It all started in 2020 for Cécile Flechel with the takeover of the farm from her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lebrun, located rue Roger Salengro sur Marly in an astonishing urban setting. Today, she farms several crops (wheat, potatoes, sugar beet…) on 120 hectares and after a neighbors’ party on her farm, she explains to us her strategic choices, her vision of agriculture, her concern for education for children and her relationship with the neighborhood, without forgetting a dotted future in a global context in full boil.
Cécile Fléchel : “ÂI chose the long sector for my farm. »
In terms of retraining, it is difficult to make a bigger difference; going from the world of automobiles, as an engineer, to a farmer on a family farm. Indeed, taking over this agricultural site, specializing in potatoes since 1955, represents a leap into another universe where “ I had to follow specialized studies (Genech institute in 2018) in order to be able to take over the farm in 2020 », précise-t-elle.
6 years later and a journey through COVID, she is at the head of a 120-hectare farm specializing in mixed farming: 30 hectares of potatoes, 12 hectares of corn, 12 hectares of sugar beets, 6 hectares of green lentils, and 40 hectares of wheat, and “I adapted to the world market with 10 hectares of rapeseed and 10 hectares of Lucerne. Currently, at 180 euros per tonne, wheat cultivation is not profitable in France. Russia is suffocating the world wheat market, because at this price, this wheat crop is profitable for itÂ,” comments Cécile Fléchel. We can recall that the Hauts de France region benefits from rare quality land for the production of wheat. “Per hectare, this land is incredible. It has enormous production potential, a temperate climate, very deep silt, and seed and technical know-how… », précise-t-elle.
Beyond this appetite for diversification, Cécile Fléchel made an assumed strategic choice: “ I chose the long sector for the sale of my productions to large cooperatives. Thanks to her, we still master our cultures! Besides, you have grain silos on Quarouble, Jenlain and Haulchin. »
The choice of the short sector, which is much more uncertain in terms of selling her crops, was not chosen by the farmer. However, following the closure of the Chombart farm on Marly (end of 2022), the population came looking even in ” our farmyard, even in the evening, potatoes for direct sale. I therefore took the initiative of installing a potato vending machine (available 7 days a week from April 2023. » At 139 rue Roger Salengro in Marly, a vending machine is therefore available with short circuit potatoes directly from the field to the consumer, no question about the origin of the product…!
« We don’t know where we are going (Middle East conflict) Â,” Cécile Fléchel
Obviously, the issue of fertilizer, in addition to fuel, is at the heart of world agriculture during this conflict in the Middle East.
Certainly, the ideal of ecological agriculture is the use of 100% natural fertilizer. “I swap straw for manure to obtain compost and natural fertilizer, but this corresponds to 15 to 20% of my fertilizer needs. Nevertheless, I am part of sustainable agriculture approaches financed by the sectors and/or public financing “, comments Cécile Fléchel. In summary, nitrogen fertilizers are essential to cover the entire cultivated area of 120 hectares.
« At some point, when you ask the land to produce, if you don’t enrich it with fertilizer, it becomes exhausted. On the one hand, we have the injunction for a change in the agricultural model, and on the other, the cereal market is not changing! If you don’t produce a lot, you can’t survive economically.“, explains the professional. Obviously, the model of small, sustainable crops, with natural fertilizer, proves to be the most relevant in the context of an ecological transition. On the other hand, this model provides few products, perhaps at the regional level, but certainly not at the national level, nor for export. Unless you want to starve everyone and not make a living from your profession, you still have to work in R&D on the best fertilizers for nature. The debate is incredibly complex where everyone must take a step towards the best compromise for the planet, maintaining a local diet and the healthiest one if possible…! There we are, we are at the heart of the permanent contradictory injunctions in the world of agriculture!
Of course, the subject of the conflict in the Middle East impresses the minds of cultural professionals. For the choice of seeds in spring 2026, it was already done (fortunately) and anticipated. HAS” On the other hand, we do not know our choice of crop for spring 2027. We do not know where we are going at this stage. You will have to be strategic in your choice of crops so as not to lose everythingÂ,” she concludes. No doubt, a global food shortage threatens the entire planet for the year 2027, one more atomic food cloud…!
The pedagogy commente tôt…
In addition to her activities as a farmer, Cécile Fléchel works to raise awareness among young people about agricultural professions. It regularly welcomes classes of different primary levels from Saint-Saulve, Marly and Valenciennes. “We study everything from the field to the plate of all products. They even make bread on the day of the workshop“, comments the farmer proudly.
Finally, she had the idea of throwing her first neighbors’ party on the farm, which was obviously successful: “More than 70 people were present, including the mayor and elected officials.»
Daniel Carlier
/2026/06/10/6a297b4d35a80814198766.jpg "Les États-Unis frappent l'Iran après la destruction d'un hélicoptère : \"Donald Trump n'avait pas le choix\", selon un spécialiste")
