Regular heavy rains recorded in September and October 2024 delayed harvests and agricultural work in the plots. This factual situation led the prefect of Gers to grant an exemption from the soil cover obligation, between a summer harvest and spring sowing, in an area vulnerable to pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources. No specific justification must be sent to the administration, nor recorded in the cultivation notebook.
Heavy and regular rains in September and October 2024 significantly disrupted harvests and agricultural activities, causing delays in the field. Faced with this exceptional situation, the prefect of Gers has decided to grant an exemption from the obligation to cover agricultural soils in areas vulnerable to nitrates, in accordance with the regulations.
What the exemption provides
In areas vulnerable to nitrates, this exemption also applies to the requirements of GAEC 6 (Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions) of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The farmers concerned do not have to justify their situation to the administration nor enter this measure in their crop notebook.
Reminder of the standard obligations of the BCAE 6:
Installation of a cover over a period of six weeks between September 1 and November 30.
This cover can be provided by regrown cereals, mulch, or residues from previous crops.
If the main harvest exceeds the planned period, the obligation is automatically considered fulfilled.
Outside of vulnerable areas, land cover obligations linked to GAEC 6 remain applicable. However, a national arbitration is awaited to decide on the possible activation of a case of force majeure for these areas.
Relaxation of rules for BCAE 7
BCAE 7, which requires soil cover for farmers with corn monocultures or those wishing to deviate from rotation rules, has also been adapted. Due to climatic conditions, the Ministry of Agriculture now authorizes the installation of cover crops from December 1, 2024 (instead of November 15). The obligation to maintain this cover until February 15, 2025 remains unchanged.
This relaxation only concerns the municipalities listed in the appendix, located in areas where abnormally high soil humidity has been noted. Among these municipalities are Aignan, Condom, Eauze, Gimont, Mirande, and many others.
Why is this exemption essential?
These adjustments aim to support farmers facing the challenges of exceptional weather conditions, while maintaining a balance with environmental requirements. Soil cover plays a crucial role in the fight against erosion and nitrate pollution, but current constraints made its immediate application difficult, if not impossible, for some operators.
Farmers in the areas concerned are invited to consult details of eligible municipalities and the terms and conditions on the local authority website. Additional decisions may be announced depending on changing conditions.
List of municipalities selected for BCAE7 zoning
Aignan, Antras, Arblade-le-Bas, Arblade-le-Haut, Armentieux, Armous-et-Cau, Aubiet, Aurade, Aurensan, Aurimont, Aux-Aussat, Averon-Bergelle, Ayguetinte, Ayzieu, Barcelona-du-Gers, Bars, Bascous, Bassoues, Bazian, Beaucaire, Beaumarches, Beaumont, Beccas, Bedechan, Belmont, Beraut, Bernede, Berrac, Betcave-Aguin, Betous, Betplan, Bezeril, Bezolles, Biran, Blaziert, Blousson-Serian, Bonas, Boulaur, Bourrouillan, Bouzon-Gellenave, Brittany Armagnac, Cadeillan, Cahuzac-sur-Adour, Caillavet, Callian, Campagne-d'Armagnac, Cassaigne, Castelnau d'Auzan Labarrere, Castelnau-Barbarens, Castelnau-d'Angles, Castelnau-sur-l'Auvignon, Castelnavet, Castera-Lectourois, Castera-Castron Verduzan, Castex-d'Armagnac, Castillon-Debats, Castillon-Saves, Caumont, Caupenne-d'Armagnac, Caussens, Cazaubon, Cazaux-d'Angles, Cazaux-Saves, Cazaux-Villecomtal, Cazeneuve, Cezan, Condom, Corneillan, Couloume-Mondebat, Courrensan, Courrensan, Cravenceres, Demu, Eauze, Endoufielle, Escornebœuf, Espaon, Espas, Estampes, Estang, Estipouy, Faget-Abbatial, Flamarens, Fources, Fregouville, Fusterouau, Galiax, Garravet, Gaujac, Gaujan, Gazaupouy, Gazax-et-Baccarisse, Gee-Riviere, Gimbre, Gimont, Giscaro, Gondrin, Goux, Haget, Haulies, Izotges, Jegun, Ju-Belloc, Juillac, Juilles, Justian, L'Isle-Arne, La Romieu, La Sauvetat, Labarthete, Labastide-Saves, Ladeveze-Riviere, Ladeveze-Ville, Lagarde, Lagardere, Lagraulet-du-Gers, Laguian-Mazous, Lahas, Lamaguere, Lanne-Soubiran, Lannemaignan, Lannepax, Lannux, Laree, Larressingle, Larroque-Engalin, Larroque-Saint-Sernin, Larroque-sur-l'Osse, Lartigue, Lasserrade, Laujuzan, Lauraet, Lavardens, Laveraet, Lagaymont, Hougaymont , Reading, Lelin-Lapujolle, Lias, Lias-d'Armagnac, Ligardes, Lombez, Loubedat, Louslitges, Loussous-Debat, Lupiac, Luppe-Violles, Lussan, Magnan, Maignaut-Tauzia, Malabat, Manciet, Mansencome, Marambat, Marciac, Margouet-Meymes, Marguestau, Marsolan, Mas-d'Auvignon, Mascaras, Mauleon-d'Armagnac, Maulicheres, Maumusson-Laguian, Maupas, Maurens, Meilhan, Merens, Mirande, Monbardon, Montblanc, Monclar, Monclar-sur-Losse, Monferran-Saves, Mongausy, Monguilhem, Monlezun, Monlezun-d'Armagnac, Montadet, Montamat, Montegut-Arros, Montegut-Saves, Montesquiou, Monties, Montiron, Montpezat, Montreal, Mormes, Mouchan, Mourede, Nice, Nogaro, Noilhan, Noulens, Pallanne, Panjas, Pauilhac, Pebees, Pellefigue, Perchede, Pergain-Taillac, Peyrecave, Peyrusse-Grande, Peyrusse-Massas, Peyrusse-Vieille, Plaisance, Polastron, Pompiac, Pouy-Roquelaure, Pouydraguin, Pouylebon, Prechac, Prechac-sur-Adour, Preneron, Projan, Puylauic, Ramouzens, Reans, Rejaumont, Ricourt, Riguepeu, Riscle, Roquebrune, Roquebrune, Roque, Roses, Sabaillan, Sabazan, Saint-Andre, Saint-Antoine, Saint-Arailles, Saint-Aunix-Lengros, Saint-Caprais, Saint-Christaud, Saint-Elix-d'Astarac, Saint-Germe, Saint-Griede, Saint-Jean-Poutge, Saint-Justin, Saint-Lizier-du-Plante, Saint-Loube, Saint-Martin, Saint-Martin-d'Armagnac, Saint-Martin-de-Goyne, Saint-Martin-Gimois, Saint-Mezard, Saint-Mont, Saint-Orens-Pouy-Petit, Saint-Paul-de-Baise, Saint-Pierre-d'Aubezies, Saint-Puy, Saint-Soulan, Sainte-Christie-d'Armagnac, Salles-d'Armagnac, Samatan, Saramon, Sarcos, Sarragachies, Sauveterre, Sauvimon, Savignac-Mona, Scieurac-et-Floures, Seailles, Segos, Semboues, Semezies-Cachan, Seyses-re Saves, Simorre, Zion, Sorbets, Tachoires, Tarsac, Tasque, Termes-d'Armagnac, Terraube, Tieste-Uragnoux, Tirent-Pontejac, Toujouse, Tourdun, Tournan, Troncens, Tudelle, Urgosse, Valencia-sur-Baise, Vergoignan, Verlus, Vic-Fezensac, Viella, Villecomtal-sur-Arros, Villefranche-d'Astarac.
