Agricultural crisis, season 2? After the unprecedented mobilization last winter, new demonstrations are announced in the coming days in France.
The FNSEA and the Young Farmers (JA) will detail this Wednesday, November 13, the actions they are calling for to be launched “from mid-November”. Rural Coordination, the second agricultural union, announces “an agricultural revolt” from Monday November 19, including a “food freight blockage”. While the Peasant Confederation is calling for action this week, particularly against “free trade agreements”.
A tense context
If mobilizations resume at this time, it is because work in the fields (harvests, winter sowing) is ending. And at the end of 2024, the context is tense on many farms. Many farms are affected by diseases (MHE, FCO, avian flu), and the excess water of recent months has seriously complicated the task of farmers.
France is experiencing its worst wheat harvest in forty years, wine production is expected to decline by 23% over one year…
Answers still awaited
Emergency fund for the sheep industry affected by the FCO, support for the wine industry to reduce production, support for Mediterranean agriculture, loans guaranteed by the State to help fragile treasuries, announcement of the implementation of control unique annual on farms… In recent weeks, the government has made numerous announcements to try to reassure the agricultural world. But these announcements “have not yet infused”recently conceded the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard. Clearly, farmers have not yet taken the time to read it.
The June dissolution delayed the expected responses. Promised since 2022, the new agricultural orientation law, supposed to facilitate the renewal of generations, will not be examined in the National Assembly until January 2025.
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Mercosur, a trigger
In this context, the possible conclusion of the free trade treaty between the European Union and Mercosur (Common Market of South America) could be the trigger for anger. “A scarlet line” warned Arnaud Rousseau, president of the FNSEA.
Even if certain sectors (milk, viticulture, spirits) can benefit from this agreement, the agricultural world fears imports of beef, sugar or poultry from Brazil or Argentina. “No reciprocity measure will be able to compensate for massive imports”estimates the Peasant Confederation.
Especially since the international context worries professionals: trade war with China, Donald Trump’s return to power in the United States…
READ ALSO: Exports: which French economic sectors could be affected by the American election?
Elections in sight
Another element must be taken into account: the holding, in January 2025, of professional elections to renew the Chambers of Agriculture. To be heard and gain votes, the risk of outbidding between agricultural unions is real.
