The sowing is finished and the harvest period is approaching.
At the Verschuere family farm in Saint-Aubin-en-Bray (Oise), the 80 dairy cows still make their two daily visits to the milking block.
Life goes on, and even with a smile today.
Sentenced on appeal in March to pay more than 100,000 euros in damages to six neighbors bothered by the noise and smells of his farm, Vincent Verschuere and his parents will benefit from financial aid from the region.
Read alsoA day with the farmer from Oise sentenced for nuisance: “We are not going to let ourselves be beaten”
Thing promised, thing due.
On May 6, standing on the trailer of a tractor, Xavier Bertrand announced his support to the Oisian farmer.
“If tomorrow, there are cash flow problems, the region will respond concretely financially”, had committed the president (LR) of Hauts-de-France at the end of a day of mobilization followed by 300 people, neighbors, peasants , local and national elected officials.
This Thursday, in plenary session, the promise materialized with the vote of a refundable advance of 40,000 euros.
Saint-Aubin-en-Bray (Oise).
On May 6, nearly 300 people, elected officials, farmers and residents, gathered in support of the Verschuere family.
LP/PA
“We had made a request for help, it's very good news, rejoices Vincent Verschure the day after the vote of the regional hemicycle.
With this money, we will be able to go to cassation.
We should file our application in July.
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For the legal process to continue, the farmer must first pay the damages he was ordered to pay.
“We don't enter into the procedure, it's the liquidity contribution, specifies Denis Pype, president of the agriculture commission at the Region and who carried out the deliberation.
But yes, indirectly, we help him to go to cassation.
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Zero interest loan, repayment over 5 years
“The idea, through this deliberation, is not to challenge the court decision, but simply to help this company get through this bad patch.
I assume it, we are totally on the side of this farmer 1,000% ”, then declared Xavier Bertrand in front of his colleagues.
And to recall that the region "is not paying the amount decided by the Court of Appeal".
“The reimbursable advance is a regional device, in our hands and easy to set up, describes Denis Pype.
It is a zero-rate loan, repayment must be made over 5 years with a two-year grace period.
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To construct a new 3,000 m² building in 2010 to accommodate their cattle, the Verschuere family had obtained authorization from the prefecture and the mayor to erect it less than 100 m from the houses.
“No fault comes from the farmer, he did everything within the standards, in compliance with the law, underlines Denis Pype.
With the participation of the Region, the banks will also be able to intervene.
“Added to this is the online kitty which also allowed the Verschuere to collect more than 12,000 euros.