On November 22, 2024, Pascal Férey will chair his last session of the Manche Chamber of Agriculture with various subjects on the agenda such as digital accessibility in agriculture, the economic development of the bocage… He held this position for twelve years. Engaged in professional defense since 1975, and elected to the Chamber of Agriculture since 1989, representing the CDJA, this end of mandate marks a turning point in the career of one who defines himself as ” a peasant like everyone else “.
Operating session
To carry out all these responsibilities, he relied on ” his precious wife, loyal elected friends and colleagues and professional administrative teams “, he confides. Today, he is in the process of handing over his farm to his employee. ” This is the choice my wife and I made. We didn't want it to expand. Volume does not necessarily bring happiness “, he notes.
A vote in January 2025
He thus prepares the successions at the Chamber of Agriculture as well as on his farm. Two important steps. For the Consular Chamber, the deadlines are set in stone. For the next elections, the submission of candidate lists will be done no later than December 16 at the prefecture. And they will be published before December 21. At the beginning of January 2025, voting materials will be sent to voters' homes. They will have until January 31 to vote, either electronically or by post. The results will be announced on February 6 at the latest. The installation of the Departmental Chamber will take place no later than March 6, 2025. This will be followed by the elections of the regional chambers and then the French Chamber of Agriculture, which should be in working order by March 25, 2025.
A strongly renewed assembly
” This election is very important because it represents all of agriculture in the broad sense. “, underlines Pascal Férey. He is not the only one to leave this assembly since Marc Lecoustey, Philippe Faucon, Philippe Pontis but also Gérard Bédouin and Josiane Béliard are not representing themselves. However, ” until the establishment of the new team, which will be significantly renewed, current affairs will be managed “, he assures us. See you on November 22 for the session of the Chamber of Agriculture and at the beginning of March 2025 for the installation of the new team.
Reactions on current topics
“We don’t want a kilo of meat from Mercosur”
The mobilization of farmers has started again. In focus: the Mercosur agreements. Pascal Férey is categorical. ” We don't want a kilo from Mercosur. We ask the French government to be powerful in Brussels to make France's voice heard “, he insists. And it is the beef sector which would be the most affected, particularly of dairy origin, and more particularly cull cows. The countries concerned (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia), ” do not have the traceability that we have with us “, denounces the President of the House. ” We want a balanced agreement “, he justifies.
Infrastructure: we need to make the routes more fluid
Three major routes along the Channel are in the study phase for development. Certain sections are called into question or struggle to find a way out. Pascal Férey is sounding the alarm. ” All economic development is in difficulty “, he says. He takes the example of the Coutances-Saint-Lô axis. ” If there is no strategic decision, it will be complicated for the economy of Coutances. Crossing Saint Gilles is complicated “, he assures. For the Cherbourg bypass, ” the lung of Cotentin “, the message is the same.” This is a real subject for the agricultural and economic world. “As for the Avranches-Granville road,” I'm not asking for a 4 way. But we need to know how the last section can be done knowing that the land reserves are acquired “, he notes.
The Baupte peat bog: a complicated subject
Even if the Baupte peat bog in the Cotentin and Bessin marshes regional natural park is one of the 19 sites selected in France for the Biodiversity Loto (grant of one million euros), ” the subject is moving forward but it is complicated “, admits the President of the House.
This peat extraction quarry, whose concession ends in 2026, will be transformed into a national nature reserve. ” From 2025, hectares of land will be unusable “, he laments.
