French farmers clog highways to protest at 'agri-bashing'

[snoop1130]

French farmers clog highways to protest at 'agri-bashing'

By Thierry Chiarello, Lucien Libert

 

French farmers drive their tractors on the A6 motorway on their way to Paris, protesting against low farm incomes and growing criticism of agricultural practices, France, November 27, 2019. The slogan reads "Macron, answer". REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

 

PARIS (Reuters) - Hundreds of French farmers angered by international trade deals and government policy drove tractors along the main highways into Paris on Wednesday, blocking commuter traffic and adding to the social unrest facing President Emmanuel Macron.

 

On the A1 autoroute, an artery that links the capital to the north of France and its ports, one group temporarily blocked three lanes of traffic.

 

“No rural France without farmers. Let us get on with our jobs,” one farmer wrote on his tractor.

 

Another in a convoy flanked by police motorcyclists took aim at the president: “Macron, answer us! Save farmers.”

 

Farmers unions said their members would converge on Avenue Foch, a wide boulevard flanked by some of Paris’ most luxurious properties near the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris.

 

The two main farm unions are staging the protest and demanding a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron to express grievances over policies they say hurt French agriculture, such as the phasing out of the weedkiller glyphosate.

 

“We want to warn everyone that if there are no more farmers in France it has a knock on effect on the French economy,” 29-year-old farmer Alix Heurtaut told Reuters ahead of the protest.

 

AGRI-BASHING

 

Macron, 41, faces growing discontent against his social and economic reform agenda across French society.

 

His government last week announced emergency financing in a failed attempt to head off further hospital strikes and has been locked in negotiations with unions this week over pension reform ahead of nationwide transport strikes on Dec. 5th.

 

Resentment among farmers has been growing at what they call “agri-bashing”, or criticism of agriculture over issues ranging from pesticide use to animal welfare.

 

Attacks on livestock farms and butcher’s shops by vegan activists have caused particular outrage. Longstanding tensions with environmental associations have meanwhile deepened amid debates about banning glyphosate and restricting pesticide use near residential areas.

 

Farmers widely blame Macron for rushing to ban glyphosate by 2021, going beyond current European Union policy, although the government has promised exemptions for farms that have no viable alternative.

 

Macron has also been under pressure from farmers over EU trade deals with Canada and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries, which farming groups say will usher in imports of cheaper agricultural goods produced to lower standards.

 

A food law passed by Macron’s government, which aimed to give farmers a fairer share of profits, has failed to dispel discontent over modest revenues.

 

France is the largest agricultural producer in the EU and the biggest beneficiary of subsidies under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.

 

Farm unions are gearing up for negotiations over the next EU budget, which could see agricultural spending trimmed due to Britain’s planned exit from the bloc.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-11-27

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[from the home of CC]

13 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Resentment among farmers has been growing at what they call “agri-bashing”, or criticism of agriculture over issues ranging from pesticide use to animal welfare.

 

Attacks on livestock farms and butcher’s shops by vegan activists have caused particular outrage. Longstanding tensions with environmental associations have meanwhile deepened amid debates about banning glyphosate and restricting pesticide use near residential areas.

sounds like western whine from loss of face, oh wait lol..

[sunnyboy2018]

They hoover up millions of pounds worth of EU benefits to continue bad, protectionist, inefficient practices. As do all major occupations in France.

[metisdead]

An off topic deflection post and a reply has been removed. 

[torturedsole]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Attacks on livestock farms and butcher’s shops by vegan activists have caused particular outrage.

This really gets on my goat and even more than Macron annoys me.  

 

I don't wish these activists harm but they reap what they sow and there will be a fatality soon enough.

 

https://nypost.com/2019/09/09/vegan-activist-who-rescued-16-rabbits-killed-over-100-in-the-process-report/

[KhunBENQ]

Replace France with Germany.

Replace Macron with Merkel.

Very similar topics.

Huge protest convoy to Berlin, 8000 tractors yesterday.

 

[kingdong]

Plenty more of that sort of carry on when uk leaves the eu and they lose even more of their subsidies,still they can always pass the hat round all the existing members like Italy and greece,sure they,'ll b.e happy to tighten their belts to make up the shortfall.

[Dumbastheycome]

13 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

They hoover up millions of pounds worth of EU benefits to continue bad, protectionist, inefficient practices. As do all major occupations in France.

In terms of dairy farming at least it would  be hard to disagree. https://www.ferme-laitiere-france.com/en/the-milk-files/french-dairy-farms/

 

[ivor bigun]

Two things French seem to be good at ,protesting and giving up .

[stevenl]

Agriculture the way it has been practiced for a very long time already is not sustainable anymore. They will have to give.

[JAG]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

France is the largest agricultural producer in the EU and the biggest beneficiary of subsidies under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.

 

Farm unions are gearing up for negotiations over the next EU budget, which could see agricultural spending trimmed due to Britain’s planned exit from the bloc.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-11-27

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https://images.app.goo.gl/R9BAd46V4Sc4amrh9p

 

It is fair to say that concern over filling the hike in the EUs budget caused by the UK's impending departure is spreading in  France!

[mogandave]

8 hours ago, stevenl said:

Agriculture the way it has been practiced for a very long time already is not sustainable anymore. They will have to give.

How does it need to be done?

[Krataiboy]

French farmers clog highways to protest at 'agri-bashing'

Imagine how "clogged" the streets would become if Thai farmers challenged the glyphosate ban by driving their buffalo plough herds into Bangkok. Not to mention the methane pollution!

 

[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

French farmers clog highways to protest at 'agri-bashing'

Imagine how "clogged" the streets would become if Thai farmers challenged the glyphosate ban by driving their buffalo plough herds into Bangkok. Not to mention the methane pollution!

 

LOL. Have you been in rural Thailand recently? I think not, as they don't use buffalos anymore. Rare to even see a buffalo anymore.

 

Good on the French farmers for blocking the townies roads. Might remind them where their food comes from. NZ farmers might be getting angry enough to follow suit, hopefully. Government hates farmers.

[colinneil]

37 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. Have you been in rural Thailand recently? I think not, as they don't use buffalos anymore. Rare to even see a buffalo anymore.

 

 

As you no longer live in Thailand, you are totally unaware of the buffalo numbers here.

At Phon 30 ks south from me, they have a sunday market for buying and selling buffalos, i was there only 8 weeks ago, and there were at least 2000 buffalos there for sale.

[thaibeachlovers]

6 minutes ago, colinneil said:

As you no longer live in Thailand, you are totally unaware of the buffalo numbers here.

At Phon 30 ks south from me, they have a sunday market for buying and selling buffalos, i was there only 8 weeks ago, and there were at least 2000 buffalos there for sale.

As one that made regular trips through rural rice growing areas of Thailand to the village I only ever saw an occasional buffalo, and the only herd I saw was near Chang Dao, where they obviously rear them for some reason other than plowing.

Perhaps they raise them for meat, but the sight of a buffalo plowing is not something I've seen.

However, I stand corrected, apologies to kraitboy, and clog up the city highways with them by all means. That's a sight I'd love to see on down town Sukhumvit.

[Krataiboy]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. Have you been in rural Thailand recently? I think not, as they don't use buffalos anymore. Rare to even see a buffalo anymore.

Really? Wonder if the begging letters have changed, too?

 

Dearest Teelac,

Please send much money quick? Paw says buffalo tractor sick and cannot harvest rice".

[thaibeachlovers]

14 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Really? Wonder if the begging letters have changed, too?

 

Dearest Teelac,

Please send much money quick? Paw says buffalo tractor sick and cannot harvest rice".

Sorry for that. I did apologise to you in the previous post.