CONTRIBUTION OF A SYSTEM EXPERIMENT IN DESIGNING A MIXED CROP-LIVESTOCK FARMING SYSTEM AIMED AT I) IMPROVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND II) PRODUCING BIODIVERSITY AND BENEFITING FROM IT

N° ISBN - 978-2-7380-1284-5International audienceIn the context of the ongoing action research dealing with innovative farming systems design and evaluation, we explore a new mixed-crop livestock farming system which aims are: i) enhancing biodiversity and limiting negative externalities (on water quality and soil fertility) and ii) increasing its self-sufficiency, the extent to which the system is able to satisfy its own needs without requiring considerable external inputs. A systemic (at the farm-scale), multi-year and multidisciplinary approach is thus currently set up on the INRA Saint Laurent-de-la-prée research farm (French Atlantic coast), through a system-experiment. The method consists in a series of improvements which are brought progressively to an already existing system. This latter is permanently redesigned in order to approach the desired objectives, following the environmental management approach. To achieve the objectives, the principles of ecologically intensive agriculture concept are promoted as much as possible. The performances of the system will be evaluated through a list of indicators in relation to the three sustainability pillars (multi-criteria approach): i) environmental (biodiversity, water and soil quality), ii) economic and iii) labour charge indicators

Rummaging At The Bottom Of The Box: Revisiting The Use Of Reeds On Organic Farms In The Atlantic Marshes

This study focuses on a practice and know-how that was once commonly used in marshes of Charente-Maritime, namely the use of the common reed (Phragmites australis) a tall grass that naturally grows in wetlands. Livestock farms formerly used it as bedding for cows and as fodder in the summer. A comparative test of straw and of reed bedding was carried out at the experimental farm of INRAE (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment) of Saint Laurent de la Prée, in an organic farming context. We demonstrate that reeds make good bedding material for cows at a lower cost than purchasing straw. Moreover, a test of summer grazing on a reed bed by a herd of cows demonstrates the appeal of this type of fodder and its beneficial nutritional qualities compared to natural prairie hay. This study shows the advantages of this natural resource for the successful operation of marsh livestock agriculture, provided that the reeds are cultivated sustainably

Savoir caractériser les complémentarités entre cultures et élevage pour accompagner la reconception des systèmes de polyculture - élevage dans leurs transitions agroécologiques

International audienceIntegrated Corp-Livestock farming systems (ICLS) should be able to maximize the implementation of agro-ecologic practices. Crops feed livestock and manure fertilize crops, which creates a virtuous circle. However, integrated crop-livestock farming systems cover a diversity of agricultural systems without consensus on how to charaterize them,. As each form of ICLS has not the same aims, they also do not have the same economic and environmental performances. To archieve obtaining situations with the expected virtuous theoretical characteristics, these systems will have to implement different changes. This is wath we describe through the experience of four experimental farms and several communications made during the symposium : "Les polycultures-élevages : valoriser leurs atouts pour la transition agroécologique" in Dijon in October 2017, as well as results from analyzes and presentations of methods and tools developed for these systems.Les systèmes de polyculture-élevage ont théoriquement les moyens de maximiser la mise en oeuvre de pratiques agroécologiques : les cultures alimentent le troupeau dont les effluents fertilisent les terres selon un cercle vertueux. Cependant, le terme « polyculture-élevage » (PCE) masque une diversité de systèmes sans l’existence d’un consensus sur la façon de la caractériser. Or, chaque forme de PCE ne va pas viser les mêmes objectifs, ni avoir les mêmes performances environnementales et économiques. Pour atteindre des situations où les caractéristiques théoriques vertueuses attendues sont obtenues, ces systèmes auront des trajectoires différentes. C’est ce que nous montrons à travers l’expérience de 4 exploitations expérimentales et de présentations faites lors du colloque « Les polycultures-élevages: valoriser leurs atouts pour la transition agroécologique » à Dijon en Octobre 2017, ainsi que de résultats d’analyses et de présentations de méthodes et outils de conseil développés pour ces systèmes

Quels oiseaux fréquentent la ferme expérimentale Inra de Saint Laurent de la Prée ?

Sur la ferme expérimentale INRA de Saint Laurent de la Prée (en Charente-Maritime), l’expérimentation système Transi’marsh fait évoluer les activités agricoles pour concilier des objectifs de production agricole (économiquement viable) et de conservation de la biodiversité en marais. La ferme est ainsi en transition agro-écologique depuis 2009. Des changements dans les pratiques agricoles et des aménagements paysagers ont été réalisés : ajout de bandes enherbées autour des parcelles cultivées, plantation de haies… L’étude de la biodiversité (faune et flore) sur la ferme est basée sur des inventaires d’espèces cibles. Les oiseaux qui fréquentent la ferme expérimentale sont ainsi recensés tous les ans

Détermination du niveau de couplage élevage-cultures au sein de la ferme expérimentale de Saint-Laurent de la Prée : quelle évolution dans le cadre de sa transition agro-écologique ?

National audienc

Variation of pecking rate with sward height in wild wigeon Anas penelope

4 pagesInternational audienceWe examined how pecking rate changed with sward height in wintering European wigeon Anas penelope in a nature reserve of the French Atlantic coast. Pecking rates were recorded as the time taken to perform 10 or 50 pecks. We found a negative correlation between pecking rate and sward height over a range of heights from 1.0 to 3.5 cm, but no sex effect. Equations based on the time taken to perform 10 or 50 pecks were slightly different, suggesting that scanning (scans of the surroundings) and moving (search for plant items of good quality) had an effect on pecking rate. However, these costs were lower (i.e. a decrease of 6–10% of pecking rate) than the effect of handling time, which remained the dominant foraging process constraining pecking rate (i.e. a decrease of 24% with each 1-cm increase in sward height)

Différences dans l'utilisation des hauteurs d'herbe par les anatidés herbivores et mécanismes sous-jacents

LA ROCHELLE-BU (173002101) / SudocSudocFranceF

COMME LE ROSEAU, LE SCIRPE MARITIME PEUT-IL ETRE UTILISE EN LITIERE POUR LES VACHES ALLAITANTES ?

Plaquette 4 pagesLa ferme expérimentale INRAE de Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée, située en zone de marais, explore des alternatives à la paille de céréales pour le logement de ses vachesallaitantes. Après avoir testé le roseau commun avec succès, l’objectif de cette étude était de passer à une autre ressource du marais, le scirpe maritime, pour savoir s’il pouvait lui aussi constituer une bonne litière pour les animaux qui séjournent en stabulation l’hiver

Specificity of damage to agriculture due to storms: first recommendations to produce flood damage functions

International audienceIn France, flood damage functions have been developed for the main asset categories (households, economic activities, agriculture, public infrastructure) in the context of fluvial flooding. But, in the context of flooding by saline water, flood damage functions only exist for household and economic activities. Damage functions for agriculture are still missing although those assets represent an important share of areas concerned by potential submersion and also an important share of potential benefits generated by protection programs. Uncertainty on damage estimation may have critical consequences on the results of Cost Benefit Analysis for those programs. However, developing flood damage functions is a long time process. Then identifying the adequate methodology to develop damage functions to agriculture in the context of saline flooding appeared critical.In this presentation, we aim at presenting on going research on flood damage evaluation on agriculture due to saline water. Based on existing literature, we decided to carry out interviews with experts and farmers in the area which has been impacted by Xynthia storm. Our approach falls in what Flood Hazard Research Center calls synthetic approaches in which expert knowledge is used to collect damage data.The storm Xynthia which occurred in France in 2010 severely impacted agriculture areas. Durant et al (2018) proposed an estimation of damage related to Xynthia on an experimental farm in Vendée department by following variations in products and expenses on the various activity the farm has. While it cannot be directly extrapolated to produce damage functions, this detailed analysis is very worthwhile. To complete this analysis, two different interview guides have been developed: one for the experts and one for the farmers. In total, 15 interviews have been conducted and transcribed. From this empirical data, we found out that flood damage related to saline water on agriculture are really specific. We analyze this specificity through three themes on several crop types representative of the case study area: i) relevant flood parameters for damage analysis, ii) specific actions to recover, iii) time needed to recover. For each themes and for every crop type studied, we will present the results obtained from the interviews and analyze the specificity of saline context compared to fluvial context. As an example, due to the salinity of water, gypsum have been applied on land plots. This action is very specific and highly costly (around 1 000 €/ha). As a conclusion, we will discuss the feasibility to adapt flood damage functions to agriculture to saline flooding at national scale and we will give recommendations