Pilot farms in France - Pays de la Loire
About 10,800 farms produce milk. About 50% are specialized in milk production. Others are mixed with arable crops, beef cattle, pigs, poultry etc. Feeding practices are various. The annual decrease in the number of farms is about 5% since 2004. The labor force is mainly family (few paid labor).
Environmental regulations and main constraints
In January 2010 the 4th Action program Nitrate Directive started.
In 2010, permitted quantity is 190 to 210 kg N/ ha, all N sources included, and always 170 kg manure N/ha. Manure application is allowed all the year on grassland >6 months old.
Obligation to use winter cover crop in all areas (not only vulnerable zones) to prevent erosion and N losses.
Main constraints are competition for land with agricultural and also non-agricultural actors (lost of 10.000 agricultural ha per year), also revenues differ between milk and arable crops leading to a decrease of dairy farms.
Water quality of the region
Depending of the area, annual water fall, etc. but globally:
- Improvement of biological quality
- N: decreasing of bad class, but still some (NH3: good quality thanks to good housing practices)
- P: good average quality, thanks to improvement of treatment plants.
