1. Administrative simplification: it is insufficient
Following the pressure of the demonstrations, it only took a few days for the Walloon government to announce a series of 19 administrative simplifications intended to make farmers’ daily lives easier. Conclusion of the president of the FJA: “it’s not more complicated than before but it’s not much simpler. As long as there is no single encoding, we will not move forward…” The Dolimont government’s regional policy declaration nevertheless stated in large letters that administrative simplification was among the priorities of this legislature. to be continued…
2. Selling at a loss: when will the price indicators be released?
On May 3, the federal government approved a royal decree, certain provisions of which prohibited the sale of agricultural products at a loss. The sector had high hopes for this measure but it is struggling to come to fruition, regrets Florian Poncelet. “The key element is to determine the production cost indicator.” These are the indicators which will make it possible to determine the average production cost of the agricultural commodity produced in Belgium. The indicator will be based on producer charges to define it. “It is the FPS which must carry it out but it does not have the means.”regrets the president of the FJA. “Without indicators, we cannot move forward.“
3. Bluetongue: the bite does not go away
Farmers are very divided on the measures taken to combat bluetongue. They are generally satisfied with the Walloon budget of 17.5 million to compensate for mortality and morbidity in sheep and cattle herds. But the vaccination obligation decreed by the federal government is less well received. Not on the need to protect the herds: “for a viral disease of this type, there are no other solutions than vaccination”recognizes Florian Poncelet. But it is the cost generated that is difficult to swallow. The Léglise breeder explains on the basis of his livestock: “For mortality and morbidity, I should receive €5,000. But, to vaccinate, I need €8,000 to €9,000.” And the €5,000 is initially planned to compensate for livestock losses, not to partially finance vaccination.
“For vaccination, we are talking about €25 per animal“, analyzes Manu Laruelle, breeder in Hesbaye. Many calves died at birth and were not buckled (the loop allowing them to be provided with a health identity and therefore to officially register them in the network). JI lost 11 calves which were not buckled and therefore I will not be compensated for this mortality.” The breeder is pessimistic about the months to come. “The animals returned from the meadows are thin and not full. So they aborted. We are going to have a drastic reduction in calvings this winter. economically, it’s going to be a disaster.”
4. Mercosur signed in November?
The Mercosur free trade agreement could be concluded during the month of November. This agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia thrills Belgian farmers (and not only them) who fear being in competition with products that do not meet European requirements. Sugar, beef, milk and European corn will suffer from these imports having less demanding specifications and therefore produced at lower costs. “We are committing suicide for European agriculture.” MEP Benoît Cassart told us.
FUGEA thinks no less. In a press release published this Tuesday, the agricultural union believes that it is ““There is no question that this anachronistic agreement will pass”. “These imports are real unfair competition for our breeders; the standards are much lower, the meat comes at a low cost and drives market prices down. Industrial meat production in Brazil is responsible for massive deforestation. Supporting its development via the agreement means participating in this destruction of the environment.” FUGEA has already announced an event in Brussels, the date of which has yet to be determined.
5. Beets: sugar no longer pays
This is the harvest that is currently underway: beets. Overall, according to the CBB (Confederation of Belgian Beet Growers), the sugar content of this harvest is low. “The minimum price was €38 per tonne with 18% sugar, recalls Jef Cleiren, president of the CBB. But we will perhaps be at €31-32 depending on the low sugar content.” The outlook for 2025 is also not encouraging as farmers have already decided on their crop rotation plan for the next season. “Negotiations currently with the Raffinerie tirlemotoise (group Südzucker) are below the cost price.”
