in Eure, these high school students who join the mobilization

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They are not yet installed, but are already mobilized. Eliot and Mathys, both students at the Gilbert-Martin agricultural high school in Neubourg (Eure), took part in the first actions of the agricultural mobilization, the weekend of November 15 to 17. They covered panels and planted radars in the department with the Young Farmers of Eure (JA27).

“People were happy and honking at us. We have not committed any damage,” says Eliot, 16 ansin the first professional baccalaureate in agricultural business management and management (CGEA), who also works on a mixed crop and livestock farm in Bacquepuis. “We are childhood friends, we registered for JA three months apart,” explains Mathys, 19 ans, who is in his final year in CGEA and working on a work-study program in a cereal farm in Criquebeuf-la-Campagne.

Currently, we cannot project ourselves […] Everything is blurry.

For these young people, the main reason for mobilization is the difficulty of building a professional project in the current climate. “To settle down, when you are not the son of a farmer, it takes a lot of money. Everything is expensive» testifies Eliot, who does not come from this background, but has always been “passionate” about agriculture.

“A farm of 70-80 dairy cows, around twenty hectares and a little equipment, we easily arrive at 1.5 million euros. You can obtain credit but you must have a suitable contribution. I will have to study for a long time to hope to get help,” explains the young man.

Inflation on hardware

“Currently, we cannot plan ahead, we do not know if we will be able to settle down or join forces in five years. Everything is blurry,” summarizes Mathys, who comes from a family of farmers. He would like to partner with a “cereal or livestock” operator. “But with Mercosur, it will be more difficult to get by,” he believes. “If Europe brings in foreign meat and we can no longer sell ours… Even more so that they have much fewer restrictions than us », Adds Eliot.

“What scares the most if we start tomorrow is the inflation on equipment. A machine that cost 80,000 euros a few years ago can be found at 130,000 euros now,” says Mathys.

The first time was a warning. There, it's going to be something else.

The two budding farmers have no illusions about the benefits of the mobilization at the start of 2024. “For the moment, there are no results. Nothing has changed, says Mathys. We are not moving forward, we are talking in a vacuum. »

Both students expect to see the movement gain momentum over the coming weeks, when the autumn work will be finished in the fields . “The first time was a warning. There, it’s going to be something else,” predicts Eliot. “Farmers are even more determined than in January,” adds Mathys. He notices a strengthened solidarity between farmers.

Defend “the rural world”

“A lot more people are taking things seriously and getting involved,” he judges. Including within the high school, where many of Eliot and Mathys' classmates “want to join the actions”. “ Our teachers also encourage us to continue,they know it’s for our future,” says Eliot.

The young man is also convinced of the need to expand the movement. “To be heard, we would have to be joined by other people, to defend the rural world,” he considers.

This week, farmers across France are planningactions against the prefectures,the Departmental Directorates of Territories and the Sea (DDTM) or the French Biodiversity Offices (OFB). The two young Eurois say they are ready to then go “to Paris, if necessary”.

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