'Geopolitical surprises' lurk for farmers in 2026 An uncertain global trade environment and the possibility of an El Nino will keep the local agricultural sector alert despite an otherwise promising outlook. AAP · Jan 29
Texas agriculture commissioner primary: Who is running and what you need to know Agriculture is the second largest industry in Texas, which is home to more than 230,000 farms. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 Democratic and Republican primaries to oversee the agriculture department and where they stand on the issues. The Texas Tribune · Jan 27
UK supermarkets push for Amazon soy safeguards after traders abandon ban European retailers urge traders to adhere to commitments after Brazilian lawmakers wreck forest protection pact The Guardian - UK · Jan 26
Health groups sue EPA over insecticide that causes testicular damage in rats Groups say EPA did not adequately consider adverse health effects to children when it approved the pesticide The Guardian - US · Jan 24
Dam-ed if you do: crackdown on illicit water supplies Several fruit and vegetable growers have been accused of building unauthorised dams in the last year, as authorities use satellites to monitor changes on farms. AAP · Jan 22
PM tells memorial ‘I am deeply and profoundly sorry’ government could not protect victims – as it happened This blog is now closed The Guardian - AU · Jan 21
Mercosur trade deal in limbo after EU parliament asks top court to weigh in The European Union's parliament voted on Wednesday to refer a freshly signed trade deal with the South American Mercosur trade bloc to the EU's top court, casting the hard-fought accord into legal limbo. Radio France Internationale · Jan 21
EU lawmakers vote to block Mercosur trade agreement over legal concerns European Union lawmakers have voted to block a major free trade agreement with the Mercosur group of South American countries over concerns about the legality of the deal The Independent UK · Jan 21
Colourful new tomato promises purple patch of health A genetically modified purple tomato enriched with added anthocyanin - a powerful antioxidant found in berries - may provide extra anti-inflammatory benefits. AAP · Jan 21
Tractors surround EU Parliament as MEPs vote on Mercosur review With the European Parliament set to vote on whether to refer the Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice, delaying its implementation, farmers from across the continent have gathered in Strasbourg to continue to protest the deal, which they say will undercut production. Radio France Internationale · Jan 21
China meets initial soybean purchase goal, but Trump's shifting trade policy could disrupt deal The Trump administration says China has fulfilled its initial commitment to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans, but it’s not clear if the trade agreement announced in October can withstand President Donald Trump’s ever-shifting trade policy as American farmers are still dealing with high production costs The Independent UK · Jan 20
The secret to pest-free houseplants starts at the nursery Bringing home a new houseplant The Independent UK · Jan 20
Ivory Coast will buy unsold cocoa stocks as prices plunge Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, plans to buy unsold cocoa stocks to support farmers as global prices have plunged The Independent UK · Jan 20
Huge amounts of extra land needed for RFK Jr’s meat-heavy diet guidelines Even 25% increase in meat and dairy consumption would require 100m more acres of agricultural land, analysis says The Guardian - US · Jan 20
The Guardian - UK · Jan 20 ‘Meat tax’ could have significant impact on environmental footprint, study finds Full VAT on meat products could cost EU households as little as €26 a year but cut impact by 3-6%, says paper
The Guardian - UK · Jan 19 Seeds review – stunning film following struggling Black farmers in the American south Shot in black-and-white over seven years, Brittany Shyne’s film is poetic and political in its portrayal of families fighting to maintain a vanishing way of life
The Guardian - AU · Jan 17 The road to Trish’s Queensland farm was blown up for a coalmine – now flood waters have left her ‘stuck in a hole’ The cattlewoman is stranded alone, rationing her supplies and worried about her health. Meanwhile the mine sits mothballed
The Guardian - UK · Jan 17 ‘I’m losing £1,800 a day’: the stark reality for Britain’s dairy farmers The cost of producing milk is higher than that being paid by milk processors, leaving farmers operating at a loss
Radio France Internationale · Jan 17 South American Mercosur bloc to sign long-awaited trade deal with EU The South American trade bloc Mercosur and the European Union will sign on Saturday a deal 25 years in the making to create one of the world's largest free trade areas at a time of growing protectionism and volatility.
The Guardian - UK · Jan 17 French farmers wrongly accuse Brussels of betrayal. Macron’s complicity could help the far right to victory Marine Le Pen is milking rural fury over the Mercosur deal. France’s politicians are too cowardly to defend it, says the European Policy Centre’s Paul Taylor
Tom’s Guide · Jan 16 Rice water is the secret to bigger, healthier plants — here's how to use it Learn how to use rice water to fertilize plants, including three preparation methods and how often to apply it safely.
The Guardian - UK · Jan 15 Pesticides may drastically shorten fish lifespans, study finds Even low levels of widely used agricultural chemicals were linked to accelerated ageing, research suggests
International Business Times · Jan 15 Paulo Santana on Transforming Waste into Wealth With a Regenerative Blueprint for Soil, Carbon, and Local Economies Soil health has become one of the most underexamined indicators of long-term economic stability.
Radio France Internationale · Jan 14 French farmers lift Paris blockade after government concessions French farmers began lifting their blockade of Paris early Wednesday after the government pledged debt relief measures and an emergency farm law, as protests driven by opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade deal continued elsewhere in the country.
The Independent UK · Jan 13 The succulents that look like dolphins and hearts – but can you see it? Houseplants offer a connection to nature, cleaner air and a touch of beauty