The Danish government’s new agricultural platform, aimed at helping farmers, has been questioned by industry experts who see the move as potentially damaging to agricultural efficiency. Read the full story

Icelandic agriculture has seldom, if ever, been held in as high regard by the nation as it is now, according to the head of the Icelandic Farmers’ Union. Read the full story

Olafur Eggertsson, the farmer at Thorvaldseyri undir Eyjafjollum, presented a new brand of Icelandic wholemeal flour at a special launch on Saturday.

The launch took place in a health food shop where the farmer offered visitors bread and waffles made from the new flour. Eggertsson said he used natural volcanic heat in the ground to help grow the winter wheat used. Read the full story

Last week’s collapse of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in Geneva is causing soul searching among governments and NGOs, but was the cause of jubilation among Norwegian farmers, according to Aftenposten.

Norway’s farmers were disappointed with negotiators for signing off on a WTO deal that would reduce its protective tariffs. Norwegian farmers fear that tariff cuts would hurt the country’s farming industry by allowing cheaper imported goods to flood the market.

Norway’s farm lobby and members of the Centre Party, which represent the interests of Norwegian farmers, were upset that party member Lars Peder Brekk had gone against their agenda at the recent WTO meeting in Geneva. Brekk, who is serving as Norway’s agriculture minister, was part of a government coalition that accepted the WTO’s proposed tariff cuts in Geneva.

Farming advocates argue that the tariff cuts would open Norway’s market to cheap foreign imports and threaten local farmers’ grip on the domestic market. But Brekk disagrees, claiming the farmers’ concerns were exaggerated. He and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store have signed off on the WTO deal.

The head of the Centre Party in Nordland stated “I’ve been very surprised over what’s been happening. Brekk better have a good explanation for this.” Brekk responded by saying the deal under discussion in Geneva would have still protected nearly 80 percent of Norwegian agricultural production, and the farmers’ fears were unfounded.

Hemp cultivation has begun in Iceland under an experimental programme to see if it can grow successfully in Iceland’s climate, according to Iceland Review.

The versatile shrub, often associated with marijuana, but grown free of the active THC ingredient, is already a popular crop further across the Atlantic in Canada where it is under extensive harvest for its strong and useful fibre.

Hamp Tech Global Warming, a local company, will undertake experiments in the hope of using its valuable seed oil, and to develop potential animal feed from the plant as well. Sveinn Jonsson of the company, believes that the conditions for growing hemp in Iceland are good.

Six types of hemp have been planted in various areas to see which varieties fair best in the Icelandic climate and which areas of Iceland are best suited for growing hemp. It has already been successfully harvested in Sweden, but this hardy plant has been known to be sensitive to spring frost.

Northern Europe’s favourite summer crop may be under threat from the excellent weather – at least in Scandinavia, according to reports on SikuNews.

Strawberries are grown enthusiastically all over the continent, and especially enjoyed outside by those relaxing in the warm summer sunshine; sometimes even with a glass of chilled Champagne.

In a cruel twist of irony, if Scandinavia doesn’t get considerable rainfall soon, farmers are predicting worse and smaller crops or no strawberries at all if conditions get worse.

Meanwhile, Iceland, the UK and large swathes of the European Mainland have been experiencing wet and disturbed weather recently.

Iceland experienced a cold and gloomy early June in 2007 too, but it was followed by a record-breaking warm, dry summer. Icelanders are hoping for a repeat performance.

By contrast, other parts of Northern Europe had by far the wettest summer since records began; with severe flooding bringing significant damage, and even death.