Milk producers snapped up at minimum price – Le Figaro

It took five days dams in much of France for 4 cents more per liter.

As he had done in mid-June for beef, the Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll, finally met on Friday dairy farmers and their partners (manufacturers and distributors) to reach an agreement. It provides for an increase of 4 cents per liter of milk paid to producers on their supplies of August. “The price of milk will be paid less than 340 euros for 1000 liters, an increase of four cents per liter,” says Xavier Beulin, president of the FNSEA (National Federation of Farmers’ Unions), with the After a meeting that lasted three hours in “a climate of extreme gravity” according to the union leader.

The FNSEA farmers and dairy industry, the NPFL (National Federation of Producers milk), obtained this result with sheer strength. It took them hang for five days with their tractors major French roads for they, the forgotten emergency aid plan, hold the attention of the government. “This increase will allow us to cover our costs. It does not satisfy us, but it at least allows that, says Thierry Roquefeuil, the president of the NPFL. It does not solve all the problems today and additional measures are needed at European level. “

On this issue, Stéphane Le Foll got the convening of a European Council of Ministers of Agriculture Monday, September 7. The Minister called for a Brussels support to producers and a revaluation of the intervention price for milk. This mechanism, activated in case of falling prices, is triggered only when the price drops to 22 cents per liter. A low threshold that the French minister would see an increase of several cents. But for that, he needs the green light from European colleagues.

On the ground, the national trade union leaders will have to now make an educational effort to explain this agreement, they are not fully convinced . FNSEA has identified twenty operations “punched” by next Wednesday, throughout France, counting those spontaneous as Combourg, Brittany, on Friday. “The increase in milk prices will be seen by operators as from 15 September. In the meantime they will have to take their troubles patiently, which is unbearable for the most indebted “complains Yannick Bodin, breeder of the Channel, in first line on the dams of Mont Saint-Michel. Another criticism of the trade union Rural Coordination: “This increase is only guaranteed until the end of the year. And then ?, he asks. It is a political prize to calm the anger of farmers, but nothing rule in the background, “he continues. For the consumer, “this agreement will have a limited impact as measured in pennies to spend all this crisis,” says Stéphane Le Foll.

To make matters worse, farmers are now sixty departments affected by Drought. In the first twenty-two days in July, the rainfall deficit is 80%. Only the handle can be satisfied to have adequate rainfall.