Agriculture

Agriculture

Steffan MessengerWales environment correspondent BBC Wales' controversial post-Brexit subsidy scheme for farmers has come in, almost a decade after the vote to leave the EU. It will provide payments with a greener focus and see farms agree to a checklist of requirements. Farms have to actively manage at least 10% of their land as habitat to join, and while some have land that qualifies, many dairy farmers say they don't.

There's a particular sound that stays with you once you've lived in the English countryside. Not birdsong, that's too obvious, but the deeper rhythm of things: the tractor coughing into life at dawn, Chameau boots crunching on gravel, the hooves of the horses going out for a hack, the soft murmur of a village pub where everyone knows exactly why you're there even if they've never seen you before.

According to a recent report, the sector is in dire need of an infusion of new blood and must recruit 22,600 younger workers over the coming years as the current generations of growers reach and exceed retirement age. The report, commissioned by the Spanish Wine Interprofessional Organisation (OIVE), found that 38.9% of wine-growers are aged 51-65 and 35% are over 65. Those aged 41-50 make up 16.9% of the sector, while the under-40s comprise only 9.3%.

You think you've made the deal of a lifetime, and it turns out it could have been even better. And at a certain age, those strong emotions can be dangerous, as Mauri Oliveira, a 66-year-old Brazilian coffee producer, can attest to. Owner of the Campestre estate, he speaks with delight about the ritual he shares with other landowners every full moon night. They have dinner at one of the estates before embarking on a horseback ride by the light of the moon along the trails.

American beef plants are under threat as the number of cattle destined for their facilities stays far below historical levels, reflecting the smallest herd in more than half a century. Cattle placed in feedlots, where animals are fed until ready to be slaughtered, are expected to have dropped in November to the lowest levels for the month since 2015, according to a Bloomberg survey of analysts.

Norwich Meadows Farm, an organic farm based in Norwich, New York, reported on Instagram that a major fire destroyed its main barn and packing shed overnight on Thursday, December 11, wiping out its packhouse, refrigeration, machinery, scales, and other essential equipment. No one was hurt. For now, the priority is restoring power to protect winter storage crops; the team says it's not yet clear what the next few days or weeks will look like for markets and orders.

Crop yields have increased enormously over the past few decades. But early warning signs have arrived as crop yield rates flatline, prompting warnings of efficiency hitting its limits and the impacts of climate change taking effect. At first glance trends seem positive. Farming methods have become more and more efficient over the last 80 years. However, multiple projections suggest that climate change will soon have key crops plateauing, then sliding down again.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

Tractors take to the streets of Brussels amid concerns that agriculture is being used as a bargaining chip in the EU

On Monday, Donald Trump announced that his administration will give farmers a $12 billion bailout-a tacit admission that his trade policies suck. Farmers have spent much of the last year complaining about rising production costs, falling crop prices and the loss of multiple markets due to Trump's tariffs and the trade wars they have launched. All in all, farmers are projected to lose roughly $44 billion in profits this year, in large part because of Trump administration policies.

"Too much milk for the market, combined with strong milk solids growth, has contributed to a sharp decline in commodity prices," Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins said in a report Thursday, describing the output as "stunning." Global production has accelerated across major exporters. New Zealand farmers set new monthly milk solids records from May to September, with October marking the third-highest peak on record, according to the report. The EU, UK, US and South America have also delivered strong growth.

CNH has scored some wins that Schroeder has been able to track. The company is leaning on AI to assist software engineers who are focused on precision agricultural technology and the FieldOps farm management systems, where AI, machine learning, and sensors are applied to digitally enhance farming. Early data has shown that these engineers are reducing the time needed for documentation by 60%, giving them more time to write new code.

Sure, there's Pistol, which feels like something a self-respecting cowboy might name a horse, and Belle, which also taps into my Western fantasy. But my steed for the week is leggy grey Quarter Horse, Goblin. I'm surprised by his mischievous name, given his soft brown eyes and gentle soul, and I'm not the only one: "His last rider didn't think he looked like a Goblin," admits guest lead, Lauren.

We are farming in the west of Ireland and have recently run into difficulties with a new neighbour regarding noise and general farm activity. Many years ago, we sold several sites along the road beside our yard. All the original buyers were local people who understood the nature of farming and rural life, and we never had a moment's bother with any of them.

Recent scientific work has given growers a clearer look at what truly strengthens the quality of feminised seeds, and one of the most relevant studies came from a 2024 publication in Frontiers in Plant Science. Researchers focused on how feminised seeds are made, how the plants react, and what steps actually lead to dependable outcomes. With these findings, growers can rely on approaches grounded in real research rather than continuing with practices that do not always deliver.

Another thing you should be aware of is that fruits can have multiple types at once. For example, though the Rose is classified as a prickly fruit in this Roblox game, it's also both a flower and a leafy-type plant. Cultivating crops with multiple types can be beneficial in the long run when handling requests during upcoming Grow A Garden updates.

An old red telephone box in Waltham Forest has been turned into a vertical farm growing herbs for a local charity. Funded by the local council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the transformation of a disused British red telephone box, located just outside the William Morris Gallery on Forest Road, has turned it into a self-watering vertical garden. Inside the phone box is a custom designed, 3D printed 'Petal Planter' vertical system, complete with solar-powered ventilation and a self-watering pump.

Packed pubs, sold-out hotels, a run on steak, €1.5m spent on weanling heifers to a top of €33,500... 'for anyone interested in breeding or showing cattle, or even people who just appreciate top-quality stock, this is our version of the Ploughing'