#agricultural-economics

#agricultural-economics

Last August, on a hurried stretch of East 18th Street in Antioch, 20 acres of ancient grapevines seemed to vanish overnight. Once part of the historic Evangelho Vineyard, the parcel was sold off in the 1950s, changing hands several times before Rockefeller Construction acquired it last year. Morgan Twain-Peterson of Sonoma's Bedrock Wine Co. was crushed, but not surprised. In Contra Costa County, where rows of centuries-old grapevines are often sandwiched between gas stations and convenience stores, the sense of impending loss is palpable.

A convoy of farmers have set off from south west France heading for Paris with the intention of staging a protest in the capital. The convoy of around 40 tractors set off on Tuesday morning from Cancon in south-west France, with the intention of going to Paris to stage a protest. By Tuesday afternoon organisers said they had "crossed the River Loire" and were heading into northern France - although it is not clear when, or if, they will arrive in Paris.

Almond growers across Central California are facing a significant rat infestation affecting over 100,000 acres of orchards, resulting in severe economic hardship and extensive damage.