- Location
- Limousin, France
The first straw and forage trucks arrive on farms
08/13/19 C.Rolle-AUVERGNE AGRICULTURAL (63) newspaper
The meadows of Pierre Chabrillat ravaged by drought. © CR
With only 30% of grass hay and alfalfa harvests, Pierre Chabrillat, a suckler farmer, bought straw and hay as part of the bundling offer put in place by the Chamber of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture. FNSEA63.
Lunar landscape, burned meadows and dry land: that's what comes to mind when you walk through Pierre Chabrillat's farm at Aulhat Flat, on Issoire's foothills. Installed since 2005, the Charolais breeder (double active) had never seen such a spectacle. "There have been short periods of drought; but it has lasted for over a year! The producer worries. Even his father, Robert Chabrillat, whom Pierre succeeded on the farm, had never seen a drought of such magnitude, "everything is grilled! He admits.
70% loss of fodder
Of the 50 ha composed of 35 ha of meadows, 12 ha of wheat and 3 ha of sunflower and alfalfa, Pierre Chabrillat raises 15 Charolais mothers and their aftermath. This year, his forage harvest is painfully 30%, "a yield that we have never had before, even in 2003 when we had harvested less hay but alfalfa came to compensate for the loss. But this is not the case this year because it has not resisted the lack of water and heat. " With 70% loss of forage and only 40% of straw harvest, Pierre Chabrillat has no choice but to buy fodder. Its stocks, usually for one year, were not able to recover normally last year; he has not enough alfalfa hay and grass to make his rations, and straw to spend the winter.
33 tons of straw and hay
Last week, a carrier has delivered 13 tons of straw from the department of Eure. "I obtained this straw as part of the" bundled straw and fodder "action set up by the Puy-de-Dôme Chamber of Agriculture and the Terre Agri 63 buying group. put my needs in straw and hay through the PRA, and a week after the truck delivered me! My second order of 20 tons of hay should arrive in the next days. "
Pierre Chabrillat is very satisfied with this departmental operation conducted jointly by the Chamber and the FNSEA 63. "The merchandise received is of very good quality and the service at the top. It was very fast! "Price side, the breeder recognizes that they were well negotiated: 112 € / T for the straw while it appears at 130 € / T, and 173 € / T for the hay posted 200 € / T.
Will these 33 tons suffice? Pierre Chabrillat remains dubious ... "Everything will depend on the climatic conditions to come ..." One thing is certain, for him as for many breeders, the year will be difficult; "The situation should not last another year," he explains. The damage on grasslands is so important that Pierre is obliged to resemerate them. He will also have to change his rotation and replace the sunflower with wheat to better anticipate the next harvest. Because beyond the loss of exploitation, "it is the stability of the breeding which is put to the test" admits the breeder.
08/13/19 C.Rolle-AUVERGNE AGRICULTURAL (63) newspaper
The meadows of Pierre Chabrillat ravaged by drought. © CRWith only 30% of grass hay and alfalfa harvests, Pierre Chabrillat, a suckler farmer, bought straw and hay as part of the bundling offer put in place by the Chamber of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture. FNSEA63.
Lunar landscape, burned meadows and dry land: that's what comes to mind when you walk through Pierre Chabrillat's farm at Aulhat Flat, on Issoire's foothills. Installed since 2005, the Charolais breeder (double active) had never seen such a spectacle. "There have been short periods of drought; but it has lasted for over a year! The producer worries. Even his father, Robert Chabrillat, whom Pierre succeeded on the farm, had never seen a drought of such magnitude, "everything is grilled! He admits.
70% loss of fodder
Of the 50 ha composed of 35 ha of meadows, 12 ha of wheat and 3 ha of sunflower and alfalfa, Pierre Chabrillat raises 15 Charolais mothers and their aftermath. This year, his forage harvest is painfully 30%, "a yield that we have never had before, even in 2003 when we had harvested less hay but alfalfa came to compensate for the loss. But this is not the case this year because it has not resisted the lack of water and heat. " With 70% loss of forage and only 40% of straw harvest, Pierre Chabrillat has no choice but to buy fodder. Its stocks, usually for one year, were not able to recover normally last year; he has not enough alfalfa hay and grass to make his rations, and straw to spend the winter.
33 tons of straw and hay
Last week, a carrier has delivered 13 tons of straw from the department of Eure. "I obtained this straw as part of the" bundled straw and fodder "action set up by the Puy-de-Dôme Chamber of Agriculture and the Terre Agri 63 buying group. put my needs in straw and hay through the PRA, and a week after the truck delivered me! My second order of 20 tons of hay should arrive in the next days. "
Pierre Chabrillat is very satisfied with this departmental operation conducted jointly by the Chamber and the FNSEA 63. "The merchandise received is of very good quality and the service at the top. It was very fast! "Price side, the breeder recognizes that they were well negotiated: 112 € / T for the straw while it appears at 130 € / T, and 173 € / T for the hay posted 200 € / T.
Will these 33 tons suffice? Pierre Chabrillat remains dubious ... "Everything will depend on the climatic conditions to come ..." One thing is certain, for him as for many breeders, the year will be difficult; "The situation should not last another year," he explains. The damage on grasslands is so important that Pierre is obliged to resemerate them. He will also have to change his rotation and replace the sunflower with wheat to better anticipate the next harvest. Because beyond the loss of exploitation, "it is the stability of the breeding which is put to the test" admits the breeder.
