Farming

Farmers threaten to ‘block country’ in further mass disruption

‘It's time for the agricultural revolt’ in November, one union says as it threatens to blockade train freight

When and why are French farmers threatening new national protests

Not all unions are in agreement with proposed action

Farmer protests intensify in south-west France

Farmers say they are ‘fed up of empty promises’ and worried how they and future generations will survive

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Letters: Don’t forget that climate change hits French farmers too

Connexion reader highlights the uphill struggle against drought, flooding and varying temperatures

Plan for giant chicken farm divides residents and farmers in France

Critics say the plan is ‘social and ecological nonsense’ but proponents say it will boost French chicken production

‘Traumatised’: Patou dogs attack puppy and owner in car park in Alps

‘My dog was on a lead,’ says the man. The farmer who owns the two Patous says the guard dogs may have been overwhelmed by the soaring numbers of visiting tourists

In France, do you know your porcherie from your pigeonnier?

These traditional structures have helped small-scale farmers source protein for hundreds of years

Stray dogs to be shot after sheep attacks in southern France

But animal welfare campaigners say the dogs should be taken to shelters instead

5 ways to buy food directly from farmers in France

You can get high quality, fresh produce at low prices by cutting out the middleman

Which areas of France have the most organic farming?

Livestock feed, cereals, and organic wine are the most common organic crops

Will farmer roadblocks return? French union angered by lack of action

The president of the union has said he has ‘not ruled out’ future blockades

Traditional Roquefort and Camembert are under threat, warn scientists

Cheese-lovers told they must learn to appreciate more diversity of tastes, colours and textures, sometimes within the same product to protect the cheeses’ future

Will €3.5billion pledge be enough to secure future of French farming?

Columnist Nick Inman explores why farmers are squeezed between eco transition, a dwindling workforce and the demand for cheap food

French minister calls new 10-year glyphosate authorisation ‘stupidity’

He called the EU’s decision ‘an environmental step backwards’

Court cancels two water ‘megabasin’ projects in western France

The controversial reservoirs were ‘not associated with any real water-saving measures,’ it ruled

Grub’s up: Insect farming for human food is French success story

How France has become a global leader in insect protein production and where you might eat it

French rural residents ‘must be protected from pesticides’

The Conseil d’Etat has ruled that minimum distances between homes and pesticide-approved agricultural land insufficient

Meet the British couple growing ‘microgreens’ for French chefs

A property planning hiccup led these UK growers to turn a room in their house into a baby leaf farm

What the flock? Sheep set to walk across Lyon city centre

A flock of 24 sheep is beginning its journey across Lyon today, in a walk that will take three nights over three communes and 14 parks, as part of an urban-agricultural event

French farmer on a mission to prove 4G tower is harming his cattle

He defied the highest French court to turn the mast off and ‘the difference in the cows was remarkable’

Pesticide no-spray zones in France ‘not enough to keep us safe’

Campaigners say the five to 10 metre buffers should be extended to 100 metres to reduce the risk to health

French farmer grows crops without water, fertiliser or pesticide

By burying organic matter underground and turning the earth in winter to trap moisture, he gives his fruit and vegetables the tools to survive

Drought: France faces winter milk shortage, warns farming union head

The union leader has called for milk prices to increase to help farmers through a tough period caused by drought and high temperatures

Meet the man behind the French fair trade food revolution

The director of top food brand ‘C’est qui le patron?!’ talks to The Connexion’s Théophile Larcher about his mission for a fair food industry

Drought alerts now expected for almost all departments in France

While climate experts say it is not too late to act for the future and are encouraged by first meetings with new Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne

‘A long road ahead’: Parti Animaliste leader on French animal rights

Hélène Thouy discusses her presidential campaign and the barriers to improving animal welfare in France

French environment news: tree valuations, wonky veg, pesticides in tea

Some towns have put a compensation value on trees in case of damage, misshapen vegetables rejected by supermarkets sold off cheaply and choose your ‘tisane’ wisely

Shopping local: France's AMAP farm basket scheme explained

Each month, we take a selection of reader questions and answer them. One of July's questions is about France's AMAP scheme and whether it is good value.

What is meant by the 'écoresponsable' label on French fruit?

An ' écoresponsable' piece of fruit isn't fully organic but more the product of a 'halfway house' between 'eco-friendly' and conventional farming techniques

Much-admired French environmentalist Pierre Rabhi dies age 83

Tributes have begun to pour in for the farmer, writer and environmental campaigner, who died yesterday

French ‘RoboCrop’ pilot scheme could be solution for small-scale farms

The machine, a concept from NeoFarm offering sustainable agricultural practices, runs on rails in a greenhouse tunnel and can be programmed to complete many repetitive farming tasks

Hay fever hot spots around France as invasive ragweed comes into bloom

The plant’s flowers start releasing pollen from August onwards with prefectural decrees in place such as one in Deux-Sèvres asking farmers to be vigilant

France to ban chick culling and piglet castration from 2022

France will be the first country, along with Germany, to outlaw the practices, the minister for agriculture has said, in a move that will save 50million chicks a year

Organic crops in France found to contain herbicide carried in wind

Prosulfocarb has been found in organic harvests in different areas of the country, costing farmers thousands in loss of earnings

France ordered to take extra measures against Brittany green algae

Campaigners welcomed the court ruling but await further actions from authorities and say not enough has been done to tackle the issue so far

Organic farmers in France stage naked protest against aid cuts

Workers post nude photos online to gain attention after proposed change to the EU common agricultural policy

France declares ‘calamité agricole’ after record cold: What is it?

The emergency support comes after freezing weather caused significant damage to crops

French technology detects egg embryo sex to save killing male chicks

The egg industry kills millions of male chicks a year but the new technology aims to avoid the practice which is to be banned this year

Fresh French food just an online sponsorship away

Website offers foodies the chance to fund an animal, a hive, a vine - and have fresh produce delivered to their door

Prized Italian white truffle now to be produced in France

The rare tuber - which can sell for up to five times the price of its black equivalent - will now be grown under controlled conditions in France due to a ‘world first’ farming innovation

Meet the producers: Three generations of French truffles

'I’ve always lived here, always farmed here, and hope my two daughters will take over' says Christian Mérin of their truffle farm near Valréas

Price for prize cow at UK auction shocks French farmers

Limousin heifer sets new record price as farmers team up to buy pedigree animal

‘Idiotic’: Brazil hits back at President Macron soya comment

Mr Macron said that Brazilian soya was from the ‘destroyed forest’ of Brazil, but Brazilian leaders have denounced the comment as an ‘idiotic political game’

Working horses replace tractors for island preservation work

Three horses have been brought back into use on Ile aux Sternes, a nature reserve on three small islands in the Loire by Tom Pellerin, owner of Trait Service 45

France approves three-year use of controversial pesticide

The Constitutional council has approved the use of neonicotinoids for three years, even though they are harmful to bees and other animals

Covid-19 confirmed at French mink farm; 1,000 slaughtered

A strain of the virus was confirmed at a farm in Eure-et-Loir, with test results for a further two French farms still pending

The British and Irish farmers of France

Farmers from the British Isles are attracted to farming in France for a handful of reasons and not just the cost of land

French farmer’s long fight against Monsanto draws to close

Farmer Paul François has been locked in a legal battle with the controversial multinational corporation since 2004

French village installs ‘countryside sounds’ sign

The sign, reading ‘Beware, you are in the countryside’ has been installed in the village square, and references sounds such as cow bells, cockerel crowing, and church bells.

Insecticide harmful to bees temporarily allowed in France

Neonicotinoids have been approved for three years to be used in growing sugar beet despite having previously been banned, mainly due to evidence that they are toxic for bees

EU may outlaw cage farming after 1.4m sign new initiative

Farming using cages could be banned in the European Union after almost 1.4 million EU citizens signed a new initiative against the practice, with the proposal now set to be examined by the European Commission.

Thieves in SW France mistake hemp plants for cannabis

Industrial hemp looks similar to cannabis

French beet growers fight for neonicotinoid exemption

Farmers deliver plans to protect pollinators in bid to get MPs to approve amendment to bee-killing insecticide ban

Mont d’Or cheese on sale in France from tomorrow

The season for eating Mont d’Or cheese starts on September 10. We take a look at the history of this French speciality.

500,000 sign petition for French vote on animal cruelty

The petition is also supported by over 100 animal welfare organisations and influential French personalities. More signatures and parliamentary support are needed for the issues to go to referendum.

The eco-friendly French family preparing to live 'off-grid'

The coronavirus pandemic and confinement has made many people think about the way we live, such as this family who, as the 'world faces collapse', are preparing to live their lives off-grid.

France on heatwave alert and water limits as drought worsens

Water restrictions are in place in 72 departments across France and a red heatwave alert is issued for 15 departments, as the drought worsens, meaning many endangered river fish have needed to be moved.

British birds destroying farmland crops in Brittany

Jackdaws - small crows that eat corn - have caused €3 million-worth of damage to farmland crops in Côtes-d’Armor and Finistère (Brittany) in the past 10 years, according to a report.

France Covid recovery: Summer jobs paying well, but are rare

Companies in France are starting to recruit for summer jobs as the country continues to reopen - with some positions reportedly paying as much as €3,500 gross per month - but offers are still few and far between.

Where to buy the juiciest melons in France this summer

Across France, you will see shoppers prodding and sniffing as they search for the perfect juicy melon. Connexion looks at the fruit’s history and meets a passionate producer.

France bans word ‘steak’ on vegetarian products

The words "steak", "escalope" and "sausage" ( saucisse ) can no longer be used to describe meat alternatives made from vegetable proteins, according to a new French law.

Pyrenees bear found shot dead in southwest France

A wild Pyrenees bear has been found illegally killed in southwest France, prompting the ecology minister to lodge a formal State complaint into the crime.

Farmers can spray pesticides within 5m of rural homes

Nature and ecology groups supported by about 100 mayors have lost an urgent legal challenge to laws allowing farmers to spray weedkiller and pesticides close to homes in the French countryside.

Wild boar numbers spike in France due to confinement

The wild boar population in the south of France has grown rapidly during confinement due to a lack of hunting and ongoing climate change, sparking increased tensions among the agricultural and hunting communities.

France opens borders to European farm harvest workers

France has opened its borders to European agricultural workers, who will now take much-needed picking and harvesting jobs on French farms, even as the borders remain closed or restricted for most other travel.

French NGOs bring court case on confinement pesticides

Nine NGOs in France are taking the French government to court for allegedly using Covid-19 as an excuse to allow pesticides to be sprayed on crops too close to housing, in contravention of laws imposed in December.

Help farmers by still eating lamb this holiday

Farmers urge householders to still mark religious festivities during confinement even though family gatherings won't be happening

Covid-19: France calls public to help French farmers

The French government is calling on people who are “not working at this time” to “go into the fields” and help farmers and producers during the Covid-19 crisis.

Pretty greens to adorn Michelin plates

Microgreens can be found adorning plates in many top eateries. The Connexion meets a leading producer of these exquisite small leaves – an Englishman in the Auvergne

Macron speaks on farms, glyphosate, and food in France

French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken out on several key issues affecting farming and agriculture, including the herbicide glyphosate, “agri-bashing”, and supermarket prices.

France at ‘high risk’ of incurable tomato plant virus

Tomatoes, peppers and chilli peppers in France are at “high risk” from a new virus that currently has no cure, food and health agency Anses has warned.

Ban on chick culling in France by the end of 2021

The government said new methods were emerging that would make it possible to test the sex of embryos inside the egg

‘More bears’ for French Pyrenees despite Macron pledge

More bears will be released into the French Pyrenees, a pro-bear association has vowed, despite President Emmanuel Macron’s pledge this week to stop their release.

A happier retirement for France's laying hens

Scheme offers members of the public a chance to adopt laying hens that would otherwise be slaughtered

Foie gras: French fraud report finds major issues

Blocks of foie gras - a popular food over the holiday season in France - have been found to not comply with laws on composition and labelling, a new fraud report has found.