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 »
For local residents and beyond: your opinion counts.
From 2 November until 2 May 2019 : Public consultation of official documents concerning the future management of water and flooding in the Seine basin and in water courses along the Norm…
L'avenir de l'eau Bassin Seine-Normandie : consultation publique Read Post »
Roads mired in muck, villagers stiffling with smells: It’s a sorry litany of stories up here in my neck of the woods in Normandy when it comes to anaerobic digesters. Normandy only has 6 such installations so far, two of which are in my neighbourhoo…
Normandy injects €12million into ambitious Methanisation Plan Read Post »
Official figures are just out – 4 July – giving the average market value of agricultural land in France (2017). Prices are in Euros per hectare (hectare = ‘are’ in French). A hectare is 10.000 square metres. Consult the grid here.
https://www.legi…
New figures for agricultural land, France. Dirt cheap? Read Post »
A European Bee Partnership, the first ever integrated approach of its kind in Europe, was launched last Friday 29th June at the outcome of the European Parliament’s Bee Week.
The idea of the Partnersh…
Farmers and Beekepers together ? Read Post »
English (UK) 
Français