PM BAYROU VISIT INTERNATIONAL FARMERS FAIR &MOROCCAN PAVILLON & MET THE FARMERS

USPA NEWS - Prime Minister Francois Francois visited the agricultural show for his 61st visit at Porte de Versailles. He started a stroll around 10:30, starting by greeting Oupette, the Limousine cow, mascot of the Show this year 2025, before visiting pavilions while talking with farmers, breeders and representatives of the dairy, pork, etc. sectors. He then stopped at the stands of the Ministry of the Agriculture and INRAE. Prime Minister Bayrou jokes with the Journalists "This is not the first time I've touched a cow" while he strokes Oupette, the mascot of the Fair this year. He answers a breeder . The Prime Minister proudly says "There is a record that I am sure to beat, it is the first time that a Prime Minister has been a dairy producer who has driven tractors and made cows calve.” as he confessed to our correspondent, " It it true that you have a tractor?" " yes I have actually two, and have produced milk, and dairy food while he was a young farmer, inheriting the land of my dad in the Bearn for fifteen years" before he joined high studies and politics.

OUPETTE THE LIMOUSINE COW, MUSE OF THE 2025 AGRICULTURAL SHOW

The 61st edition of the International Agricultural Show opened its doors on Saturday, January 22 in Paris with a special focus on Oupette, the 6-year-old Limousine cow, and her passionate breeder, Alexandre Humeau. The cow, which weighs more than a ton, is of the Limousine breed, with a coat color that is bright wheat, halos at the level of the eyes and muzzle, but what characterizes her is her tuft.
Oupette immediately became the mascot of Alexandre's farm thanks to her hair peculiarity, a tuft on her head. Oupette brilliantly illustrates the Limousine breed: a bright wheat coat, illuminated mucous membranes, and assertive maternal qualities. She has also been a regular at the Limousin breed competitions since 2019, having won first place at the departmental and regional levels.

PRIME MINISTER BAYROU TELLS OUR CORRESPONDENT THAT HE HAS TWO TRACTORS AND WAS A BREEDER IN HIS YOUTH IN BEARN
Prime Minister Bayrou jokes with the Journalists "This is not the first time I've touched a cow" while he strokes Oupette, the mascot of the Fair this year. He answers a breeder "The Bearnaise breed (from the Bearn region where François Bayrou comes from), it is a breed that was in extinction and we have succeeded there we save it" the dairy federation greets the Prime Minister, while another breeder challenges him
the President of the CNIEL, Pascal Lebrun, speaks to him about the economic situation of animal diseases and exports... insisting on competitiveness "We have lost market share to the benefit of our European neighbors… We need strong support from the government so that our sector creates value"

The French P.M proudly says "There is a record that I am sure to beat, it is the first time that a Prime Minister has been a dairy producer who has driven tractors and made cows calve.” In this meeting of the head of government facing the breeders in crisis in France, this question helped to humanize these often tense sequences between the Prime Minister and the farmers, and to recall his proximity by confessing his attachment to this profession of breeder, at the beginning of his career before becoming minister, then party leader (Centre) and finally Prime Minister. Very cheerful and immersed in his youth he continues "I had taken over my parents' farm, after the death of my father, with 15/17 cows and I was a producer for 15 years, so I know what it's about" he says very compassionate and strong in his own experience.

Prime Minister Bayrou made his visit accompanied by Francoise Gatel, the Minister of Rural Affairs (former senator of Ile et Villaine, Brittany) and the Minister of Agriculture Anne Genevard, surrounded by around thirty journalists constituting the pool, asking him questions. Prime Minister Bayrou finished 11 hours later, by visiting the Pavilion. Moroccan, (Morocco Guest of Honor this year 2025) where he was welcomed by the warm hospitality that characterizes this people, and drank mint tea and sweet pastries. Our correspondent was unable to ask him the question concerning the AOP (Protected Designation of Origin) following what the Prime Minister had declared "the AOP saved us" when speaking of this label (Public property) which protects food products according to geographic specific area and its excellency, and high quality connected to that region.

On the other hand, she was able to ask him a question about his past as a farmer "Is it true that you own a tractor, Mr. President" she asked him.... He answered happy and surprised by this question "Yes I even have two! and I come from the agricultural sector" he then continued to talk about his youth and his proximity to the agricultural sector because he comes from it himself "

PRIME MINISTER BAYROU SHOWED ENTHUSIASM & REMAINED POSITIVE OVER THE FARMER’s CONDITION
The Prime Minister explained while remaining optimistic in the face of the still angry farmers, since last year 2024, President Macron himself was very jostled, and even prevented from walking around during the 60th anniversary, "we met with all the agricultural organizations in a positive climate" "even if we were able to resolve the question of prices, water and more broadly the proposed laws which will be examined" he added in a reassuring tone. He added that "We have managed to build foundations, the bases of what farmers consider necessary." It is true that this year, the tension of last year was not felt at the agricultural show, even if all the problems have not yet been resolved, but the anger of the farmers seems to be expressed through other channels than revolt, aided by their unions acting as a buffer with the government and the large central purchasing agencies which impose high prices on consumers and leave very little profit margin to producers who are therefore trying to organize themselves differently and supply their fresh products from the fork to the plate.

During this visit, he acknowledged that "not all the problems are solved" in the agricultural sector, while highlighting a "very positive climate" with agricultural unions
During his visit, Bayrou had a morning meeting with the four main agricultural unions. He highlighted the government's efforts, including the recent vote on the agricultural orientation law

PRIME MINISTER BAYROU’S IS NOSTALGIC OVER HIS PAST YOUTH OF FARMER
The French Prime Minister Bayrou has maintained strong ties to his rural roots. François Bayrou has a personal connection to the agricultural world, which may influence his understanding of the issues discussed during his visit to the International Farm fair (SIA).
François Bayrou visited the International Farm fair (SIA) on February 24, 2025 as Prime Minister. During this visit, he acknowledged that "not all the problems are solved" in the agricultural sector, while highlighting a "very positive climate" with agricultural unions. Indeed, the Prime Minister had a morning meeting with the four main agricultural unions. He highlighted the government's efforts, including the recent vote on the agricultural orientation law.

As for Prime Minister Bayrou's strong connection, he owned a red Pony tractor from 1952, which became an iconic image during his 2007 presidential campaign where he finished third, behind Segolene Royal (Socialist) and Nicolas Sarkozy (Republican) who became President of the Republic. This nostalgic awakening of memories of the rural past, also revived this moment of the 2007 campaign, the former candidate for the presidency of the French Republic, at a time when all the political opposition parties are preparing for a possible accelerated presidential election (before 2027), since the dissolution of June 2024. (report By Rahma Sophia Rachdi, on the ground)