C. S.
From left to right: Bertrand Langlois, director of the Federation of Cuma of Dordogne (FD Cuma); Richard Raymaud, head of the sectors and production department at the Chamber of Agriculture (CA) of Dordogne; Jean-Philippe Granger, president of the CA Dordogne; Florent Claudel, president of the FD Cuma; Bruno Geneste, animal production officer at the CA Dordogne.
On the program: an overview of livestock farming in the Périgord Noir, sheepdogs, etc. But also demonstrations with more unexpected machines, such as connected pest traps, autonomous tractors and drones, used to drop bait or spread seeds where tractors get stuck. “Our mission? To bring new ideas and practices (already proven) in order to improve performance,” says Bertrand Langlois, director of the Fédération des Cuma de Dordogne.
The energy aspect will also be addressed, with a focus on photovoltaics, which can represent an additional source of income for professionals. The recovery of wood into energy or mulching will be part of the new practices presented, at a time when a tonne of straw is reaching prices “around 150 euros”, according to Bertrand Langlois.
Hemp farm
“We have to lift our heads and adapt!” » continues Jean-Philippe Granger, president of the Dordogne Chamber of Agriculture. By focusing on sharing these new tools. “In four years, the price of equipment has increased by 45%… The Cuma allows these costs to be amortized. »
“Now the problem is that we have the machines, but we lack the hands,” concludes Bertrand Langlois. With this in mind, a workshop will also be devoted to new installations and the transfer of plots. Because if the Dordogne sees the emergence of innovative projects, such as a hemp farm or an aquaponic model, livestock farming seems to be the poor relation of the story…
