Organic farmers from Combret, a small village in South Aveyron, rewarded at the Agricultural Show

La famille Castan a fait le choix du bio il y a 25 ans. Michel Durand

Converted to organic 25 years ago, the farmers obtained the second national prize for “flowered meadows”.

Announced at the Salon de l’agriculture, Henri and François Castan have just obtained a distinction by receiving the second national prize in the flowered meadows competition in the « agro-ecological practice grazing and mowing ».

The two brothers are associated in the GAEC de la Vexane in La Roque – commune of Combret – on a farm of 85 hectares including 43 in meadow and rangeland. The jury highlighted "the integration of environmental hazards into the management of the plot, the conservation of meadows for several generations and management based on adaptation" while emphasizing "the desire to keep this system by the two farmers".

The plots were inspected at the end of May by a group of specialists including a botanist, several members of the Chamber of Agriculture and the Grands Causses Regional Park, organizer of the competition. The goal was to assess the plant biodiversity of the meadow. And the results are there, highlighting the presence of 12 varieties and 36 species of plants.

"Results show it works"

More than convincing results in safeguarding biodiversity for the Castan family which launched 25 years ago in La Roque. We are in 1999. "When you see one of your fields that you have treated all yellow and which smells bad, you ask yourself questions, especially when you have children" se remembers François.

The conversion of the farm to environmentally conscious agriculture began that year with the end of “contract” corn cultivation ; and an end to the use of pesticides and fertilizers. The farm's organic farming label was obtained in 2010.

The two brothers produce organic sheep's milk transformed into cheese through the cooperative « Aveyron Brebis-Bio », they also directly market meat in a short circuit, largely through the producer's store « The peasants of Rance » located in Belmont.

An association of farmers, of which François Castan is the president, and who for 10 years have favored the direct sale of their organic product. "Even if they don't get anything out of winning this prize, the results show that it works" indicates François and Henri concert "and this reassures them in their commitment and their way of working."