Vierzon: farmers invite themselves to the A20 motorway toll booth

The unions wanted to show a face of unity, after the dissensions observed in the south of France at the end of last week. If their vision diverges on the idea of ​​co-management, on agro-industry or even on international trade, one subject is unanimous: mirror clauses. They wanted to remind people that many productions arrived on the French market without respecting the same constraints. Distortions of competition already denounced during the demonstrations last winter: ” 80% of fruits and vegetables are importedrecalls Geneviève De Brach, president of the Cher Rural Coordination. We are here on a route from Spain to Rungis. We are not against imports. We are closed to imports of products that do not meet French standards. Today, we can no longer produce cherries in France, or red clover in the Cher because we can no longer use certain nicotinoids that are still authorized in Italy, Germany or Spain. We therefore undergo totally unfair competition. In France, we wash more white than white, to the detriment of farmers.”

The last instructions before taking action. Around forty farmers are mobilized: ” We control the trucks, we remain courteous. We don't warm up.“Pierre, a cereal farmer in Vornay, decided to act:” I have been here for thirty years. Normally, we should be at cruising speed, but no, it's always more complicated since 2022 where it's true, we had a good year. Today, we no longer have the same situation. We're tired of having constraints that others don't have. My nephew would like to join the Gaec, but it's really complicated. We don't know what to do anymore. And these are Franco-French constraints! “

French overtranspositions of European regulations already denounced a year ago. Each foreign truck must park: “Hello, can we see your CMR?” The exchanges are a little difficult because of the language but it goes well, thanks to the presence of the gendarmes who secure the road. Truck drivers generally comply with good grace.

The CMR is the waybill which indicates the origin, destination and nature of the goods. The farmers photograph the customs document and return it to its owner. Everything is done in a few moments.

This Spanish truck is transporting plastic balls, but here comes a more interesting truck: “Mandarina, announces the driver” Mandarins from Spain. ” Before, we produced it in FranceGeneviève de Brach bounces back, today it's over. And other productions will no longer be possible here if we stay on this same path.”

Christophe Voinot produces duck foie gras in Foëcy: “I buy ducks from a breeder who has vaccinated them against avian flu since we have had a vaccine for two years. Why are these ducks still confined even though they are protected against disease?asks the farmer. He has no right to take them out while the vaccine protects them. The consequence is that their meat is less generous because they no longer run outside. We therefore value them less when we slaughter them and yet we always pay more for them. Before the bird flu, a duck was sold to us for 16 euros. Today, it's 26 euros. And I'm not talking about the rest which increases our production costs. We have to cut our margins if we want to continue to sell our foie gras and the meat we produce. Before, my grandfather supported five families on the farm. Today, we have difficulty living as a couple.” The producer says he only gets a minimum wage each month.