the files awaiting the new Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard

For her first ministerial post, Annie Genevard inherits a sector in crisis. At 68, the LR becomes the third woman to occupy the post after Edith Cresson from 1981 to 1983, and, for a month, Christine Lagarde in 2007.

Many farmers are ready to remobilize once the work in the fields is finished in November, they announce. They feel they have not received the necessary answers to their anger expressed last winter. Appointed Saturday to her first ministerial post, Annie Genevard, a figure of the Republicans, is expected on several issues in a sector in crisis.

A more ambitious agricultural orientation bill

The agricultural orientation bill, rewritten following the movement, is at a standstill due to the dissolution. The two majority unions FNSEA and Young Farmers want a more ambitious text to be able to produce and ensure food sovereignty, by guaranteeing a better income, by reforming the policy of generational renewal. Half of the 400,000 farmers will be of retirement age in the next 10 years.

Fight against epizootic diseases affecting livestock farming

The anger is all the stronger because farmers have had a bad summer. French breeders are facing three epizootics at the same time, which is unprecedented. Bluetongue is spreading and decimating flocks of ewes and sheep in the north and south of France. Representatives of the farming world believe that vaccines are not arriving fast enough. 11 million doses have been ordered by the State to fight this disease known as bluetongue, transmitted by a biting midge.

An insect vector of another virus that this time affects cows, the epizootic haemorrhagic disease that is spreading in the West. The authorities have ordered enough to vaccinate one million cows out of 18 million, insufficient, according to the profession.

And then there is always the threat of bird flu with two outbreaks discovered in Brittany this summer. But the situation is under control, assures the industry.

An agricultural PGE to compensate for poor harvests

The new minister will also have to deal with the consequences of poor harvests. Cereal growers are recording the worst harvests in 40 years. Wheat harvests are down 26% due to the weather. This is what they export outside Europe, a loss of revenue estimated at 3 billion euros.

There are also the grape harvests which are expected to decline by 18% in the context of the wine crisis. The previous government has also launched a new plan to extend the uprooting of vines, 5 to 6% of the vineyard for 120 million euros and to fight against overproduction. For all these issues, the main unions are calling for the establishment of an agricultural PGE, a loan guaranteed by the State.

Raise CAP payment ceilings

Finally, on the CAP, the common agricultural policy, the European Commission authorises member countries to raise payment ceilings. France must apply it without delay, demand the representatives, who hope to receive the first aid for next year on 16 October.

If nothing is done, the actions will resume, threaten all the unions, FNSEA, Young Farmers, Peasant Confederation and Rural Coordination.