Adrien Leroy is a Germany based French journalist. He has been working as an editor for The Furrow during the last eight years, covering topics from precision farming to ancient cattle breeds, winemaking and agritourism. He works from his office in the former German capital city Bonn.
Introducing precision technologies into day to day farming practice can be a challenge. However, no one needs to start out alone. We place the spotlight on two stakeholders in the green sector, who are playing a central role in the adoption of digital agriculture: Dealerships and agricultural contractors.
Agricultural contractor AIS Schier has been focusing on core fertiliser and lime applications for many years. General manager Holger Schier describes how they even out the pH value of a field and why this approach is a good starting point for precision agriculture.
Some plants absorb the metal in impressive quantities. In certain cases, this phytoextraction can be put to good use.
How to get started with precision farming, and how quickly does it spread in practice? An interview with Peer Leithold, the managing director of Agricon, a consulting firm he founded in 1997.
Variable rate application can now be used in almost all work areas. However, the focus is not on tools, but on the agricultural goal. Here is a current overview of data sources and their practical use.
Precision farming can make farms more efficient, sustainable and economic. But with the multitude of possibilities, the question often arises: "Where to start? We show examples of three farmers who have dared to take this step and tell you how they did.
The US firm Ocean Reef is experimenting with underwater cultivation in the Italian Riviera. The goal of the project is to develop a technique for using the ocean for irrigation in arid regions.
Water is one of the essential foundations of agriculture. How will its availability in Europe develop in the future? Our infographics provide an overview.
The European LIFE "AgriAdapt" project has been working on the topic of climate adaptation for four years. Patrick Trötschler from the German project partner “Bodensee-Stiftung” speaks about the prospects in the cultivation sector and efficient drought prevention.
Farmers in Sweden, France and Germany are striving to retain water when there is plenty available so they can use it during dry summer months. Water is stored in ponds, marshes, or in the ground. The Furrow reports.
In southern Mexico, researchers have discovered giant maize with astonishing properties. Other varieties can benefit from this.
The autonomy level of European animal husbandry varies depending on the protein group. Fact is: Europe will remain dependent on imports. However, in the long term, breeding and technical advances will increase independence. See our interactive graphics to find out what is happening where.
Alexander Döring, secretary general of FEFAC (the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation), on reducing the protein gap.
Making Europe less dependent on imports of protein raw materials is a challenge for the future. We meet two producers who are doing their bit to improve Europe’s protein production.
The countryside is a space to live and to work. And thus often an arena of conflicts of how to use that space. A challenge that needs to be tackled by farmers themselves.
It is particularly hard to assess the damage caused by compaction in deeper soil layers. But research data and statistics indicate a considerable impact on agricultural productivity.
Researcher Andrew Leakey is simulating atmospheric conditions for the next half of the century. The data obtained is supposed to mitigate the consequences of climate change.
Soil compaction is a well-known problem, but its impact is often underestimated and difficult to assess. And it is a growing concern for farming stakeholders.
Fresh players in the market and new factors influencing pricing mean grain prices are fluctuating significantly more than in the past. When selling their grain, farmers therefore need to focus on good risk management.
Milk producers are under pressure from persistently low producer prices. At the same time, demand for more natural foods is rising. One solution could be to focus more on grazing management. But just "opening the cowshed door and let the cows out" is not enough.
There are many types of hunger. If we want to feed the world, we should not only pay attention to the quantity but also to the quality of food.