“We have nothing to be ashamed of for what we have done”: the FDSEA and the Young Farmers of Hérault enter the campaign for the elections of the Chamber of Agriculture

Candidates from the FNSEA-JA list. Midi Libre – Florence Guilhem

Jérôme Despey and his running mates presented their mandate report and their future commitments if they are re-elected to the Chamber of Agriculture. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

On Monday, January 6, the outgoing president of the Hérault Chamber of Agriculture, Jérôme Despey, surrounded by his running mates, launched the campaign for the Chamber of Agriculture elections.

“No empty promises, no populism, but concrete, well-thought-out solutions resulting from fierce negotiations“, declared the president of the FDSEA of Hérault, Sophie Nogues, as a launch of the campaign of the outgoing FDSEA – JA list of the Hérault Chamber of Agriculture, this Monday, January 6 at Coteaux du Languedoc, in Lattes.

Once again led by the outgoing president of the Chamber, Jérôme Despey, the list shows a renewal of just over 33% across all colleges (5 in total, Editor's note) and 25% for the college that brings together farm managers. As in the previous campaign, in 2019, “our list brings together all agricultural sectors in Hérault, all production models and all territories, unlike the other lists”, underlines the president des JA, Rémi Dumas.

Term report: “We have nothing to be ashamed of”

As the campaign requires, it is first time to take stock for the outgoing list that has been in power for six years. Whether it is on support for structural investments for the wine industry, the declassification of the wolf and the recognition of Mediterranean pastoralism for livestock farming, the crisis plan for the beekeeping industry, the funds obtained for climate losses in arboriculture and viticulture, the campaigns to promote the industries to boost marketing and exports, “we worked for all the industries, and none was ever left aside“, defends Céline Michelon, outgoing elected official.

Particularly in the search for aid and subsidies in the face of repeated crises in the sectors. “We have no reason to be ashamed of what we have done. I take responsibility for everything we have been able to seek in terms of aid, because it allows us to still be here and we will continue to support those who are in difficulty“, adds Jérôme Despey.

Same convictions on the subjects of water management and climate change, which were also at the heart of the concerns of the outgoing list. A contrario other agricultural unions, the FDSEA and the JA have defended, alongside the Department, the winter retention projects to secure water reserves. Other battles: the development of sustainable solutions such as the reuse of treated wastewater and obtaining measures to encourage production investments. Finally, on taxation, administrative simplifications, means of production or controls, achievements have also been obtained.

“Giving back means of production”

Faced with the challenges of tomorrow, between climate change and the economic difficulties of agriculture, the objectives remain the same. “Our goal is to restore our means of production. To do this, we are committed to relaunching the income challenge. This is our fight to allow us to live decently from our profession and thus ensure the renewal of generations. We must also fight for the preservation of land in order to protect agricultural potential“, explains Jérôme Despey.

But before taking on these challenges, the first will be to encourage farmers to vote in these elections, the last ones having reached a participation rate of 38.5%. Not enough to then weigh in the negotiations with the government. To mobilize them, numerous visits to farms village by village are planned, as well as around ten public meetings and a large meeting on January 17, in Béziers. The countdown has begun.

The FDSEA list of college 1: farm managers and similar

1 – Jérôme Despey, winegrower &agrave Saint-Géniès-des-Mourgues
2 – Rémi Dumas, winegrower and sheep farmer in Saint-Géniès-des-Mourgues
3 – Sophie Nogues, winegrower in Sérignan
4 – Jean-Pascal Pelagatti, independent winemaker Béziers
5 – Fabien Castelbou, winegrower à Cournonterral
6 – Annabelle Decoursière, market farmer è Avène
7 – Cédric Saur, independent winemaker & Cabrerolles
8 – Denis Carretier, winegrower à Olonzac
9 – Céline Michelon, independent winemaker in Villeveyrac
10 – Pierre Colin, winemaker in Pinet
11 &amp ;ndash; Bérenger Carrier, cereal farmer in Saint-Thibéry
12 – Aude Geiger, &eacute cattle and sheep breeder à Viols-en-Laval
13 – Alexandre Boudet, winegrower à Saint-Pargoire
14 –Émeric Mas, winegrower in Toussac-la-Billière
15 – Anne-Sophie Belz Barral, winegrower in Vendémian
16 – Patrice Lafont, oyster farmer in Saint-Pargoire
17 – Arnaud Moynier, independent winemaker à Beaulieu
18 – Anne Dubois de Montreynaud, independent winemaker in Vendres
19 – Christophe Thomas, winegrower in Servian
20 – Jean-Marc Ravaille, independent winegrower in Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers