France: the agricultural situation has never been as serious – L’Express

This loss “ results of a market crisis, a climate crisis and a health crisis that accumulate ,” explained Mr. Beulin Wednesday, speaking in a dairy farm in Sulniac (Morbihan) during a meeting with farmers and local officials of his union.

The FNSEA realizes a tour of France’s agricultural regions “ where one feels the despair ,” the deputy secretary general of the union, Daniel Prieur.

Of the 4 to 5 billion euros of losses “ Farm France, it is estimated that there are 3 billion, maybe a little more “, which will come grains, said the chairman of the main agricultural union.

This sector experiencing great difficulties in the second year, with “ world prices very low ” according to Mr. Beulin. The weather in spring, especially in the northern half of France, have also caused a sharp drop in yields.

“ It is generally said Mr. Beulin, loss (production) greater than 30% with peaks sometimes – I think durum -. 60% C is huge , “detailed Mr. Beulin.

As a result of this situation in French agriculture, “ FNSEA working on a refinancing plan ” farms, “ because at this level of losses, this are not traditional measures may be enough , “explained Mr. Beulin to the press.

While many farms have seen their cash deteriorate, “ what we’re asking the government is to take over a guarantee or reinsurance fund, which should allow bankers live with farmers, offering them the rate conditions, duration (of loans) compatible with profitability , “continued Mr. Beulin, which also advocates for” an agricultural tax best suited . ”

– Blackboard –

Price, value of production, claims on standards and regulations that weigh on farms, are the other priority projects of the union, said Xavier Beulin.

The latter listened for nearly two hours Sulniac participants in that meeting that assessed blackboard often different sectors: poultry, pork, egg, beef, rabbit, but also milk.

This sector is proving very depressed, because of the very low prices paid to producteurs.Principale target of this anger, the policy of Lactalis, the world number one milk.

The French group “ announced in July the lowest price ever announced for the months of July and August, ie 256 euros for 1,000 liters ,” said Marie- Andrée Luherne, general secretary of the FDSEA 56.

“ This is a very bad sign because it makes trend ” to other operators in the sector, has she said.

“ For a normal return of our work should be a 360 euros per 1,000 liters ,” said Ms. Luherne.

Mr. Beulin further claimed that all industry leaders in their sector, Lactalis, Bigard (first group of French meat processing) or Cooperl (number one pork), will attempt to “ compensate their producers properly “and negotiate” with retailers to develop our own products . ”

Less spectacular at certain times of the past month, the shares of farmers against industrial or retail nevertheless continuing. Haute-Saône of farmers have led Wednesday punitive actions against Casino supermarkets, which they accused of failing to remove from their shelves brand products President Caprice gods, Charal and Bigard, as they had requested.

They accuse the industry to get rich at their expense because “ The price of meat and milk have been declining for months among farmers ” while “ prices displayed on the shelves are still high . ”

The actors of French agriculture, trade unions, banks, mutual rooms of agriculture, are meeting on 1 September in Paris to try to build a crisis plan.