Milk production in French mountains : particular dynamics in the Northern Alp region

Abstract

In France, the strong link between milk quotas andland and the distribution of milk references to farmershaving priority has helped to keep a significant numberof dairy farms in the mountains. In addition to thesepublic policy choices, the dynamism of local actors(fabrication of cheeses under signs of quality) alsoplayed an important part during the two precedingdecades. On the basis of the Farm Accountancy DataNetwork (FADN - 2000), a comparative analysis (structural,economic and financial) of French dairy farms isproposed according to their localization (mountain andplain). An analysis of the dairy sector of the region“Northern Alps” is then presented, using several statisticaltools. In the mountains, dairy farms cover 35 % ofthe usable agricultural area and ensure nearly 40 % ofthe agricultural production. The 27 200 "professional"dairy farms located in the mountains have, on average,a quota of 150 800 kg, 61 hectares and a farm incomeof 22 400 euros (against respectively 222 700 kg, 72hectares and 31 500 euros in plains).