French Farmers Reject Government Proposals and Prepare New Protests in January

Tension continues to rise in rural France as the nation’s major farming unions reject the government’s latest proposals, accusing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu of offering “weak promises” and failing to address the worsening agricultural crisis. The stand-off has set the stage for a fresh wave of farmer protests starting in early January 2026.

The Crisis Behind the Anger

At the heart of the conflict lies the ongoing outbreak of Dermatose Nodulaire Contagieuse (DNC) — a highly contagious cattle disease that has devastated herds across southwestern France. The government’s strict sanitary response — requiring the total slaughter of herds where a single case is detected — has sparked outrage among farmers, who claim the policy causes unnecessary economic and emotional destruction.

The Coordination Rurale and Confédération Paysanne unions have demanded that authorities end the mass slaughter policy and prioritise vaccination instead, aligning with health measures already in place in certain EU countries. However, Lecornu insists that partial measures could allow the virus to spread further, endangering both animal and agricultural health sectors.

Limited Financial Relief

While the French government has announced a slight increase in emergency funds — raising the relief budget from €10 million to €11 million — farmers say it’s nowhere near enough. According to unions, compensation payments remain slow, bureaucracy is strangling cash flow, and many small farms are on the brink of collapse.

So far, Lecornu claims that over €7 million in advance payments has been made to affected farmers, mainly those forced to cull their herds since June 2025. Further talks are planned for early January, with the Prime Minister promising to meet union leaders “around January 8” to reassess the situation.

Divergent Union Reactions

The farming world isn’t united in its response.

Coordination Rurale (CR) called the latest proposals “disappointing” and confirmed it will pause protests over the Christmas period before “remobilising strongly” in January.
FNSEA, the largest agricultural union, remains supportive of the government’s strict sanitary stance but warns that key economic issues remain unresolved – including fair compensation, fertiliser costs, and concerns about the new EU carbon tax on nitrogen fertilisers.
Confédération Paysanne continues its on-the-ground protests and blockades, demanding immediate reform of disease control rules.
The Jeunes Agriculteurs (Young Farmers) group plans smaller symbolic demonstrations and “flash actions” throughout December but no major roadblocks over the holidays.

What’s Next for Rural France?

As pressure mounts, rural France faces a turbulent start to 2026. Many farmers see the crisis as emblematic of deeper problems in French agriculture — from falling profits and environmental regulations to the growing administrative burden placed on small producers.

The Lecornu government must now balance public health policy with economic survival in one of France’s most politically sensitive sectors. Unless significant progress is made in January, the country could see a return to widespread tractor blockades and rural demonstrations, echoing the mass protests that paralysed French roads in previous years.