A recent survey conducted by the agricultural chamber of Charente-Maritime and Deux-Sèvres reveals that 64% of farm operators are considering leaving their profession. Among them, 21% are seriously thinking about ceasing their farming activities, and 5% plan to stop in the near future. The main challenges reported by farmers include high production costs (67%), water shortages (61%), and cash flow difficulties (57%). These factors are pushing many to reconsider their long-term involvement in agriculture. Samuel Le Mercier, a bio farmer in southern Poitou, has decided to leave farming after 11 years on his family farm. He cites ruined harvests, physical and mental exhaustion, and a lack of political support as key reasons for his decision. Le Mercier’s farm suffered significant losses due to drought and pests, with three-quarters of his potato harvest deemed unusable. He noted that his aging tractor, dating back to the 1980s, is beginning to fail, mirroring his own physical condition. Additionally, the rising cost of non-road diesel has made it increasingly difficult to sustain his farming operations financially. Le Mercier transitioned from conventional wheat and sunflower farming to organic and vegetable farming in 2015, aiming to diversify his crops and build a distribution network that included supplying vegetables to online baskets and cereals to local mills. His farm previously had a turnover split evenly between cereals and vegetables, with a combined salary of 1,260 euros shared with his partner, Aurélie Baffou. However, climate change has significantly impacted the economic viability of his small farm, with every summer resulting in the failure of at least one crop. In 2025, while greenhouse crops thrived, open-field crops were severely affected by drought. Unusually high temperatures, exceeding 30 degrees Celsius as early as April, damaged wheat and sunflower crops. Le Mercier reported a 50% loss on vegetables and had to abandon sowing winter crops after losing 1,500 cabbages in July due to pests and drought. Water scarcity has also become a critical issue, with only farmers who have secure access to water, such as through tanks or good wells, managing to cope. Despite drilling a well 40 meters deep, Le Mercier faces high costs when connecting to the irrigation network during peak usage periods. Combined with rising inflation in tractor fuel, insurance, and other expenses, these challenges have made farming increasingly unviable. Le Mercier and his partner, members of the agricultural union Confédération paysanne, expressed disappointment with the government’s emergency aid plan, which they believe favors large agribusinesses over small-scale farmers. They requested 5,000 euros in support per farm but felt the plan did not address their specific needs. Le Mercier described the climate as a "sword of Damocles," emphasizing the unpredictability and lack of control farmers face. With the return of the El Niño phenomenon expected to further disrupt future seasons, Le Mercier has decided to leave farming, citing both physical exhaustion and the unsustainable economic conditions he faces.