Agricultural leaders meet with officials

Emmanuel Lissajoux, president of FDSEA 19, met with the minister of Agriculture and Xavier Vant, agricultural advisor to the President of the Republic, during the Livestock Summit on October 8 to address challenges facing Corrèze's agricultural sector. The discussions covered several key issues, including European regulations on deforestation, rules on hedges, livestock compensation, water management, and wolf predation.

Deforestation regulation sparks concern

The European regulation against deforestation (RDUE) is a particular concern for Corrèze, as nearly 45% of its territory is covered by forests. FDSEA argues that the regulation incorrectly classifies the reclamation of abandoned land as deforestation, which hinders agricultural development. They call for Corrèze's farms to be excluded from RDUE's scope and for the 2026 version of the CERFA form for deforestation permits to be withdrawn, citing legal uncertainty.

Hedge compensation needs regional flexibility

Regarding the Hedge Plan, FDSEA argues that the "1 for 1" rule, requiring compensation for hedge removal with new plantings, cannot be uniformly applied without considering regional differences. They advocate for a territorialized compensation system that prioritizes areas lacking hedges and avoids unnecessary constraints on farmers restructuring their land.

Water management and drought are urgent issues

Water management and the drought have also been significant concerns. FDSEA calls for the rapid publication of decrees implementing the agricultural emergency law to enable the creation of small water reserves in wetland areas, which are essential for animal watering, forage resources during droughts, and fire prevention. They also highlight the high costs of upgrading existing ponds, which threaten their existence, and demand appropriate regulatory and financial frameworks to preserve them.

Wolf predation poses direct threat

Wolf predation remains a direct threat to livestock and the future of pastoralism in Corrèze. FDSEA demands that wolves be classified as a species that can be hunted and that culling be allowed immediately after the first attack on a herd, without requiring further losses. They also seek legal protection for farmers using guard dogs and a revised compensation system that fully accounts for the losses and additional costs caused by predation.

Farmers call for concrete solutions

Lissajoux stressed that farmers need concrete solutions rather than waiting for repeated attacks. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the cumulative challenges of insufficient income, regulatory constraints, water access, predation, and climate-related risks, ensuring the sustainability of agriculture and the next generation of farmers.