MORE RULES

Here's the latest rule applied to Danish agriculture, an economic powerhouse.

Any contiguous pieces of land which are more than 2,000 m2 (roughly half an acre) in area, and have a slope of 12% or more, cannot be prepared (i.e. ploughed or harrowed) from the date of harvest until 1 March in the following year.

The "Alp rule" is designed to prevent accidents from tractors overturning, and such like, and it exists in other countries. However, the ban comes into force much later - 15 September in Sweden, 1 December in north Germany, for instance - which gives farmers a chance to plough and sow before the autumn.

Why 12% and 2,000 m2 is however a bit of a mystery. Presumably though, it gives employment to bureaucrats.

Walter Blotscher