Drought challenges a French farmer

Sébastien Roux, a farmer in Saint-Diéry, Puy-de-Dôme, has been managing the challenges of summer drought for several years. He noted that while drought is not new in the region, this year's heat peaks were particularly notable.

Drought started earlier than usual

The drought began in early June, earlier than usual. Roux has implemented various strategies to manage these conditions, including systematically including July and August in his forage balance, securing additional forage stocks, and using hedges and wooded parcels to provide shade. He aims to be self-sufficient for six months of the year.

Family farm with evolving goals

Roux has been managing his family's farm since 2010, taking over from his father with his sister and later his wife. He has set production goals, aiming for 40 cows in production with a dozen in calf, but has found himself consistently managing 50 cows. He acknowledges that he has fallen behind on the genetic improvements of his herd and now seeks to optimize dairy yield.

New building brought new challenges

With the construction of his new building in 2017, Roux noticed an increase in lameness due to Mortellaro, a condition he did not experience in his previous facilities. He suspects that the new conditions may have contributed to this issue. His farming system relies heavily on the valuation of grass, though this year's early mowing revealed that some parcels did not regrow as expected.

Strategies to manage feed supply

Roux ordered two trucks of hay from Cros in March instead of one, ensuring he had sufficient stocks. His ration is based primarily on grass, and he has not noticed a significant decrease in production despite the heat peaks. However, he has not pushed his cows to higher production levels due to feed limitations.

Fertilization and pasture management

Roux uses manure and has stopped liming, relying on whey to provide calcium. Soil analyses indicate a neutral pH and a balanced NPK ratio. A botanist from the National Botanical Conservatory of the Massif Central regularly visits his parcels to study the evolution of pastures in relation to climate, fertilization, and agricultural practices. Roux benefits from diverse pastures that allow him to utilize them at different times.