In the Petit Morin valley, farmer Hugues Rouyer faces challenges linked to the specificity of the terrain and global warming, impacting crops.
Farmer Hugues Rouyer explains the challenges of agriculture in the Petit Morin valley, marked by difficult terrain and the impact of global warming, with limited solutions.
Challenges specific to local agriculture
The Petit Morin valley, in Montmirail, is distinguished by steep and stony terrain, complicating agricultural work. Crops there are limited to traditional practices such as wheat, barley and rapeseed. Vegetables, potatoes and beets are avoided due to the rocky composition of the soil, making their mechanization expensive and complex. Hugues Rouyer also highlights the gradual cessation of livestock farming, once widespread, because of health and economic constraints, in particular the exorbitant costs for obligations such as covered storage of manure.
The impact of global warming
Global warming is being felt in the Petit Morin valley with episodes of intense heat and unusual flooding. Hugues Rouyer reports a significant increase in summer temperatures, which now reach 38 to 40 degrees, stopping plant growth and leading to production losses of up to 20% in just two days of heatwave. This situation, which has become frequent in recent decades, contrasts with ancient episodes such as the drought of 1976, where the heat was less intense but prolonged. Managing these extreme conditions remains a major challenge, requiring new approaches to preserve yields.
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