One hundred years of history of the Chamber of Agriculture were retraced on Friday, at the end of the last session of the consular chamber. Enough to measure its role which has strengthened and diversified over the years.
“The Chamber of Agriculture remains a tool that was created to represent farmers. Today, we are associated with political decisions, we play a role in development, training and project support,” recalled Yannick Fialip, its president, at the end of the session of the consular chamber on Friday.
A lot has been covered since its creation on January 3, 1924. A history punctuated by significant events, starting with the need to rebuild the country and feed the population at the end of the First World War. The Altiligerian chamber was then chaired by Auguste de Roquefeuille. After disappearing for a few years, they were reborn in 1949, with Jean Deshors (from 1952 to 1967) at the head of that of Haute-Loire. The first technicians were hired in the 1950s. In 1959, it acquired services dedicated to milk, rural construction and economic studies, and had 17 employees.
Motorization, fertilization technique, seeds and insemination are the main revolutions. Tuberculosis and foot-and-mouth disease are at the heart of the actions. Agricultural and livestock utility services were created in 1969 while farm tourism began in 1970. From 1976 to 1996, Alain Royer was president of the chamber: the new premises were built on Boulevard Président Bertrand in Le Puy.
Ups and downs
In 1984, the birth of quotas was a hard blow for the agricultural world. The Chamber of Agriculture was reorganized in 1987, to better take into account diversification, the development of beef and sheep meat production, small crop production and farm tourism. It was the era of “One canton, one project” which allowed numerous sectors to develop: calves from Mont du Velay, red fruits, asparagus, Vellavia beer, etc. At the same time, sectors work on their specificities: the AOP for the lentil, the Fin gras, the Vedelou, the limousine of the Monts du Velay. In 1986, the Montbéliard Special was organized in Le Puy.
Then, new professions emerged at the Chamber of Agriculture which had to suffer another hard blow in 1996 with the mad cow crisis: a dozen herds were slaughtered in the department. By taking over the presidency of the consular chamber in 1997, Gilbert Bros set up the now essential “Clean Campaigns” operations. The 2000s will be more glorious in Haute-Loire with the reform of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) and the visit of Michel Barnier (Minister of Agriculture from 2007 to 2009) which makes it possible to promote mountain agriculture and strengthen the grass premium in particular. The promotion committee was launched in 2010.
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The year 2013 was, for its part, marked by the cessation of the Blavozy factory of the Regional Union of Milk Sales Cooperatives (URCVL): long negotiations made it possible to find outlets for the 153 producers concerned and to preserve the production tool. In 2019, Yannick Fialip took over as president of the Chamber of Agriculture, which is launching a new challenge: “Bringing together agriculture, ecological and climate transition, societal expectations and value creation”. The interventions of several former presidents, including Gilbret Bros (see opposite) concluded this anniversary session.
A century of significant initiatives and innovations in Haute-Loire
Free Stalling
Around a hundred farmers and technicians from the Chamber of Agriculture met to study free housing in 1966.
The animals can move freely with free access to the entire surface of the building or enclosure.
The site
The interconsular building was built in 1976, boulevard Président Bertrand in Puy-en-Velay, and its parking lot in 1981.
The different competitions
In 1986, the Montbéliard Special was organized in Puy-en-Velay. Thirty years later, in 2026, the national breed competition will once again take place at Place du Breuil.Different sectors
As part of the “One canton, one project” operation, asparagus production was launched in Haut-Allier in the 1980s.
The objective is to offer agricultural products that stand out from others in the context of a globalizing agriculture.
Other productions will follow and some still continue today.
In his opinion
Gilbert BrosGilbert Bros former president of the chamber of agriculture
President of the Chamber of Agriculture from 1997 to 2013 and first elected in 1979.
Produce more and better
“Under the presidency of Albert Boyer, Haute Loire went from 89th in terms of income per farmer to 47th! The department has come a long way. The economy is always right and the role of the Chambers of Agriculture is to push to produce more and better. We must revive this dynamic. Haute-Loire has assets. Global warming is an opportunity for the department. When corn arrived in Brioude, its cultivation was risky, because the climate did not allow it. Today, corn is produced at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters! “.
Nathalie Courtial
