As the movement of tractors resumes, “Libé” gives the floor to the operators. Today, François Marchand, producer of organic cereals in the Meuse, talks about the rain and falling prices, but refuses to complain.
Farmers are back on the streets. One year after a historic movement, breeders, grain growers and other market gardeners denounce their working conditions. Liberation publishes testimonies from the first concerned. They open up about their difficulties between climatic hazards, health crisesstandards considered too onerous and fears on the international market. Today, the floor is given to François Marchand, cereal grower and president of the Bios de Meuse association, affiliated with the National Federation of Organic Agriculture.
“The season was complicated. I am 63 years old, I have been established since 1983 and my son has just taken over my farm. I've seen wet years, but not like this one. It didn't stop raining for a year. The weather windows where we could work were very short. After all the water that fell in winter and spring, we thought it would stop, but no, it kept coming back. The accumulation is more than a meter of rain…
“Wetlands make the work very complicated, if not impossible. We have never been able to carry out interventions in good conditions. The returns are less good. In winter wheat, we are at 2 tonnes per hectare compared to 3 or 3.5 in normal times. In corn, we are at 4 tonnes per hectare, we should have done at least 2 more. Fortunately, we were able to preserve spring wheat, at 3.5 tonnes per hectare.
“The problem is that prices are collapsing. When I went into organic farming, I was told that the sector was pursuing an equitable approach. The cooperative's prices were around 400 to 450 euros per tonne of wheat. We went down to 300 euros per tonne. I no longer see fairness at all. In addition, France has resumed importing cheaper wheat from abroad. At these prices, we are no longer profitable. Economically, this no longer makes sense.
“This situation is partly explained by the drop in demand since the Covid crisis. But mass distribution also has a role to play. There are no longer any organic sections! You know, organic is very small, if all French people bought one organic cheese per month, there would be no more crisis…
“I do not participate in demonstrations. I have always had in my mind that we must stop complaining and find solutions. And then, I know that there are problems in the South-West and in livestock farming, but I have seen sectors complaining even though they are not facing the same difficulties. We're having a bad year, but life isn't all about good years.
One thing shocked me: it was the denial of what was happening in the water. Many reports are coming out on water pollution by different products. What do we do about this? I'm not for everything organic, but there is a balance to find. On the other hand, I really defend the opposition to Mercosur. It's like asking the French to drive at 50 while everyone else can go at 90! We cannot import products that do not meet any health and social standards.”
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