FRENCH MIN OF AGRICULTURE DENORMANDIE AUTHORIZES THE USE OF FALLOWS FOR BREEDERS

USPA NEWS - France authorizes the use of fallow land for pastoralists in departments affected by drought. The precipitation deficit which affected a large part of the territory in the spring has worsened in recent weeks with a very dry July nationally. In some departments, this situation leads to soil drought which particularly affects the meadows, and penalizes the feeding of the herds. This drought worsens an already difficult situation for pastoralists, whose fodder stocks had been reduced by the repetition of droughts of past years. Under these conditions, pastoralists in the areas most affected by drought often have no choice but to use their fallow land to feed their herds. Thus, to support breeders facing these exceptional circumstances, the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Julien Denormandie has decided to authorize breeders directly affected by the drought to use fallow areas to graze their herds. or mow to produce fodder. They will benefit from recognition of exceptional circumstances and consequently, fallow land declared as an area of “‹“‹ecological interest (EIS), even mown or grazed, may continue to be counted as EFA for the granting of the "green payment"

FRANCE AUTHORIZES THE USE OF FALLOW LAND FOR PASTORALIST IN DEPARTMENTS AFFECTED BY DROUGHT The precipitation deficit which affected a large part of the territory in the spring has worsened in recent weeks with a very dry July nationally. In some departments, this situation leads to soil drought which particularly affects the meadows, and penalizes the feeding of the herds. This drought worsens an already difficult situation for pastoralists, whose fodder stocks had been reduced by the repetition of droughts of past years. Under these conditions, pastoralists in the areas most affected by drought often have no choice but to use their fallow land to feed their herds.----------------------------------------------------------- Thus, to support breeders facing these exceptional circumstances, the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Julien Denormandie has decided to authorize breeders directly affected by the drought to use fallow areas to graze their herds. or mow to produce fodder. They will benefit from recognition of exceptional circumstances and consequently, fallow land declared as an area of “‹“‹ecological interest (EIS), even mown or grazed, may continue to be counted as EFA for the granting of the "green payment" (more 'information on green payment on this link). This provision is activated in the following 47 departments: · All the departments of the Haut-de-France, Grand Est and Ile-de-France regions; · For the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Ain (01), Loire (42), Rhône (69), Isère (38), Ardèche (07), Drôme (26); · For the Bourgogne-Franche-Conté region: Côte-d'Or (21), Nièvre (58), Saône-et-Loire (71), Yonne (89); · For the Normandy region: Orne (61); Seine-Maritime (76), Calvados (14), Eure (27) · For the Center - Loire Valley region: Cher (18), Eure-et-Loire (28), Loir-et-Cher (41), Loiret (45); · For the Pays-de-la-Loire region: Mayenne (53), Sarthe (72); · For the Occitanie region: Aveyron (12), Lot (46), Tarn-et-Garonne (82). To benefit from this possibility, the farmers concerned must send a letter to their Departmental Directorate of Territories (DDT) / Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea (DDTM), explaining the difficulties encountered due to the drought and the need to use fallows and consequently requesting that exceptional circumstances be taken into account. The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Julien Denormandie recalls that the objective of EIS is to preserve biodiversity and therefore asks breeders who have recourse to this possibility, to do so by taking any appropriate measure to best preserve wildlife and flora on these plots (for example: centrifugal mowing, use of scaring methods, limited grazing pressure, etc.).The ministry is closely monitoring changes in climatic conditions in France and in the other Member States as well as their consequences on fodder availability in order to best support the breeders affected by this new episode of drought. The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Julien Denormandie Julien Denormandie stated : “I am alongside farmers and breeders to support them in the face of drought. This authorization to mow or graze fallow land is a response with immediate effect. I will remain particularly attentive to developments in the situation and I will, if necessary, initiate the various procedures to support producers in these difficulties. Beyond that, the repetition of these episodes of drought brings us back to the question of the adaptation of our agriculture to climate change. This adaptation will be at the heart of our recovery plan. " Source : French Ministry of Agriculture and Food