Market, lower charges, crop protection and biofuel: Christophe Terrain presents four priority issues for maize farmers to the Minister, Dominique Bussereau.
1/18/2005
At the meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dominique Bussereau, on January 18, Christophe Terrain, President of the general association of maize growers (AGPM), drew the Minister’s attention to four issues of key importance for maize growers.
The 25-member European Union has high levels of grain production, and competition is therefore tough. This is particularly the case for maize where the market now has a structural surplus. It would therefore be wise to make plans for export refunds for grain, which cost less for the European budget than intervention, particularly as the EU is disadvantaged by the low dollar against the euro. In this situation, production conditions must be improved. Charges must be lowered so that farming has long-term viability. Solutions do exist and have been listed in a white paper drawn up by AGPB, AGPM and FOP; and they must be taken into account when drawing up the future agricultural orientation law. Any substantial increases must be avoided for certain charges, such as electricity, as they could jeopardise entire sectors. AGPM has called for the Summer rate to be continued as a means of dealing with specific features affecting farming. Christophe Terrain also emphasised that it was essential to protect crops and to be able to use modern technologies such as seed treatment. A national strategy on plant health and crop protection must become reality. When speaking to the Minister, the AGPM President repeated his request for all the facts to be taken into account when examining the issue of seed treatment. Christophe Terrain stressed to the minister that biofuel meant prospective outlets for arable crop farmers who have been trapped on sluggish markets. It is important for the government biofuel development plan, which should be released soon, to be in line with the 2005 Finance Act and include programmed scheduling all the way through to 2010. The plan should also offer full scope for ethanol, with balanced, rational cover of the different regions across the country and across the sectors concerned (wheat, sugar beet and maize).
Market, lower charges, crop protection and biofuel: Christophe Terrain presents four priority issues for maize farmers to the Minister, Dominique Bussereau.