A diversified territory

The Gers department is divided into small farming areas corresponding to geological data and farming specialities.

• Higher-Armagnac

Divided into two zones:

• in the northern part, cereals and oleaginous plants prevail. This is also the area where most of the seeds (except for corn) and melons are produced.

• the southern part is more uneven and steered towards mixed farming and poultry breeding.

This area is made up of semi-clayish/semi-chalky ("terreforts") or chalky soils,

© T.Suire-AGP

except for the left banks of the rivers, taken up by siliceous clay soils called "boulbènes".

• La Ténarèze

This country is characterized by alternated "boulbènes" and semi-clayish/semi-chalky soils, with, here and there, sandy soils which crown the top of the "crayes", transgressive islands made of tawny sands which have not been eliminated by erosion.

This is a region where cereals and mixed farming prevail and where vineyards have a most important place.

• Lower-Armagnac

© T.Suire-AGP

This area is characterized by a soil made up of a deep tawny sand layer which covers recently-formed "boulbènes".

Valleys are wider than anywhere else and hillsides are less abrupt as they are made up of sandy more friable molasses

This is a mixed farming area, with an important part for vineyard and corn. The climate is cooler than elsewhere.

• The Tursan-Rivière-Basse and the Vic-Bilh areas

This corresponds to the lower plain of the Adour and to the lower course of the Bouès and the Arros.

It is a flat territory made up of "boulbènes" and alluvium. Soils are generally drained and irrigated, and essentially cultivated with corn. This is also the production area of "appellation d'origine contrôlée" (AOC) wines - a label guaranteeing the quality of wine and cheese - such as Madiran, and of "vins délimités de qualité supérieure" (VDQS) - another label guaranteeing the quality of wine - such as Côtes de Saint-Mont.

• Astarac

There are many "boulbènes" and very little limestone in this area, which has a high forestry rate and which is the most important region as far as cattle and swine populations are concerned.

• Coteaux du Gers (Gers Hillsides)

This area is made up of semi-clayish/semi-chalky or chalky soils, except for the left bank of the rivers, taken up by "boulbènes". Cereals and oleaginous prevail and the average surface of the farms is the highest one in the department.

• Lomagne

This is a small region located in the South East part of the department, with "terreforts" and "boulbènes" and which main characteristics are large cultivations. It is also an important garlic and melon producing area.