Marc, a partner in two dairy farms
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello, I'm 51 years old and so is my partner. My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were farmers, so I think I was also destined to do this job. After technical training, I took over the family farm. I farmed on my own for 25–30 years, and with my partner we eventually decided to go into partnership with our two dairy farms.
I'm married with two children and my partner has three, but unfortunately none of our children want to take over the farm.
Can you tell us more about your partner and your project?
At the start, we each had our own farm and we joined forces to focus solely on dairy production. The idea came about ten years ago, given that our facilities were ageing and our respective parents were retiring. So, we had two options: create a project or stop producing milk.
We looked at whether our project was financially and legally viable. So, in 2009, we created this operation from scratch by combining our two dairy farms.
We wanted a system that was comfortable, not too time-consuming and, above all, successful, so that we could make a living from it. So far, we're very pleased with the results.
The other aim of our partnership was to give us every other weekend off, except in exceptional circumstances. Even so, it took us three years to install this system. We wanted to feel comfortable in our own skin and find the right person to replace us.
Have you been a milk producer for a long time?
Yes, I've been officially working in dairy farming for 32 years now.
It's very difficult to set up in business outside the family. Quite simply because these are major long-term investments with very low returns. The return on investment is therefore very slow. If you don't have enough start-up capital and, above all, a passion for this profession, you'd be better off turning to another sector.
I think all farmers will tell you that it really is a labour of love.
How many cows do you have on the farm?
We currently have 130 cows and produce an average of 600,000 litres of milk a year. You have to work between five and six hours a day between the two milking times, one in the morning and one in the evening, feed the animals and take care of maintenance, when a machine breaks down, for example.
We are concerned about animal welfare. Our oldest cow in the herd is almost 12 years old, bearing in mind that 1 year for a cow corresponds to 8 to 10 years for a human being. Which would mean that our cow is almost a hundred years old!
What are the advantages of your job?
In return, we have advantages that others never know.
Look at the weather today: it's lovely and sunny, the working environment is nice, we're close to nature. I have no regrets about that. The biggest advantages of working on our dairy farms are the proximity and contact with nature. Looking after nature and the environment is very important to us.
But above all, what I love most is the unexpected. I've been farming for 32 years and there hasn't been a day when I've been bored. There are even days when I have a bit too much on, but that's what I like about it too. As I said, it's a labour of love; you don't really keep track of time.
Nevertheless, we mustn't forget that we still work 60 hours a week. The advantage is that we're just five minutes from work, with no traffic jams or transport needed. There's no stress, other than the stress of our own work, and after all, we're very independent and self-reliant. We don't have too much contact with other people, but we have contact with our animals and nature instead.
Although in our profession, we are often alone, socially we are well integrated with the surrounding villages.
Do you have visits from time to time?
Yes, we often have visits from schools because I think it's important to teach young people about cows . I want them to understand that milk comes from a cow and not from a supermarket carton, ha ha ha!
Often, when they arrive, they say "Ah, it doesn't smell very nice", but when they leave, they've forgotten the smell and they're amazed. And that too is a source of satisfaction for us.
One of the regrets I will have, if one day our farm comes to an end, is not having been able to pass on my passion to my children. They have often seen the dark side of the job, not many holidays and a lot of being on call.
Do you have any advice for young people wanting to enter the profession?
"Love it and grit your teeth". You have to love this job and, above all, keep your passion. You have to believe in the future because it's easy when you're 20. It's a bit more tiring for those who are 30 years older, but you have to have faith in our society.
What has changed since you started out?
I'd say the arduousness. After 50, our bodies don't have the same energy as when we were 20. This is one of the reasons why we decided to join our two dairy farms.
And finally, as a producer, do you prefer bibeleskaes or yoghurt?
Ha ha ha... at the end of the day, both of them, as long as they're from Alsace Lait!