Category: Current Affairs

THERE was an air of confidence from Italian chestnut producers who have beaten a cynip insect infestation of their crop, as they explained how during a conference on the future of the industry in the Dordogne.

Renzo Panzacchi had come from Bologna to speak at the Printemps de la Châtaigne industry exhibition held in Mazeyrolles, that looked at ways to expand and support the chestnut sector.

He spent around 20 minutes explaining how their own region’s chestnut producers had faced the threat of the cynip, a small wasp-like insect, that was slowly killing the trees and causing great distress amongst 100 or so farms.

The chestnut growers of Bologne were made up of many small farms, but it was still an industry that brought around €2,500,000 to the area each year, and so it was decided to fight back against the cynip, and they looked to Asia for a solution.

The original cynip infestation was traced to imports of horticultural material from China, and further study showed that the problem had been dealt with in Japan in the 1980s.

This was achieved through the introduction of another insect, the Torymus sinensis, which feeds on the cynip whilst in galls found on the chestnut and when properly managed can eventually reduced the damage to the trees.

The small red and green galls can be seen forming on this chestnut tree in Loubéjac.

And that damage can be severe as Renzo Panzacchi described seeing 25 galls spread along just 20 cm of chestnut tree branch. While a producer in France explained earlier in the morning how his own production was reduced by more than half, despite doubling the number of hectares under production.

Renzo Panzacchi continued and said that working with university and ministry of agriculture researchers the local producers began to introduce the Torymus sinensis after setting up a system across the region that slowly saw their presence spread naturally.

After five years the patience and determination of the Bologna chestnut farmers was rewarded as they saw the cynip population decline, yet retained a balance with the Torymus sinensis, and saw their production levels back to around 95% of what they were before the arrival of the cynip.

The cynip can be beaten, Renzo Panzacchi said, without turning to chemicals and if the industry works as one.

See the full presentation from Renzo Panzacchi below (click on the slides to advance).

MAMMATUS cloud formed over Loubéjac after a period of storms and heavy rain rattled across the countryside this weekend. And here is some background from Wikipedia.

THE frost is still to loosen its grip on this corner of the Dordogne, as Loubejac woke up after a chilly night.

The fields and low bushes were covered in a coat of frost this morning and in the woods the drip, drip, drip of the ice melting off the leaves could be heard as the sun slowly warmed the air.

For me it is a interesting sight, but for others dependent upon fruit and vegetable production steps have to be taken to protect valuable crops.

France Bleu Périgord reports on how tomato growers have closed up their tunnels in late afternoon to cocoon away their plants, while kiwi growers are ready to spray a fine mist over their fruits to create a coat of ice for protection.

And growers are sure to remain vigilant as we are still a couple of weeks away from the saints de glace, which this year is the 11, 12 and 13 May, that signify the last chance of icy temperatures and after which many will start planting softer fruits and vegetables.

Update: Fortes gelées dans le vignoble bordelais, les vignerons inquiets

French winemakers deploy candles, heaters and helicopters to save vines from frost

LOUBEJAC went to the polls yesterday, like the rest of France, in the first round of the presidential election and like the rest of the country backed Emmanuel Macron.

But also like the rest of France, Marine Le Pen took second place in front of the two other leading figures in the race, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and François Fillon.

The count, or dépouillement, started on the chime of 19h from the church across the parking place of the mairie.

Squeezed into the small office of the mairie was the maire himself and a dozen other councillors, as well as around 20 local people sat on chairs and stood in the corridor as the individual envelopes from the ballot box were counted.

As the maire opened each envelope and took out the small piece of white paper bearing the name of the presidential candidate gaining a vote he read out the name in a clear voice.

Two forms were completed in tandem noting down each vote and slowly it became clear that Macron was beginning to gain more votes and stretch away from the others.

Twenty minutes later and the result was known, it was telephoned through to the French authorities after being signed off by all the councillors, and copies were produced for those present to see the number of votes for each candidate and the overall turnout.

The connection between the vote and the local people was the clearest sign to me of the importance of the dépouillement, the ballot box was not taken away and counted in a larger town.

The link between voting, the local mairie and ultimately the presidential election itself was clear to see and those in attendance, that included those who have voted many times as well as a first-time voter, wanted to ensure that connection remained strong.

Overall across France this election is like no other with the second round not featuring either of the two leading parties of the past, the Socialists and Republicans were clearly rejected, while Macron and Le Pen go head-to-head over the next two weeks before the second and final vote on 7 May.

Full results from communes across France are available here, and the image below shows the split across France of Macron’s vote focused in urban areas, while Le Pen has gained a strong presence in agricultural regions.

THE neighbouring département of Lot-et-Garonne has been placed on a high-risk of forest and vegetation fires due to the recent dry conditions.

It is a rare occurrence for April, but the region’s fire personnel are on alert as the lack of rain, and high winds, has raised awareness of the potential risk.

Walking through the woods and along the paths around Loubejac today and the ground is very dry, with no sign of rain on the horizon and worries already being raised about the risks of drought this summer.

Environmental agencies in the south west of France have said that river levels are below their averages for this time of the year, with the Dordogne 30% down and the Vienne around 60% below the expected level.

Unless their is sustained rainfall over the next 30 to 45 days, some ares of the south west will experience a reduction in groundwater levels and face difficulties over the summer months.

Update July 2022: Lack of rain and warm temperatures are still causing concern with many local authorities advising people to take great care in the forests of France, with some completely off-limits due to the risk of fire.

AS Members of Parliament in the UK vote to hold a General Election on June 8, many British citizens in France look set to lose out on their own chance to vote.

British voters who have been in France for more than 15 years will not be able to head to the ballot box, despite the Conservative party promising to introduce rules covering a ‘vote for life’.

Last year a document was published by the government explaining how it intended to scrap the 15 year rule, but it has not moved forward since then and there is little chance of legislation being introduced in time for the June election.

It means that many British people will have now missed out on the 2015 election, the 2016 referendum vote and this year’s snap election, all of which have had a a real influence on the day-to-day lives of those living outside the UK in Europe.

Those British people who are eligible to vote in this election can either register, or check they are properly registered, via the official gov.uk website.

POSTERS featuring the 11 presidential candidates for the forthcoming elections in France are now staring down upon people across the country.

Found on large, metal presentation boards outside mairies and in other public spaces, the posters feature a photograph of each candidate and their campaign slogans.

Here the small mairie in Loubejac has the presentation boards propped up against the outside wall, ready for the first round of votes set to take place next Sunday, April 23.

Should no candidate win a majority, a run-off election between the top two candidates will be held on Sunday 7 May, but this election, unlike others, is proving very difficult to predict.

The four leading candidates, François Fillon, Marine Le Pen , Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Luc Mélenchon are each expected to poll somewhere between 18% and 22%, so it is proving very difficult to predict who might get through to the second round.

Even after the result is announced we are not quite finished with the ballot box just yet, as legislative elections are scheduled to take place on 11 and 18 June to elect the members of the National Assembly of the French parliament.

IT seems likely that some ares of south west France will face water restrictions in the summer months after the failure of the winter rains to refill water courses.

Sud Ouest reports that regions such as Deux-Sèvres and Charente-Maritime have seen half as much rainfall as normal, with the Dordogne down by 36 percent.

The deepest water resources in the area seem to be OK at the moment, these are often used for drinking water, and whilst some water levels are three quarters below normal water authority bosses don’t believe the situation to eb ‘catastrophic’.

Locally here in the south of the Dordogne the small agricultural irrigation lake in Loubejac, les Griffouillères (above), is still quite low and it doesn’t look as though it will fill completely this year.

STRONG winds battered the Dordogne throughout Sunday and Monday causing extensive damage to buildings, power cuts as well as sparking a fire in local woodland.

Winds of up to 90km/h blew across the département, with an electricity cable torn from a pylon close to Mazeyrolles causing 15 hectares of woodland to catch fire.

Around 70 pompiers were called to the scene to ensure the fire did not spread as it was whipped up by the strong winds and after a dry winter much of the woodland in the area could easily catch light.

Elsewhere many people reported missing roof tiles and fallen trees, while an old tobacco séchoir in Loubejac was severely damaged as the side walls gave way due to the strength of the wind.

FRENCH public holidays for 2017 are set to favour the workers over the bosses as many days off take place either before or after the weekend this year.

One advantage of the long weekends is that they should help boost tourism numbers especially if the weather plays nice and the sun shines.

It is also important to remember that businesses and many public offices will be closed on these days, so it will be important to plan ahead.

The public holidays in France are:
New Year on Sunday January 1

Easter Monday on April 17

Fête du Travail on Monday May 1

1945 Armistice on Monday May 8

Ascension on Thursday May 25

Pentecôte Monday on June 5

Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) on Friday July 14

Assomption on Tuesday August 15

Toussaint on Wednesday November 1

1918 Armistice on Saturday November 11

Christmas Day on Monday December 25.