News from France

French wine output may slump 16% on heat wave Wine production in France, the biggest exporter, may slump 16 percent this year to a four-year low after frost, thunderstorms and an August heat wave ... Trees breathing new life into French agriculture The tips of young walnut trees are just visible above the ready-to-harvest wheat. There are rows of them and they should produce fine wood for cabinet... Food costs stoke debate about EU biofuels targets Drought-stricken crops and record-high grain prices have strengthened critics of the European Union biofuel industry, adding fears of a food crisis to... Global maize price hike impacting EU livestock The United Nation's agency for Food and Agriculture (FAO) says the recent spike in the price of maize and soja is causing problems for the EU's animal... Hollande to fight California ban on foie gras France will fight for the right to continue exporting foie gras, the delicacy produced by the force-feeding of geese and ducks, President François Hol... Poultry firm to sell stake to Barclays French group Doux, Europe's top poultry and processed chicken producer will sell its majority stake to Barclays Bank in a bid to keep the company aflo... Cows fed wine to increase flavour According to The Independent, local farmer Claude Chaballier has been feeding his cattle wine from the village of Saint-Geniès-des-Mourgues, resulting... UK could be forced to import sugar from France The minister for agriculture has warned that despite record beet yields, Britain may be left needing to import sugar from France because of “completel... France to beat US in wheat exports after drought U.S. farmers, the biggest wheat shippers, are poised to lose their advantage over French growers in export markets after the worst Midwest drought in ... French agriculture official visits Pa. gasification company A gasification technology designed by Mechanicsburg, Pa-based Enginuity Energy may be headed to France after a recent visit by two French agriculture ... Global food prices fall Global food prices had their biggest drop in more than two years in May as the cost of dairy products slumped on increased supply, easing strain on ho... France bans bee-killing pesticide The Government has been accused of failing to act on increasing evidence of the environmental damage done by "nerve-agent" pesticides, after... Farming policies see 300m birds vanish Skylarks and turtle doves have seen substantial declines as bird numbers have fallen by 50 per cent across the continent. EU crisis concerns jolt commodities Commodity prices are falling across the board on fears that Europe’s debt crisis may deepen. European wheat in line with US futures European milling wheat rose on Tuesday in line with Chicago Board of Trade futures as a public holiday in France, the EU’s major grains producer... Western EU farmers turning to spring barley Farmers in Western Europe are turning to spring barley and maize as they are forced to replant large swathes of land where severe frosts have destroye... EU cattle prices surged to record highs Cattle prices within the EU surged to record high levels in late March, despite a slow start to the year, as concerns about the tightness of forward c... EU beef market outlook subdued Despite a big rise in Australian exports to the region last year, the short-term outlook for the beef market in the EU remains relatively subdued... Crops in Europe at risk of drought European wheat and rapeseed crops are at risk of drought that may further hurt yields after freezing weather last month destroyed some fields, analyst... EU feed production in decline According to the preliminary statistical data provided by FEFAC members, the compound feed production in the EU-27 in 2011 may have reached a level of... French farmers may plant barley to replace wheat French farmers whose wheat fields were damaged by freezing weather last month may replant spring barley, according to Remi Haquin, president of the ce... EU clears path for emission reduction targets The EU has proposed to establish common accounting standards for emissions from the forestry and agriculture sectors... French farmers getting ill from pesticides Farmers in France are winning court cases on illnesses due the use of pesticides. Rising world demand a boost for EU food Growing demand worldwide for EU dairy exports could see the sector enjoy continued growth, while high meat prices have allowed exports of meat, such a... Farmers shift to the right in France A warmer reception for Nicolas Sarkozy at this year’s Paris farm show - where politicians traipse through the straw to steer support their way -... French candidates vie for agricultural vote Presidential candidates underestimate the weight of French farming in the national psyche at their peril – and indeed they have been lining up to visi... EU wheat firm on higher US grains futures European wheat prices gave up some of their gains in afternoon trade tracking U.S. grains markets, staying firm despite a rise... EU action as countries flout cage ban The European Union has begun the process of taking action against member states who have defied a ban on battery hen cages. France regains grip on wheat trade with top buyer France regained a grip on wheat exports to Egypt, the top buyer, with its biggest order for nearly a year, helped by the continued weakness of the eur... French farmers to pay for own seeds In the world of French farming, unrestricted and royalty-free use of seeds may soon be no more than a happy memory. French farmers ignore battery hen ban The graphic images, shot in the last few weeks by animal rights activists in France, show hens crammed into tiny wire cages despite new rules... Drought and E.coli hit French farm revenues French farmers’ average revenue dipped in 2011 after a surge the previous year, hit by a severe drought in the spring and an E. coli outbreak th... Man sues over weedkiller A French farmer started court proceedings on Monday against U.S. agricultural group Monsanto, which he is suing for damages after inhaling a weedkille... EU troubles weigh on grains A shift in sentiment about Europe’s debt crisis and weak demand sent U.S. grain and soybean futures lower Monday. Organic farmers defend EU's 'green revolution' Outgunned by large industrial farm lobbying groups, organic producers, supported by conservation organisations, have risen up to defend some of the Eu... EU ministers criticise CAP proposals CAP reform remains top of the agenda at the UFU and at last week’s Agriculture Council in Luxembourg Ministers... Food prices fall for 3rd straight month World food prices fell for a third month in September, the longest stretch of declines in more than two years, after grain prices slumped amid concern... EU has unique chance to reform subsidies The European Union has a "unique opportunity" to cut back billions of euros worth of subsidies paid out to farmers every year, the Organisation for Ec... Act now to diversify crops at risk, say scientists Farm chiefs have a narrowing chance to diversify vital crops at rising threat from drought, flood and pests brought by climate change, food researcher... French, German ministers lock horns over food aid France and Germany went head-to-head at a meeting of European Union agriculture ministers Tuesday over food aid for the poor, hampering a decision ove... French increase imports of Aberdeen Angus French beef breeders are waking up to the quality of UK beef breeds, importing nearly 100 Aberdeen Angus cattle from registered herds in England this ... French urged to land fish catch in Ireland Talks between French and Irish fishing organisations have been held in Co Cork today to discuss increased co-operation. French agri minister vows to fight speculators The matters of food production, lack of transparency in food stocks and speculation on commodities markets need to be tackled as they are affecting fo... France will support E. coli hit farmers Following are comments from French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire on the E. coli outbreak in Europe and the European Union’s Common Agricul... French fruit crops hit by hail storms Farmers in the south of France are counting the cost of crop damage after a weekend of torrential rain and hail. Farmers in crisis as drought hits The spring of 2011 has been the driest in decades and the hottest in a century, a deep concern for France’s indebted farming community. French drought to push up wheat prices Europe’s major wheat producer France is in the midst of the worst drought as global price for the commodity is likely to climb on the impact, an... Cattle plague bites the dust In a moment that is being compared to the eradication of smallpox among humans, farming monitors on Wednesday will declare an ancient, devastating cat... Freshwater aquaculture should be supported In parallel with the reform of Common Fisheries Policy, the regulation of Atlantic fishing should be revised; and freshwater aquaculture should be ass... France urges EU to ringfence agriculture France’s Prime Minister Francois Fillon used his visit to Brussels on Thursday to call for a freeze in the European Union’s budget, while ...