Incidences et enjeux de la réforme de la PAC pour les exploitations laitières de montagne. Exemples du Massif central et des Alpes du Nord

Effects and implications of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on the highland dairy farms. Examples from the Massif Central and from the Northern Alps

The effects of the Common Agricultural Policy on the dairy farms and the forage systems of highland regions was analysed in two mountain ranges in particular : the Massif Central and the Northern Alps. In the first, there exist a large proportion of systems with both dairy cows and suckler cows, numerous little-modernized farms with a small area, and a milk price below the national average. The second is characterized by the predominance of specialized dairy systems and a high milk price paid to the producers. For all farms, the Luxemburg compromise entailed a very large increase of the dependency on direct subsidies from 2000 to 2008 since the 'direct subsidies/current results' ratio would rise on average from 55% in 2000 to 116% in 2008. The weight of the subsidies to the rural development would remain important and the single payment would only amount to half the total direct subsidies. Simulations made in the Massif Central on some typical farms of the 'Réseau d'Elevage' network showed that there could be a regression of dairying in some of the dual-purpose herds, a renewed interest in diversification, such as the production of farm cheeses or of veal calves, but also that the CAP could accelerate the restructuring of the dairy farms and widen the gap between the traditional and the modernized farms. Another contemplated possibility is an increase in the price of milk paid to the farmer thanks to a better differentiation of highland milk. In the Savoy region, dairying would remain the most profitable activity, even in the case of a slight decrease in the price of milk. The reform of the CAP would put a heavy strain on the less performing farms and would endanger the perenniality of the little-modernized farms of small area. In both regions the question is raised of how the demand for cheese will evolve and whether the differentiation of the milk price from the standard products will be maintained or will even increase.