just published its 2017 annual report on pesticide residues in food in EU Member States, Iceland and Norway.
Whereas t…
Food Safety: pesticide residues - or not - in your food? Read Post »
My horse gave me a lesson in more ways than one not long ago. I was riding her down a beautiful stretch here in Normandy when suddenly she started hyperventilating and twisted her body round as if to turn back. I coaxed her on to no avail and, with…
Return of the Normande and the Camembert Wars Read Post »
Notre Dame de Paris Read Post »
For farmers up here in Normandy, Brussels – whose Commission regulates farming practices throughout Europe – seems very far away. And so does Paris. They say that neither the European Commission nor the French government have a realistic notion of …
Devolution: Europe’s proposed new agricultural policy Read Post »
To mark international women’s day today, here are some figures for women farmers in France, just been published by the French agricultural social security body the MSA. Figures are for 2017:
International Women’s Day : Women Farmers in France Read Post »
Crowds throng the stand of the young French farmers’ union ‘Jeunes Agriculteurs’ at this year’s international agricultural show in Paris. An enormous panel has been erected setting out their Charter for the future of Agriculture.
Politicians and d…
Young French Farmers Unite for Europe Read Post »
Le 1er février le gouvernment a mis en ligne le centre de ressources pour accompagner les agricultuers dans la sortie du glyphosate.
Vous y trouverez des techniques alternatives, ex. association de plantes compagnes gélives sur colza; la herse ét…
The end of glyphosate: French government online website opens to share alternatives Read Post »
Where have all the crops gone? And the cows? A vast stretch of farmland up here in our part of Normandy has been laid waste in the next village, the earth churned up in places and, elsewhere, smoothed out like a pall under the autumn sky.
Pall i…
France's agricultural land fast diminishing despite environmental policies Read Post »
Out for a walk this beautiful Sunday afternoon I took the lane along the corn field. The upright cornstalks tower over your head and the slight wind rustles their drying leaves – the only noise to be heard in this haven away from the urban crush. Unt…
Hunting Season in France Read Post »
They’re shooting pigeons up in the air
shooting wild boar berserk in the woods,
they sway in the corn with their rifles loaded
aim with the warm red wine in their veins
shoot their leader in the foot
shoot their neighbour on the shins
…
October : The Hunt Read Post »