Ministère de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation
Since the 90s and in addition to structural development, farmers have tended to adjust their nitrogen input according to the economic situation in order to optimize the economic yield of their holding. More recently, increased nitrogen and price volatility has brought them to adapt the monthly rate of fertilizer purchase.
Cow milk collection was particularly high in 2011. This was linked to a promising global context and attractive prices and led to a sharp increase in the manufacture of powders and butter, to a boom in fresh products and to resilience in cheese production.
Due to different vine-growing climates, parasite pressure on the vineyards is unequal and their control is different. Yet different types of protection in the same vineyard indicate a potential reduction in treatment.
In 2010, one fifth of the vine- growing area was free of weed-killer. This result was obtained by a more frequent mechanical working of the soil between the vines. This type of more costly weeding is usually associated with the better valorized wine-producing vines. Another alternative to using weed-killer is grassing over between the vines. Half of the vine-growing area now uses this method.
In 2011 in France, agro-food production value increased to reach 119 billion euros. Beverages, meat and dairy products played a major role in this increase. The upsurge in commodity prices explains the strong rise in value of oil, flour and starch products. For other products, developments are more moderate.
France has been a very stable player for some years now on the international cereal market. As a result of the lifting of mandatory set aside areas in 2008, cereal exports returned to their previous high levels witnessed at the end of the 90s in spite of recent developments in bio-fuel.
The average farm revenue increased in half the regions (mostly those where winegrowing and dairy farming are predominant) with an average revenue per farm worker of 32,500 €. There was a downturn in revenue in field cropping and suckler cattle farming.
In 2009-2010, 3.5% of French farms were involved in organic farming. This type of production uses more farm work whatever the produce. These farmers focus more on on-farm processing and short marketing circuits.
310,000 farms produce field crops over about 15 million hectares. Almost 40% of these farms are specialised in field cropping compared with 31 % in 2000.
Based on the agricultural censuses, not many farms keep bees but this bee population is on the increase. Three quarters of honey production comes from less than 15% of the beeyards. One out of two beekeepers use short marketing circuits.
Ministère de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation