There is a lot of discussion about prices, weather etc. but the key here is that their family died out. Being 80 and 74 and the only ones running the farm..
The young don't want to farm. My neighbour is 84, his children in their 40s and 50s. They moved to a small regional town to work in factories. Same story for the several other farmers in this area.
He has offered to let me use the land for free. I moved here for the scenic views. I don't want to farm. There's over 10,000 square metres of farm land right outside my window growing weeds as I sit here in climate controlled comfort in a HM chair, typing away.
The same is happening in many places in Europe: young people are leaving rural areas and the only ones left to tend the farms are the elderly who eventually give up and sell their land to a big company. There is a huge lack of incentives for young people to stay in the farming business, or just to live in the countryside
He has offered to let me use the land for free. I moved here for the scenic views. I don't want to farm. There's over 10,000 square metres of farm land right outside my window growing weeds as I sit here in climate controlled comfort in a HM chair, typing away.
edit: math is hard