Tarn-et-Garonne, France – Several months after mass protests shook France’s agricultural sector, frustration still runs deep in the countryside.
Farmers in the Tarn-et-Garonne department, where the demonstrations first took root, say their concerns over low food prices, foreign competition, and government red tape remain largely unaddressed.
Earlier this year, tractors and hay bales blocked highways as thousands of farmers mobilized against policies they claimed were suffocating their livelihoods.
The protests, which spread across the country, brought attention to the plight of small-scale farmers struggling to stay afloat amid rising costs and falling revenues. While the movement has since lost momentum, many say little has improved.
“We were promised reforms, but nothing has changed,” said Jean-Luc Moreau, a third-generation farmer near Montauban. “The cost of production keeps rising, supermarkets are still driving prices down, and we’re drowning in paperwork.”
Lingering Uncertainty in the Agricultural Sector
The French government had responded to the protests with a series of pledges, including financial aid, eased regulatory burdens, and support for domestic production. However, farmers argue that the measures have yet to translate into real relief.
Many still find themselves squeezed by large retailers and forced to sell produce at prices that barely cover production costs. Foreign imports, particularly from countries with lower labor and environmental standards, continue to flood the market, undercutting local farmers.
“We’re being asked to compete with products that don’t follow the same rules we do,” said dairy farmer Claire Bonnet. “How is that fair? We are held to strict environmental and animal welfare standards, but supermarkets prefer cheaper foreign milk.”
For some, the frustration extends beyond economics. Many farmers express a growing sense of alienation from urban France, where policymakers appear out of touch with rural realities.
A Fight for Survival
While the large-scale demonstrations have ended, smaller protests and symbolic actions continue. Farmers have taken to social media to highlight their struggles, and some have participated in local lobbying efforts to push for more substantial reforms.
One key demand remains the enforcement of the Egalim laws, designed to ensure fair pricing for agricultural products. However, many in the industry claim that large supermarkets continue to sidestep regulations, keeping profits high while leaving farmers with unsustainable margins.
“There’s only so much we can do,” said Moreau. “If things don’t change, more farms will shut down, and eventually, France will lose its agricultural heritage.”
As the French government shifts its focus toward other political and economic challenges, the rural discontent that ignited this year’s protests remains an unresolved issue. With European agricultural policies also in flux, farmers are bracing for more uncertainty.
For now, the tractors may have left the highways, but the battle for France’s agricultural future is far from over.
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