The Ministry of Agriculture on Friday, July 31, authorized the use of fallows for breeders in 47 departments affected by the drought. This authorization to use fallow areas, to graze their herds or to mow to produce fodder, is " a response with immediate effect ", said Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie, quoted in a press release.
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This provision is activated in 47 departments, including all those in the Hauts-de-France, Grand-Est and Ile-de-France regions. The breeders will benefit from " recognition of exceptional circumstances ": thus fallow land declared as areas of ecological interest (EIS) will keep this status even if they are mown or grazed, this criterion being essential to receive the " green payment ", underlines the press release.
80 euros per hectare in 2019
The green payment is a direct payment to farmers which aims to remunerate specific actions in favor of the environment and helps to support their income. In 2019, it was around 80 euros per hectare on average.
" The objective of EIS is to preserve biodiversity, " recalls the ministry, which asks breeders using this possibility of using fallow land " to do so by taking any appropriate measure to best preserve the flora and fauna on the land. these plots (for example: centrifugal mowing, use of scaring methods, limited grazing pressure, etc.) ”.
To benefit from this possibility, the breeders concerned must send a letter to their Departmental Directorate of Territories (DDT) / Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea (DDTM).