Par
nathalie.legendre
Published on
Within five years, half of farmers will retire. This figure applies to the national territory as well as to that of Perche in Orne. Suffice to say that the problem arises now. This is particularly true for breedinga sector which is struggling to attract buyers.
Livestock breeding in sharp decline
Au Parc naturel régional (PNR) from Perche, the teams decided to tackle the subject head on. And to put the emphasis on breeding. Because another observation emerged, as explained Marie Fétiveauproject manager at the PNR: “Livestock breeding has been in sharp decline for ten years, whether for meat or milk. We therefore need to attract people to these professions and to do so make them known. »
In partnership with Rhizome – a cooperative focused on agricultural employment – the Park has set up a new system : the farm-school routea project financed by the Normandy region.
This is an immersion course intended for those who wish to discover, test or deepen the profession of farmer. With internships within a network of around fifteen farms.
These courses can vary from a few days to several weeks. A personalized support is offered by the Park and Rhizome to define the trainee’s needs, supervise the signing of the agreement and ensure follow-up.
“Today, we see that many people in retraining are heading towards market gardening,” continues Marie Fétiveau. “Livestock breeding is an option but it remains a marginal choice, it is a sector which has suffered economically in recent years. Working with living things also imposes constraints, particularly for milk. There is also the image of a large farm to be taken over. All this can be scary. »
Without going so far as to set up as a manager, it is possible to become salarié“ and positions are up for grabs. So there is a real issue. »
An issue economicalcertainly, but also environmental“ because livestock farming allows us to maintain our meadows, quite simply ”. In the absence of animals to graze on the pastures, the latter will then give way to plowed and cultivated fields.
Understanding the territory
The first session will be held from April to June, then another will follow in the fall. These internships are not paid, “but very educational”. They will allow you to acquire technical gesturess but also meet professionals already in situ, to diversify exchanges and to understand the territory and its agricultural networks. Enough to refine your project before getting started.
Several people have already applied to join the first session, “most of them are in retraining and not from the agricultural world.” They will have the choice between around fifteen farms for their internships,  mainly livestock farms, cattle, sheep, goats and some market gardening and cider growing facilities .
“Opening our farms is important”
Mélanie Gouault took over the family farm in Dancé, with her partner Thibault May. Contacted by the Park and Rhizome to join the network, she immediately accepted.  It’s important to open up our operations and talk about our jobs…confides Mélanie who also wants to create an educational farm.
She and Thibault are at the head of a 135 hectare farm, around a hundred of which are dedicated to the cultivation of cereals and protein crops. The rest remains in meadow for animals and to produce hay.  We have 200 suckling ewes and produce lamb meat. »
Eager to promote her profession and breeding in general, Mélanie therefore agreed to become a farm school and will soon welcome a trainee.
Breeding can be scary, because yes there are constraints, but there is also a lot of pleasure and freedom as well. 
You just have to find the best system and Mélanie seems to have found it, “…with sheep and a 100% pasture system, that is to say all outdoors…”.
With spring, there is no shortage of work on the farm. “ We chose these periods because they are intense and allow you to discover many facets of the profession. ”
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