At the Agricultural Show, President Macron's commitment to “floor prices” leaves farmers “doubtful”

Yves Chassany, president of OS race Aubrac, prefers to stick to known production prices.

Jean-Bernard Gieules, oléiculteur et Jacques Gravegeal, viticulteur. MIDI LIBRE – Y. PO.

Si l'idée présidentielle peut paraître séduisante elle promet d'être beaucoup trop complexe à mettre en œuvre et même "contre-productive" pour certaines filières. Ils demandent une application plus stricte de la loi Egalim. 

Emmanuel Macron’s commitment to lead to "floor prices" to better pay French farmers and above all to ensure that no product is sold at a loss, leaves the sectors a little in suspense. Many do not believe that this is possible to implement. However, the idea is gradually making its way into people's minds and the comments, in the aisles of the Agricultural Show, are going well.

"I'm doubtful, because we were supposed to have an Egalim law intended for this", s' surprises Yves Chassany, the president of the OS race Aubrac. For the breeder, it would be enough to charge prices on the basis of production prices: "We know them, for the grazer we are in the order from 3.50 to 3.70 € per kilo live and for a finished animal of the order of 6 € per kilo for the carcass". But big problem, this Egalim law which will be further amended by summer is "easily circumventable", explains Yves Chassany.

"We close the borders ?"

Dubious, Jacques Gravegeal, president of the IGP Pays d’Oc, present at the Show, is just as doubtful, especially since for the wines, a price per grape variety "and still not all have the same quality. If we say that a hecto of Merlot cannot sell for less than 90 € and the Spanish arrive and offer it at 48 €, what do we do ? We close the borders ?", asks the winegrower . But Jacques Gravegeal nevertheless finds it interesting that the debate has been launched. It’s important to think about income".

At his side Jean-Bernard Gieules, president of the Oulibo olive cooperative in Aude, doesn't believe in it anymore: "The market doesn't ;rsquo;is not extensible, a floor price is one thing but you have to sell your product in a context of often international competition. I would rather have 10 farmers who live well than have 20 who are starving!", he assures. For the professional who has diversified his production in viticulture and cereals "you must be able to live from his work and not from alms" .

"Sell at the best price"

For Pierre Ginèbre, director of Irqualim Occitanie, the floor price "seems too complex to set up and ultimately be counterproductive for farmers". It would be better to stick to "a reinforced Egalim law", says Jacques Gravegeal.

For Claire Mailhan, president of the AOP Taureau de Camargue, the goal remains "to sell our product at the best price without, however, making margins incredible" Because the Camargue bull is "an exceptional product which takes more time to raise than other breeds& ;quot;, underlines the manadière. But Claire Mailhan is not against the idea of ​​a price below which we should not go: "If a floor price were to be put in place, we would ask to set a minimum base of the cost price at 4.50 € of the kilo". But this floor price should not be such as to lower certain prices… We understand that farmers remain circumspect… 

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