Dermatose Outbreak Sparks Rising Anger Among Farmers
Farmers in France are expressing significant anger over the outbreak of dermatose, leading to widespread protests. Their concerns primarily center on the systematic culling of infected livestock and the recent EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
Farmers Uniting Against Culling Measures
The impact of dermatose has prompted considerable mobilization among farmers. The Ministry of the Interior noted that protests increased from 27 gatherings on Sunday to 75 by Wednesday. The most substantial protests are taking place in the southwest region of France, particularly in Carbonne.
Protest Locations and Actions
Farmers have taken strong measures, blocking major highways including:
- A64 in Carbonne
- A89
- A20
- A63
- A10 near Poitiers-sud
- A61 near Carcassonne
They have also established a permanent presence on the A64 since last Friday. Demonstrators, waving flags from various agricultural unions, have indicated their intentions to continue the protests for several days.
Further Actions and Government Response
Other actions include dumping agricultural waste outside the Carcassonne prefecture and disrupting train services between Toulouse and Narbonne. A group of about 100 breeders even gathered at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to voice their grievances.
In response, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard called for calm as the holiday season approaches. Despite her appeals, tensions remain high. Additionally, she announced an expansion of the vaccination zone to include the Hérault and Tarn regions, beyond the current eight departments in the southwest.
Statistics on Dermatose Outbreak
The dermatose outbreak has been a pressing issue since June 2025, with France reporting:
- 114 confirmed outbreaks of the disease
- 3,300 livestock culled
- A national cattle population of 16 million
This situation continues to develop as farmers demand more immediate solutions to protect their livelihoods amid rising public health concerns related to livestock management.
