More than a hundred farmers demonstrated this Wednesday in Chaumont in front of the Haute-Marne prefecture. Enough to increase the pressure before the national mobilization announced by the FNSEA from Monday.
Angry farmers again. Around 150 operators from Haute-Marne demonstrated this Wednesday, November 13 in front of the prefecture in Chaumont, a few days before a national mobilization planned for next Monday.
The demonstrators placed dozens of signs for entering or exiting communities from the prefectural building in front of the gates of the prefectural building. An action reminiscent of the “we walk on our heads” movement, started at the end of last year, when signage was turned over by farmers as a sign of protest.
Around thirty tractors dumped agricultural waste in front of the prefecture. The corpse of a wild boar was also visible, according to images from our reporter on site.
“Not much has happened in a year”
Ten months after the agricultural crisis and the blockages of January, the anger of farmers risks breaking out again. The majority agricultural union alliance formed by the FNSEA and the Young Farmers (JA) launched a call for national mobilization “from Monday” November 18.
“Not much has happened in a year,” denounces Sébastien Riotto, the FNSEA departmental president of Haute-Marne, to our microphone, who confirms that “the national movement will resume.”
Farmers are particularly opposed to the possible signing of an agreement with Mercosur, wanted by Brussels but rejected by France “as is”. “Companies are suffering a lot, cash flow is drained. France lacks production, so the easy plan is to import, that’s what we are denouncing,” explains Sébastien Riotto.
“There are too many unknowns in our profession. Harvesting, haymaking, breeding: all parts of production have been impacted. It’s not just the agreements, there’s also bad weather,” continues the farmer, who also regrets a lack of “progress on the transfer of farms and on taxation”.
In Haute-Marne, demonstrators are also protesting against the decision of the giant Lactalis to reduce its milk collection. “17 producers were literally made redundant by Lactalis (in the department, Editor’s note). There will be as many products on the shelves but the milk will come from elsewhere,” denounces Sébastien Riotto.
A meeting between the demonstrators and the prefect of Haute-Marne, Régine Pam, was planned for this Tuesday, at noon.
