The 58th edition of the Salon de l’agriculture opens on Saturday 26 February. The great return of cows, sheep, pigs in the capital after two years of absence, the Covid-19 pandemic obliges: the effervescence is felt on the spot, during an edition placed under the sign of reunion. French President Emmanuel Macron honored the usual appointment and came to inaugurate the show in a shorter than usual visit, monopolized by the Ukrainian crisis.
The show, still threatened a few weeks ago by the health crisis, was inaugurated early this Saturday by Emmanuel Macron. A whirlwind visit but it was important, despite the international context, that Emmanuel Macron come despite everything to inaugurate the event to testify to the president’s “commitment” to farmers and by “republican tradition”, says the Elysium.
So the peace of mind is over for Harmonie, a dairy cow from the north of France. Vincent Boulet, her breeder, takes great care of her: “ I’ve been coming here since I was very young, but it’s always a source of pride to represent the region with local animals. They’ve slept a little, now they’ve just eaten, we’re going to milk them and the day will be over. »
A little further, on the side of the sheep, it is the same excitement for Paul, 19 years old: ” I finish filling the rack well », says this student in an agricultural school, who comes for the first time in a living room. ” It’s funny, all the regions together, with all the different accents, I love it. »
In another pavilion, the atmosphere of the farm is far away, it looks more like a building site! Final finishing touches for Éric: “ We’ve been here for a short week for the installation of the living room. Since it’s white, it could be messy so we prefer to protect: we’re not late, everything is fine! »
At the end of the alley, Dominique sells Breton specialties and this is its 35th show! ” I’m always feverish because we never know what will happen to us, we are waiting impatiently opening to know if the visitors will be there, if everything is in place, if nothing has been forgotten, it’s always a bit of a fever, yes. »
Anyway, everything will be ready for visitors, even if it means spending the night tinkering and adjusting all the details!
A few figures: 4,000 animals, 600,000 to 650,000 visitors expected, more than 1,000 exhibitors, 230 tons of straw, 1,080 bales of peat, 100 tons of hay, 625 bales of shavings, as well as 625 tons of manure produced during the living room.
According to Arnaud Lemoine, head of Ceneka and organizer of the show, this edition of the show is intended to be placed under the sign of reunion, responsibility and benevolence.
Farmers pissed off at rising production costs
As the agricultural show in Paris opens this Saturday, breeders of meat poultry and laying hens are alarmed by the current situation. As in other sectors, they are undergoing an explosive and unprecedented increase in their production costs: food, gas, electricity, labour, no cost escapes.
For example, since July 2020, the price of plants used to feed poultry has jumped continuously to reach historic levels. And while the trade negotiations are ending, all the increases are not taken into account by the buyers.
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This increase is particularly badly experienced by organic farmers who must, in addition, comply with stricter European regulations since January, as explained by Denis Paturel, president of Initiative bio Bretagne and member of the national union of poultry labels in France ( Synalaf).
Denis Paturel, president of Initiative bio-Bretagne, explains the current difficulties for organic farmers due to “rising costs”