A difficult job, poorly paid and poorly regarded. On paper, the profession of farmer does not appeal to many people. “No one wants to work 70 hours a week to barely make a minimum wage,” enrages Thierry, an organic milk producer in Mayenne, who came to express his anger on Thursday in front of the regional prefecture in Rennes. In the midst of a crisis in the agricultural world, work on the farm still attracts candidates. And even more and more, with an increase of almost 4% in agricultural education numbers since 2018 in France.
To meet this next generation, head to the public agricultural high school Théodore Monod du Rheu, a quarter of an hour west of Rennes. At the lunch break, this Friday we find Thibault, Jean, Adrien and Simon in the parking lot. In their twenties each, they are all enrolled in BTS Analysis, management and strategy of the agricultural business. They all of course support the movement of farmers who “are also fighting for our future”, they assure. Thibaut even skipped classes on Thursday to participate in the Rennes rally. “I apologized but the teachers are understanding,” says the young man.
“It doesn’t make you want to end up like our parents”
Like many students, Thibault is the son of farmers. Because in this profession, passion is often passed down from generation to generation. “I was born there so of course I want to settle down,” he says. But not right now. » Lucid, Thibault also considers himself lucky because his father was “very successful in his life as a farmer. » Crossed at the Rennes demonstration on Thursday, Simon, 18 years old and enrolled in BTS at the agricultural high school of Saint-Lô (Manche), cannot say the same. “I always saw my parents spend their lives working and struggling financially at the end of the month,” he says. They are not yet retired but they are worn out physically and mentally. »
A life of work and suffering that many do not want for their children. “My father wants me to change lanes because he tells me it’s too much of a headache,” says Adrien. I will still settle in, but differently. » “It’s true that it doesn’t make us want to end up like our parents, we want to be able to make a living from our job,” continues Simon. Despite their concerns about the future, none of the young people we met plans to give up being a farmer. “It’s the most beautiful job in the world,” says Jean. Once you’ve tasted it, it’s hard to put it down. »
“A farmer became a manager”
Everyone is well aware that the profession has changed a lot. “It’s true that there is a lot of paperwork and administration, too much in fact,” confides Adrien. A farmer has become a manager, filling out all this paperwork takes at least one day a week. » Of all, Simon seems the most upset. Or the most disenchanted. “We killed the peasants, who are no longer humans but working tools,” the young man rages. I’ve been working since I was 14 but I don’t even know if I want to settle down because my shoulder is already loose. »
As a professional farm manager, Mickaël, 31, is ready to get started. This Friday morning, he had a meeting with his bank with a view to taking over a dairy farm on the outskirts of Rennes. He knows the journey will not be easy. “But I will fight of course,” he assures. Either way, the profession is not going to disappear. There will always be a need for breeders to feed people. »