A 1000-Cow Farm ? Holy cow !

A 1000-Cow Farm ? Holy cow !

Lucie Petitprez et Marcus Vogt

     The 1000-cow farm is a project launched 6 years ago by Michel Ramery, a 64-year-old businessman. Raised in a farming family, he is facing the current financial crisis in the agricultural and dairy sectors, which has caused a 30% fall in milk prices. He decided to work with other farmers to create a brand-new system and revolutionize the sector. That's how the thousand-cow farm was born. Situated in the village of Ducrat, in Somme, Picardie (northern France), this farm-factory hosts a gigantic dairy herd. At present, 500 cows have arrived and 1000 are expected by 2016.

      This project is partly inspired by the enormous farms which already exist in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. But the Somme’s thousand-cow farm puts the classic French agricultural model, adapted to geography and local culture, into question. The situation raises numerous issues, particularly regarding its social, environmental and economic consequences. 

          Currently, almost a half of all dairy herds are composed of less than fifty cows. If the thousand-cow farm model spreads through France, the number of dairy farms will fall significantly, from 60,000 farms today to about 2,500. The majority of farmers disapprove of the industrialization of agriculture, which is accelerating the death of local farms and killing farming jobs. Besides, this may be the beginning of something much bigger, leading to the development of American style 40,000-cow “farm-factories”.

         The association NOVISSEN, created in 2011, is struggling to block the project, which threatens public safety, the environment, employment and animal living conditions. Animals will be penned inside barns, going for days without breathing fresh air. They will be fed on site. Food such as corn silage, mineral supplements and soy will be brought from nearby farms by truck. This will produce a negative carbon footprint. NOVISSEN also fears that nitrogen residues will saturate groundwater and endanger inhabitants' health. The enormous farm could lead to epizootic disease as well, because of the high concentration of bovines.

         But despite all the thousand-cow farm’s drawbacks, the project has also positive points.

      On one hand, the construction of a biogas plant (one of the most powerful in the agricultural sector) next to the farm is planned. It will recycle waste produced by the installation and ensure its profitability. The machine will turn manure into methane, which will be burned to generate electricity. Thus the biogas plant offers two advantages: it reduces greenhouse gas emissions while producing green electrical energy. 

        On the other hand, the project is supported by the FNSEA, a powerful French agricultural union. FNSEA members point out that the construction of the farm will create jobs and industrial activity in an economically weak region. In addition to the current project manager and five farmers, seven full-time employees will be hired for milking and farm upkeep.

         To put it in a nutshell, the thousand-cow farm project has raised many questions in the industrial and agricultural sectors. Even if the farm has already been built and hosts animals, opponents continue fighting the creation of similar farms in France. Their main actions include holding demonstrations, debating with project supporters and organizing blockades when cows arrive. 

Sources (in French):

Site web de l'association NOVISSEN: http://www.novissen.com/Pages/default.aspx

Article Le Figaro : "La ferme des « 1000 vaches » pour les nuls", publié le 

29/10/2014.

Vidéo extraite du journal télévisé : Francetvinfo : "La ferme des mille vaches met en 

péril le métier de paysan" diffusée le 28/10/14.