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There are a number of fairly long-standing issues, that I believe have a serious adverse effect on the game but are not on the Trello Known Issues list. These all need fixing, preferably as part of the next major game update (presumably GU16 to accompany the New World Rising DLC).
My understanding is that you prefer single issue threads, so I will split it into multiple threads. Apologies if I have this wrong and you would have preferred a multi-issue thread.
Items that boost production from orchards and reduce the required forest density are not working properly. There are three items (Hand Pollination Method, Get Rich Quick Volume I, & Optimized Pruning) that should give the same effect as three items give for Lumberjacks (Teutonic Technical Secateurs, Druid's Sickle, Industrial Thresher). The cumulative Forest Density gain is the same for both buildings (+60%) as is the building footprint. Therefore, a layout that produces a base productivity of 100% for Lumberjacks should also yield a Base Productivity of 100% if the Lumberjacks are replaced by orchards. I have found that this is not the case when using closely grouped layouts of 20 buildings, such as the one here: http://www.annolayouts.de/index.htm?lang=en.
The most that I have been able to get to work is 12 in the same area, and even then, it is dependent on all of the Orchards being the same type. With mixed types the max is about 10.
Threads that address this issue, some of which include videos and links to save files, include:
https://discussions.ubisoft.com/topic/106901/are-orchard-trade-union-items-working-properly/22?lang=en-US&page=2
https://discussions.ubisoft.com/topic/130866/layout-for-orchards-using-a-trade-union?lang=en-US
The effects of this problem are getting worse. Some of the recent DLCs have increased the need for Orchards, although I haven’t tried making all the Lifestyle Goods for my previously completed game, I think that I am going to struggle to find room for all the orchards with only 60% of the expected productivity. It’s already difficult without these new needs.