Ministère de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation
The level of training of farm holders and partners continues to progress. The under 40s in particular hold a certified diploma. Financial aid for training certification for young farmers setting themselves up has considerably helped to improve the level of training.
Organically farmed produce progresses in the dairy market. The volume of yoghurt and fermented milk has increased by one third since 2009 and is more than 2% of manufactured products in the whole of this market segment.
In 2010, the global amount spent on the protection of the environment by the agro-food industry reached 757 million euros. Three quarters of this amount relate to running costs (taxation and operating costs) and one quarter to investment and research. Investment reached 176 million euros, which was a 20% increase on 2009.
Although energy consumption in the agro-food industry and saw mills decreased the two years previous, it increased significantly between 2009 and 2010 to reach 5.3 million tons oil equivalent (toe). The purchase price of energy is on the whole on the increase, notably concerning diesel and butane and propane.
In 2010, the orchard surface area in metropolitan France was 134,000 hectares which is 28,000 hectares less than in 2000. Apart from kiwis and walnuts, all other fruit tree areas are on the decrease. But the pace at which fruit farms have been going out of business has been even quicker with the result that the average size of orchards per farm increased between 2000 and 2010.
The labour input from farm holders, partners and permanent or occasional employees was higher in 2010 than in 2000 but family helpers’ input regressed. (Full article is in english)
In 2010, 21% of farmers sold through a short marketing circuit. Vegetable and honey producers are the most involved in this type of retailing. Farmers from south-east France and the overseas departments particularly sell in this way. The farms are usually smaller and heavier on labour. Direct sale from the farm is the main marketing method.
In 2008, only one third of poultry farmers drew their main income from poultry production. These specialised farms are more or less common depending on the type of production and the region. They share common characteristics such as larger poultry barns, women more often at their head, a more frequent individual farm status and a stronger involvement in short supply chains.
After a strong recovery in 2010, the average agricultural income per person actively employed stood around 30 200 euros in 2011. In spite of good price stability and a dynamic activity, the increase in production costs penalized income from both plant and animal production.
Over the last ten years, the economicperformance of farms has improved. Over the same period, theirenlargement and the tendency tospecialise has slowed down comparedto the ten years previous. (Full article is in english)
Ministère de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation