Demi Vollering won stage four of the Tour de France Femmes on Mont Brouilly, outsprunting Marlen Reusser and Kasia Niewiadoma, while defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot saw her title defense unravel.
Wildfires continue to rage in Greece, forcing evacuations near Athens and on Crete, while blazes in France and Spain show signs of easing. Bordeaux wine producers face an early, difficult harvest due to extreme heat and drought, as Europe experiences record temperatures impacting agriculture and increasing health risks.
Wildfires rage across Greece, particularly near Athens and on Crete, forcing evacuations and prompting maximum alert. Meanwhile, France and Spain see some improvement in fire control, though Bordeaux wine producers face drought challenges, and some Spanish residents remain displaced.
A new study from California researchers found that barn owls can naturally reduce rodent damage in Napa Valley vineyards by decreasing rodent numbers and making them more cautious. This method offers an alternative to harmful pesticides, benefiting both grape production and biodiversity.
A new study in California's Napa Valley reveals that barn owls significantly reduce rodent damage in vineyards by both direct predation and altering rodent behavior, potentially decreasing reliance on harmful pesticides. Researchers found vineyards with more owls had fewer, more cautious rodents.
The Aude department is undertaking a large-scale uprooting of its vineyards, with 4,900 hectares affected. This operation, part of a national plan to remove 28,000 hectares by 2026, aims to address a crisis in the wine sector due to falling consumption, drought, and rising costs.
Saharan dust storms are increasingly intense, depositing microorganisms over Europe. A study in Portugal found bacteria in dust that could act as natural fertilizers, potentially benefiting crop growth, especially in vineyards.
DNA from 2,000-year-old grape seeds in Tuscany shows Roman-era vineyards were part of a sophisticated agricultural network. Research revealed white grapes dominated the Chianti site, contrary to today's red wine fame, suggesting continuity from Etruscans to Romans.
