Financial aid and charges in Loire-Bretagne: to improve the quality of water and aquatic environments

Agence de l’eau Loire-Bretagne(Loire-Bretagne Water Agency), octubre 2019

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Changing farming practices to conserve and make the most of water

The Deux-Sèvres Chamber of Agriculture manages water resources quantitatively with the support of the water cooperative. The cooperative is leading a project to create 16 alternative reservoirs to store nearly 7 million m³ of water as part of the Sèvre Niortaise-Mignon territorial quantitative management contract.

In the Courance and Mignon catchment area, Denis Mousseau, a cereal farmer with 266 ha of land, 60 of which are farmed organically, is involved in this cooperative. Following a collective discussion on how to ensure the equitable sharing of water, he has adapted his farming practices.

Managing the available water supply

Denis Mousseau :

“ Since 2003, there have been successive spells of drought and, like all farmers, I have often had to cope with irrigation restrictions and bans. For my cereal farm, storing water in winter to reuse it during periods of drought was essential to guarantee my production and my income. I was therefore more than happy to take part in the discussions organised with all irrigators to manage and share water more effectively. ”

Making the best use of available water

“ In the 2000s, I had water rights amounting to 151,000 m³. In 2010, I seized the opportunity to apply for financial support to undertake an agri-environmental measure known as ‘de-irrigation’. The aim was to reduce the volume of water to 60,000 m³, with a view to securing this volume through winter storage. I chose to decommission a borehole located 12 km from the farm, which had been used to irrigate 35 hectares of maize. In 2017, following my partner’s departure, I ceased dairy farming and began to give more serious thought to changing my production system. Eighteen months later, I converted 60 ha to organic farming around the farm’s main premises. To control weeds effectively, extending crop rotations by introducing alfalfa and spring crops – including open-field vegetables – proved essential. These crops need to be irrigated to achieve a sufficient yield and ensure the economic viability of my farm. I have chosen to irrigate only these crops. ”

Committed to water quality

“ Together with other farmers, I have established grass strips, catch crops and hedgerows, in addition to converting to organic farming. I have made a conscious decision to no longer irrigate between 9 am and 7 pm, which limits water loss through evaporation. Thanks to the collective effort undertaken, this is now the case for 95 per cent of farmers in the area. ”

Towards new investments

“ I am eagerly awaiting the construction and commissioning of the substitute reservoirs so that I can have access to the volume of water essential for my crops. With the guarantee of having 60,000 m³ of water thanks to the storage facilities, I am planning to invest in more efficient irrigation equipment: drip irrigation, irrigation booms… My partner and I would like to offer locally sourced produce. To this end, we wish to set up an organic poultry farm. This will enable us to manage crop fertilisation more effectively and achieve self-sufficiency by using organic matter from the poultry farm as fertiliser for our crops. ”

Julien Moureau (Councillor at the Deux-Sèvres Chamber of Agriculture) :

“ The dialogue, initiated within the framework of the Sèvre Niortaise-Mignon CTGQ, enabled everyone to better understand each other’s expectations in order to find the best compromise. The agreement reached in 2018 sets out individual commitments. Funding of over 28 million euros from the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency is earmarked for the creation of 16 alternative reservoirs capable of storing 7 million m³ of water. ”

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