Agricultural crisis: on the farm, a tightrope organization between work and demonstration

Sandrine Prioul, edited by Alexandre Dalifard / Photo credit: SEBASTIEN SALOM-GOMIS / AFP 6:10 a.m., February 1, 2024, modified at 6:13 a.m., February 1, 2024

Already ten days since the Bretons entered into the mobilization. And, on some farms, there is no question of missing a single day of daily operations on dams, on agro-industry or mass distribution sites. Problem is, when a farm is run by a couple, particularly a family farm as traditionally in Brittany, you have to seriously organize yourself. Like Karine and Emmanuel, owners of 85 dairy cows in the Côtes d'Armor.

A well-established organization

At today's roadblock, where around ten tractors are gathered, Karine and Emmanuel were able to free themselves together for the afternoon. “We’re going to go to the demonstration. I don’t think I missed a lot of them,” the woman initially says. “Fortunately, for that, we also have the grandmother who takes care of the children. There is breeding on the other side, so we try every day to free ourselves, either me or Karine,” explains Emmanuel at the microphone of Europe 1.

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But the latter specifies that it could cost them dearly. "The other evening, I ended up at the farm after midnight because I had a breakdown on a tool and it absolutely had to be fixed for the next day. So it's part of the almost usual working hours in agriculture in the end. , but which increases even more when we are not there,” says the farmer. At the microphone of Europe 1, he takes the time to thank his in-laws and his apprentice. Without them, he and his wife would not be able to demonstrate every day. 

A well-established organization and intact motivation despite fatigue. But these Breton breeders still hope for progress before returning to their fields.