French Farmers Defy Government as Protests Escalate Over Disease Control and Trade Policies

Farmers Defy Government Despite Emergency Crisis Meeting

The standoff between French farmers and the government intensified this week as hundreds of tractors continued to block major highways across southern France, despite an emergency meeting called at the Prime Minister’s office in Paris.

Farmers are voicing deep frustration over two major issues: the government’s handling of a livestock disease outbreak and looming trade deals they say threaten their livelihoods.

Motorways under blockade include:

The A64 between Briscous and Montréjeau — nearly 180 km still blocked by tractors, hay bales, and machinery.
A63 near Bordeaux, A75 in Aveyron, and parts of the A89 in Dordogne.
Train services between Toulouse and Castelnaudary also disrupted due to protests near Villefranche-de-Lauragais.

“We were promised dialogue, but nothing concrete came from yesterday’s meeting,” said Guillaume Bénazet of the Young Farmers’ Union in Haute-Garonne. “Until our demands are taken seriously, the blockades will stay.”

Controversy Over Livestock Health Measures

The root of the unrest lies in the government’s response to an outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) — a viral infection affecting cattle since June.
Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard visited Toulouse earlier this week to defend her policy, emphasizing a strategy based on mass culling, vaccination, and movement restrictions.

While Genevard called the extended vaccination campaign a “major step forward” — now targeting nearly one million cattle — farmers argue that the approach is still too rigid and economically devastating.

What farmers are demanding:

An end to automatic mass slaughter when a case is found.
Wider, faster vaccination instead of culling.
Greater financial support for affected farms.

“The minister is disconnected from reality,” said Lionel Candelon, President of the Gers Chamber of Agriculture. “We need a strategy that protects both animals and farmers’ futures.”

Matignon Pushes for Faster Vaccination Rollout

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting at Matignon with key ministers, including the Interior and Agriculture ministers, and regional prefects from the affected areas.

Following the meeting, Lecornu called for an acceleration of the vaccination rollout, ensuring doses “match local realities” and reach farmers faster. A permanent scientific dialogue group will also be formed — combining veterinary experts and farming representatives — to guide ongoing health strategies.

Lecornu is set to meet agricultural unions later in the week, with another ministerial follow-up session already planned for Wednesday.

Trade Tensions Add to Farmers’ Anger

Beyond the health crisis, discontent is also fuelled by the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal, which French farmers fear will flood the market with cheaper imports from South America — under less stringent environmental and health regulations.

President Emmanuel Macron has publicly voiced concerns, urging the EU to postpone the vote planned this week. “The current deal doesn’t provide adequate protection for French agriculture,” he said at a European Council meeting.

However, the European Commission remains determined to move forward, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expected to sign the agreement at the upcoming Mercosur summit in Brazil.

What’s Next for France’s Farmers?

The crisis exposes long-standing tensions between rural France and the government — a divide that has only deepened since the “yellow vest” movement years earlier. With blockades still in place, pressure is now mounting on Paris to deliver concrete solutions before the situation escalates further.

If no compromise emerges, the protests could widen in the coming days — potentially spilling into other regions as more farmers join the movement for fairer agricultural policies and better protection from volatile global markets.