Farm production in selected farming areas (pays) of the Paris Basin
In the Paris Basin a number of distinctive farming regions have developed based mainly on the soil rock types of the region. The relationship between soil and production is shown in the brief description of the pays below.
1. The Île de France A low-lying, flat region covered with fertile limon soil. Most farms are very large (over 400 hectares) and produce wheat. Yields are the highest in France.
2. Beauce This region is a limestone upland covered in limon soil. Farms here are large (e.g. 400 hectares) and mechanised. It is the main wheat-producing region. Sugar beet is also grown as a rotation crop.
3. Picardy and Artois (The Normandy region) These two low-lying flat regions are also limon-covered and so specialise in cereal production such as barley and wheat. Sugar beet is also grown. On the coast, the climate is wetter due to the influence of the sea and soils become heavier. As a result, dairy farming is common.
4. Brie and Valois In these two pays, clay soils occur. This soil produces good pasture land. Farmers here are dairy producers, famous for cheese (Brie cheese) and butter. Being so close to the urban area of Paris, they also supply fresh milk to the city.
Fig. 4 Cereal growing in the Paris Basin Boulogne m Dieppe WHEAT