Question 17954 — breeding

Summary

Mr. Nicolas Ray alerts the Minister of Agriculture, Agri-Food and Food Sovereignty to the consequences of the drought in the summer of 2026 for ruminant farms and to the difficulties linked to the assessment of production losses in grasslands. Episodes of high heat and insufficient rainfall observed since spring have strongly affected fodder production in many areas. Fodder harvests have been reduced, while the rapid reduction in resources available in pastures has already led some breeders to use stocks normally intended for winter feeding of their animals. This situation raises fears of significant tensions on the feeding of herds over the coming months and, ultimately, a risk of decapitalization of livestock farms. Such a development would be particularly worrying at a time when France is seeking to preserve its agricultural production capacity and strengthen its food sovereignty. Beyond its direct contribution to food, ruminant breeding contributes to maintaining activity in rural areas by supporting numerous economic sectors and contributes to the maintenance of landscapes. In many territories, it also constitutes one of the rare agricultural activities making it possible to sustainably develop areas that are not suitable for large-scale crops. However, the first available data concerning the meadow growth index (PPI), used as part of the national climate risk management system, seem to present in certain territories a significant discrepancy with the losses actually observed by farmers. While the harvests have sometimes been significantly reduced, this index can thus show a cumulative production close to the reference average, not necessarily making it possible to reach the thresholds giving right to compensation. However, if not sufficiently recognized and compensated, the losses observed could permanently weaken the sustainability of livestock farming. This situation gives rise to serious concern in the sector in a context accumulation of economic and health difficulties and multiplication of climatic hazards. Indeed, a decapitalization of livestock farms would produce lasting effects and would make the reconstitution of herds particularly difficult because, when a breeder reduces his herd or ceases his activity because he cannot meet his expenses, reconstitution of the production tool often requires several years. An evaluation as faithful as possible to the losses actually suffered is therefore essential so that solidarity mechanisms can fully play their role. To do this, climate risk management systems must provide a response that is sufficiently rapid and faithful to the reality of the losses suffered. The legislator has also recently strengthened the taking into account of the reality on the ground in the evaluation of losses. Article 4 of the law of August 11, 2025 aimed at removing constraints on the exercise of the profession of farmer thus provides that the prefects can bring together a departmental expert committee in order to verify that the results of the index correspond to the reality of the losses suffered. This committee can in particular rely on data collected locally to assess more precisely the extent of the damage. This legislative development, to which the deputy had actively contributed during the parliamentary debates, was precisely intended to prevent the index data alone from obstructing the recognition of losses observed on the ground. This is why, in the exceptional circumstances encountered this year, it appears necessary to fully mobilize these possibilities so that satellite data can be compared, when discrepancies important are observed, to the situation actually observed on the farms. He therefore asks whether the Government intends to request departmental field surveys to precisely assess the losses in grassland production observed during the year 2026 and to supplement, when necessary, the data from the grassland growth index. He also wishes to know what provisions could be taken to allow, in the hardest hit territories, a rapid triggering of national solidarity and early payment of compensation to the breeders concerned. Finally, beyond compensation mechanisms, breeders forced to buy fodder to compensate for the shortfall in their harvests could be supported by the creation of a specific tax credit, in order to reduce the cost. immediate of these purchases and to preserve their cash flow. He therefore asks him if such a device could be considered within the framework of the next finance bill.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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