“On December 12, things will flare up”, the farmers of Haute-Garonne maintain the pressure

“A punch operation to maintain the pressure”. Before December 6, the planned date of government announcements on the Mercosur treaty, around twenty farmers from the FDSEA and the Young Farmers of Haute-Garonne covered the entrance to the Administrative City in Toulouse with straw.

Then they welded the entrance gate of the Water Agency, under the eyes of several dozen members of the police who did not intervene.

Finally, they were received at the prefecture at midday. Actions which took place calmly, and were described as “nice” by the participants, before a winter which promises to be “hot”.
“It’s a warning. The prefect granted us little things, 30% reduction on our property tax, that's €9 savings per hectare, knowing that there are significant disparities within the department.”

“That’s not what’s going to move things forward. Our agriculture is declining, in dairy production, sheep and goat breeding it’s a disaster, farms are closing, no one wants to take it back,” declared Luc Mesbah, secretary general of FDSEA 31.

“In 2018 we blocked the ring road…”

Faced with the Mercosur treaty (South America), which could introduce cheap livestock products in Europe, farmers are preparing for long days of action.

“I can already tell you, the announcements at the beginning of December will not be up to par, so get ready. In 2018 we blocked the ring road, we will still be there if necessary. On December 12, things will flare up,” said the farmers’ spokesperson.
Tristan Fava d'Albert, cereal grower in Muret and head of Young Farmers, announces the “solidarity” of all, to support the “anger that is brewing in the countryside”.