And suddenly, like a symbol, the big bale of straw which had been used last summer to build a smiling teddy bear, burst into flames. As they announced, Monday November 18, 2024, at 7:45 p.m., the Young Farmers (JA) and the Departmental Federation of Farmers' Unions (FDSEA) of Indre resumed the mobilization that they had suspended, at the start of the year. With, according to the national slogan of their unions, action ” responsible “ in order to “not to ruin the lives of the French” : giant lights on thirteen roundabouts in the department.
“This fire is to represent the spark of our flame which has not gone out”
Around twenty of them gathered to initiate the action, on the Brassioux roundabout, under the watchful eye of prefect Thibaud Lanxade and the director of the Territorial Directorate (DDT), Rik Vandererven. It is difficult, for the moment, to mobilize more people, between the sunflower, corn and millet harvests and the sowing. The farmers present in Brassioux were therefore, essentially, union representatives. “This fire is to represent the spark of our flame which has not gone out”indicates Philipe Barrault, treasurer of the FDSEA and farmer in Levroux and Baudres.
The farmers also brought their barbecues.
© (Photo NR, Thierry Roulliaud)
A meeting with the prefect and the DDT is already planned for Thursday, November 21 in the morning, in order to continue the simplification of control operations on farms. Locally, farmers and state representatives agree: dialogue has never been a problem.
The prefecture recalls its 20 commitments
In a press release signed by Thibault Lanxade, Prefect of India, the latter recalls the commitments made since the farmers' demonstrations at the start of 2024, some of which have already been put in place.
- More than 98% of PAC files were able to benefit from payment of the aid advance: payment of €75 million. Payments are continuing for the last files and balance payment operations have already been initiated by DDT.
- Special monitoring was put in place, called “Task Force 36”, which made it possible to closely monitor around a hundred operators identified as being in serious difficulty.
- A strong signal was sent to elected officials and those involved in private collective catering to urge them to accelerate the application of the EGALIM laws. Site visits with state services are scheduled.
- Situations of force majeure have been recognized in order to adapt the measures as quickly as possible to the context of the land (maintenance of hedges, valorization of fallow fodder, nitrate plan, exemption from the ban on plowing, etc.).
- Files related to water (irrigation and reserve): a one-stop shop has been set up with a commitment to respond within a short time frame.
- Procedures for requesting recognition under the National Solidarity Compensation have been initiated by the DDT: eleven files are in progress and the procedures for declaring losses will begin.
- The minister announced the establishment of two cyclical and structural loans: for the latter the State will provide its guarantee of 70% up to a limit of €200,000.
- A partial exemption from the property tax on undeveloped properties (TFPNB) of 50% was decided by the DDFIP.
- The envelope for covering social contributions increased from €74,000 to €194,000.
It is especially at the European level that the peasant world now expects to be listened to. And heard. On everyone's lips is the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union. Even if Emmanuel Macron declared that he would not sign it as it stands. “Precisely, I am very wary of this as it stands…”sighs Philippe Barrault who is waiting “concrete commitments”.
His colleague Denis Philippon, cereal grower, poultry breeder in La Champenoise and former president of the JA, deplores “the lack of visibility from one year to the next”with “variations of more than 40% in operating income” et “costs that are constantly increasing”. Over the last eight years, it has experienced three negative operating results: “You have to be strong with the bank! »
“Today is Act 1…”
This is why farmers want to alert the French government with this new mobilization. President of JA 36, Mélanie Soulas-Barrault also reports having made several invitations to the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, which have remained unanswered to this day. “Today is act 1 to denounce European and global inconsistencies on the opening day of the G20, assure the two unions in a press release. Others will follow. And we will lead them until we obtain the software change that will give back to farmers: income, dignity and visibility for the future. » How will the government manage this flame? Response in the coming days.
Atmosphere on the Ozans roundabout
On the Menas roundabout, near the Ozans area, Pascal arrived loaded with straw. The cereal grower waits, in the dark, with the dozen farmers for the start to light the blaze.
“I thought about taking the box of matches”he says. All are there to symbolically set fire to the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement project. “This also concerns our cereal farmsemphasizes Pascal. I sell my cereals for livestock: if we import cattle, the cereal growers will have fewer outlets. » Before pointing out “unfair competition”. “We are already importing meat which does not meet the standards to which we force French farmers: 52 prohibited materials are imported through food,” he assures. In South America, they don't have the same standards on buildings. Animal welfare? There isn't one. They don't have the same standards on hardware either, not ADBlue for example, etc. Here, with all the equipment, tractors cost us a lot more. »
For Gilles again, “in France, we try to be whiter than white”, when we accept everything else. “It doesn’t bother anyone because what is imported is not expensive”castigates Éric, another cereal grower.
