Can you help please?
Hit by spring frosts in both 2016 and 2107 Michel and Antonin Bedouet, organic Muscadet producers in Le Pallet, are fighting back against the frost. Bedouet Vigneron is a family domaine that has passed down through the generations. Michel Bedouet took over from his father in 1985 and two years ago Michel's son – 25-year-old Antonin – started to work with him.
Badly hit by April frosts two years running the Bedouets are very keen to install an anti-frost system to protect their vines. They are planning to use an electirc cable system invented in the 1990s by a local electrician Jean-Pierre Heurteau. Heurteau comes from nearby Monnières and is now retired.
To date Heurteau's system is not widely used: 3or 4 hectares in Muscadet and elsewhere 15 ha in Champagne and Chablis. The electric current starts when the temperature falls and is said to be effective to – 3˚C. Apparently it has worked down to -6˚C in Champagne. Heurteau explains that where his cable system was installed a producer enjoyed a yield of 62 hl/ha, whereas rows not protected only produced 18 hl/ha.
Apart from installation, the cost of running the cable system is between 30€ to 50€ per hectare per night. If it is effective this is a small cost. In contrast using low flying helicopters to stir up the air will cost around 1200€ an hour.
The Bedouets have chosen to crowdfund their anti-frost project through Miimosa, which is a French specialist platform to raise finance for agricultural projects.
All subscribers to the Bedouets' project will receive rewards depending on how much they donate. These range from 10€ where your name will appear on a plaque in their cellar through to 500€. Details are here.
The Bedouets have chosen to crowdfund their anti-frost project through Miimosa, which is a French specialist platform to raise finance for agricultural projects.
All subscribers to the Bedouets' project will receive rewards depending on how much they donate. These range from 10€ where your name will appear on a plaque in their cellar through to 500€. Details are here.
Please make a contribution to their fund. If we want small family producers who are the lifeblood of the diversity of the Loire to survive they are going to need frost protection.
Quelques détails en français:
Bedouet Vigneron est une entreprise familiale dans laquelle chaque génération apporte sa pierre à l'édifice.
Michel, 57 ans a pris la suite de son père en 1985 et Antonin, 25 ans, fils de Michel travaille avec lui depuis deux ans.
Notre vignoble est conduit en agriculture biologique, il a été sévèrement touché par le gel de printemps, deux années consécutives. C'est aujourd'hui primordial de mettre en place une protection durable contre ce phénomène climatique qui remet en cause la pérennité de l'entreprise.
En effet, Antonin souhaite s'installer et cet investissement est précieux pour sécuriser son avenir professionnel.
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