Strike with tractors: farmer protests across Europe

They have one thing in common - the European farmers all drive their tractors to the protests. However, the reasons why they are taking to the streets are different.

The first recent uprising took place five years ago. On October 1, 2019, thousands of farmers and cattle breeders in the Netherlands made their way to Den Haag, paralysing traffic. This protest was triggered by a bill aimed at halving the cattle population in order to reduce nitrogen emissions.

The scene was repeated in the summer of 2022, when tractors once again took to the roads and motorways. The farmers were protesting against the plan of the then Rutte government to reduce nitrogen oxides and ammonia in order to comply with EU limits. The strategy seems to have paid off as the European Commission approved a 1,47 billion euro compensation.

The European Union's policy unites farmers in their anger. And this anger has boiled over almost throughout Europe, especially in recent weeks and months. If the Dutch showed the different use that can be made of a tractor, it was the Germans who perfected the technique. In Germany, the savings manoeuvres of Olaf Scholz's government and associated subsidy cuts triggered the farmers to mobilise themselves.

It almost escalated at the beginning of the year. On January 4, an angry crowd blocked Economics Minister Robert Habeck on a ferry in northern Germany, when Habeck was on his way back from his holiday. The protest provoked harsh criticism from all parties.

The government has rowed back on some of the agricultural subsidies. For example, the tax exemption for tractors is to remain in place after all and the tax concessions for agricultural diesel are no longer to be abolished in one swoop, but gradually. However, the protests continued: from January 8, blockades and marches paralysed half the country.

In France, which has effectively taken over the baton from Germany, the protesters are primarily concerned with rising production costs or increasing environmental regulations. They are demanding a wide range of measures from the new French government.

The package of demands includes, for example, administrative simplifications, no new ban on pesticides, a halt to the increase in the price of diesel fuel for tractors and faster compensation in case of disaster.

In Belgium, farmers followed the protests and blocked the motorway on January, 28. It had become "impossible to earn a decent income" from farming, Pierre D'Hulst, spokesman for the Young Farmers' Federation, which had organised the protest, told the AFP news agency.

Although less in the headlines, there have been demonstrations in Italy, where tractors have been driven in various regions of the country. The reasons for the mobilisation are similar to those in other countries: too low selling prices, high costs, bureaucracy, and an EU policy that does not address the different needs.

Another concern in the European agricultural sector is related to Ukraine's EU accession process and the planned reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This concerns the allocation of subsidies, which would be called into question if Kiev, with its global grain power, were to fully enter the common market.

The measures already taken by the EU to support Ukraine in its resistance against Russia are the other factor that is particularly worrying Eastern European farmers. Since June 2022, the EU has suspended tariffs, quotas and protective measures for imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.

In the face of the growing pressure, the European Commission agreed to allow the Central and Eastern European member states to once again restrict imports from Ukraine.

In Romania, farmers and truck drivers blocked the roads with their vehicles in January. They are demanding lower taxes and fairer subsidies. The anger is also directed against the rising insurance costs for heavy machinery. This dissatisfaction is enhanced by the protests against Ukrainian grain, resulting in border crossings to the country being blocked.

There are also protests in Greece. In January, farmers travelled with their tractors to highlight problems that they believe "threaten the sustainability of agricultural and livestock production". Here, too, the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is causing concern.

The protest also reached Spain, with farmers and their tractors blocking motorways, access to ports and large retailers. Again they are demanding fairer prices for their products and a review of the planned CAP reform. The farmers are ready to continue the protest, which for the moment has been peaceful, at least until the end of February.

Farmers' protests almost all over Europe

Swiss farmers face difficult times, despite political support

Claire Micallef

https://pilot-prod-videos.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/en/official-cerulean-tapir_fr_DEEPGRAM-WHISPER.vtt

The agricultural community has a strong influence in Swiss politics. However, farmers still face a number of concerns, including rising production prices and international competition, explains Martin Rufer, director of the Swiss Farmers' Union and guest on the RTS programme 19h30.

The number of farmers in parliament has risen from 12 in the previous legislature to 20 following last October's federal elections. However, the sector accounts for just 2.3% of jobs in Switzerland.

Agriculture's dependence on politics explains this representation in Berne, but these elected representatives are also surrounded by economic circles that represent common interests. They can therefore overturn majorities or elect Federal Councillors.

Farmers "are significantly better supported than in EU countries" with "higher direct payments" and "stronger customs protection", Kilian Baumann, president of the Small Farmers' Association and National Councillor pointed out in the RTS programme 19h30.

The parliament recently spared agriculture from any cuts in the federal budget. The Federal Council, for its part, has maintained the fuel tax refund for farmers.

Despite this influence in the political sphere, the head of the Swiss Farmers' Union described on Sunday the "concerns" of the farming world, with a heavy administrative burden and rising production costs putting "pressure on incomes".

Martin Rufer emphasises the purchase prices from producers, which are negotiated with the major distributors. The guest of 19h30 considers them to be attentive, because “agriculture cannot manage its costs alone” and must remain “profitable”. 

Swiss farmers also feel threatened by international competition, and are concerned about the prospect of signing an agreement with Mercosur - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. They don't want to be a "bargaining chip" in the discussions, explains the head of the umbrella organisation. The Swiss meat market in particular could be affected.

While the Swiss farmers’ protests that took place on Saturday help to “raise awareness” of these issues, they must remain within the legal framework so as not to undermine the public's “confidence", says Martin Rufer.

Mise au Point's report on the farmers' mobilisation

https://pilot-prod-videos.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/en/plain-amber-lynx_fr_DEEPGRAM-WHISPER.vtt

The situation in Switzerland

Is the farmers' anger justified?

What is the difference between Swiss and German agricultural policy?

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Germany's farmers are taking to the streets - they are paralysing parts of the country with their tractors. They are protesting against the savings plans of the government: subsidies and tax relief are to be cut. In Switzerland, the federal parliament recently rejected cuts to agriculture. And agriculture is the only sector apart from the army that does not have to make savings. Peter Walthard, deputy editor-in-chief of the Bauernzeitung, explains the difference between Germany's and Switzerland's agricultural policy.

SRF News: How does Swiss agricultural policy differ from German agricultural policy?

Peter Walthard: Agricultural policy in Germany is not that different. The structures are similar. There is an agriculture based on private, relatively small farms. There are forms of subsidies. Swiss agriculture is probably a bit more compartmentalised.

Above all, we have a different political system.

It's a different market environment. In other words, small family farms may still have a better chance of survival if you think about mountain farming. Whereas in the EU, the pressure is already much greater to have large farms that can also produce cheaply.

Could there be such a large-scale protest in Switzerland?

The probability is much lower. Although the problems facing Swiss agriculture are similar, the price level is still higher. The political environment is more favourable for agriculture and, above all, we have a different political system. I think in Germany there is a prevailing feeling of no longer being heard at all, of no longer being taken into account at all in politics. In Switzerland, there is concordance, direct democracy, federalism, short paths, a tradition of involving social partners and seeking dialogue.

Do farmers in Germany have no other option than to protest on the streets?

Farmers in Germany do have other means. But it's a bigger country, it's a different political system. There is no concordance government. There are coalitions that have a clear programme.

Germany has major economic problems and has to fight harder on many fronts.

And if you are in the opposition, not well represented in a coalition, then it is certainly more difficult than in Switzerland, where there is a Federal Councillor for each professional group, so to speak, who still looks a little. The trade unions will find a contact person, the teachers will find a contact person. That is a special feature of our system.

Does Germany attach less importance to its agriculture than Switzerland?

Germany has major economic problems and has to fight harder on many fronts. The pressure on the state to make savings is greater. The population feels the crises more intensely, there is more inflation, more job losses, people have less money and they have a certain fear of the future. Farmers are not doing so well in Switzerland either: small mountain farms, these are not rich people. But in Germany, many farms have now reached their limits. And if subsidies are removed or fuel becomes significantly more expensive, then at some point it will no longer be enough. That's an existence that will be lost. The reaction of many is correspondingly emotional.

What is so different in Germany?

For the first time, Swiss imports of foreign cheeses are set to outstrip the volume of exports of “Swiss-made” cheeses. This imbalance casts a shadow over the country’s rich dairy tradition, as more and more milk producers are calling it a day.

In July 2023, Boris Beuret, the president of the association of Swiss milk producers (Swissmilk), set off shock waves when he announced in an interview with the daily Le Temps that in 2023 Switzerland would be importing more cheese (in tonnes) than it exported. “I’ve received reactions to this news from all over the world,” says the 46-year-old from the Jura region. “Swiss expatriates in Las Vegas wrote to say they were dismayed.”

Monique Perrottet of the umbrella organisation Switzerland Cheese Marketing confirms this trend: “The gap between imports and exports has been closing since the liberalisation of the markets in 2007. Imported cheeses are much cheaper than Swiss products.”

“When the cheese market was liberalised 16 years ago, cheeses arrived in our shops – from the Netherlands, for instance – that cost 30% less. Their sales have continued to grow,” Beuret says. Of course, the principle of free trade means that Swiss cheeses can be exported in return. But international sales of expensive Swiss produce, aimed at a niche market, remain low.

Dwindling exports are prompting more and more milk producers to throw in the towel. Their shaky situation is compounded by the price of milk, which the industry deems far too low. Despite having risen steadily since 2009, the farm-gate price of milk stood at CHF0.75 ($0.80) per kilo in 2022 – well below the CHF1 demanded by producers. “Today’s prices do not cover production costs. Farmers cannot make ends meet and are shutting down production,” says Beuret.

The overall number of dairy farms is thus falling twice as fast as in other agricultural sectors. Between 1950 and 2022, it dropped by 87%, from 138,380 to 17,603, according to Swissmilk’s 2022 report. At this rate, there will be only 2,000 farms left by 2095.

This bleak outlook is stoking passions among the population, for milk production is closely interwoven with Swiss identity. The country’s longstanding tradition can be explained primarily by its rugged terrain, which is not suited to the large-scale cultivation of grain. “Switzerland’s climate is moreover ideal for pastureland, which accounts for some 80% of all agricultural land. And the best method found so far for transforming grass into food is to feed it to cows that turn it into milk,” Beuret says with a smile.

Swiss producers face significantly higher costs than their foreign competitors. There are several reasons for this. Farms are still small, with an average of 29 heads per 30 hectares. The economies of scale achieved in Spain, for example, with herds of some 400 cows, are thus impossible. On top of this come the cost of labour and other expenses, which are high in Switzerland compared with other countries.

Urs Niggli, the president of the Agroecology.science institute in Frick, canton Aargau, highlights the quality of the cheese sector, as certified by the federal body Agroscope. “Switzerland has a unique range of cultures for the production of raw milk cheeses,” he says. “With the organic food boom in the 1990s, the variety of cheeses increased further still, thanks in particular to small dairies and on-farm processing.” But this know-how is now under risk.

Around 20% of farmers’ incomes comes from subsidies and direct payments from the federal government. Without this state support, many farms would not be able to keep going.

“This money is not a gift, but it is tied to a very complex set of requirements in terms of landscape preservation, biodiversity and water quality, above all,” Beuret stresses.

Like other industry observers, the French-speaking Swiss consumer protection organisation, the Fédération romande des consommateurs (FRC), believes that agricultural subsidies, which are supposed to support local producers, are in fact fuelling distributor margins, with no benefits for consumers.

According to the Federal Office for Agriculture, retail giants Coop and Migros (with its subsidiary Denner) account for 76% of all food sales (2020 figures). These chains are thus clearly in a position of strength when it comes to negotiating prices.

Thierry*, a farmer from the canton of Fribourg, explains: “If my farm gets by, it’s only thanks to agricultural subsidies. The big distributors follow a short-sighted pricing policy. The system cannot work if prices don’t cover production costs.” In Thierry’s village, the number of milk producers has plummeted from 12 to four over the past 20 years. “Our position of power with the retailing and distribution industry is completely unbalanced,” he says.

The major chains, meanwhile, remain tight-lipped about their share of the pie. One can only estimate the amounts involved. Thus, a survey published by Le Temps in June 2023 found that gross profit margins fluctuated between 46% and 57%. In comparison, the gross margin on dairy products in France stood at 24.3% of turnover, according to the 2022 report by the French food sector price and margin surveillance body (the Observatoire français de la formation des prix et des marges). As a result, the FRC is campaigning for greater transparency on the capital gains made from the sale of food products.

“Coop pays market prices and treats its suppliers fairly. We make a profit of 1.7 centimes per franc of sales, which is low compared with profit-oriented companies”, says Coop spokesperson Caspar Frey.

“In other sectors, businesses are posting margins of 10% or more, without being asked to reveal their cost structures. Why should retailers be the only ones that have to be transparent?” says Migros spokesperson Tristan Cerf.

Dairy producers, meanwhile, are adamant that the profits must be better distributed in order to guarantee the future of the industry.

“Milk production makes a major contribution to our country’s food sovereignty, as clearly shown during the Covid crisis and with the war in Ukraine. But these production levels can only be maintained if every stakeholder along the value chain benefits,” says Perrottet of Switzerland Cheese Marketing.

Beuret is appealing to consumers to help rectify the situation. “Individual choices have a huge impact on the plight of the farmers. People need to know what they are buying when they choose Dutch Edam cheese over Swiss gruyère.”

According to the standards in force in the Netherlands, for instance, cows there do not each have a place to lie down in the cowsheds. In Switzerland, this is imposed by law. Water protection standards are also much less restrictive.

“Ultimately, it is the customer who has the final say,” concludes Beuret.

* Not his real name; identity known to the editorial staff.

Edited by Samuel Jaberg. Translated from French by Julia Bassam.

“As a result of the war in Ukraine, the market share of organic products has fallen slightly across Europe, after 20 years of growth. It has now stabilised at around 8% of the total,” says Urs Niggli, an internationally renowned Swiss agronomist. In 2022, the share of organic products on the Swiss dairy market stood at 9%.

Organic food is more expensive as productivity is 5 to 15% lower than in standard production. “The use of cheaper concentrated feed is very limited (maximum 5% of the feed ration). And the organic sector works with cows whose genetics are geared towards a better quality of life rather than maximum performance.”

The lifespan of the animals also plays a role, for the cows are not slaughtered after their third lactation, as in factory farming. The low use of antibiotics has a further impact on production levels.

Swiss dairy culture under threat

“I didn't see my 'Blüamli' and my 'Lisa' anymore, just cows”

Michel Decurtins

https://pilot-prod-videos.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/en/conscious-cyan-pelican_roh-rumgr_RECAPP.vtt

The farmer, who suffered a burnout a few years ago, wishes to remain anonymous. We therefore refer to him as Simon. His words are read in the audio by an RTR editor.

For Simon, it was a latent process. Over the years, he slowly became more and more aggressive. He got upset about everything and everyone. He and his wife have had a farm for 25 years. This means working seven days a week with hardly any holidays. On top of that, Simon has an alp, runs a municipal office and other offices, is building a barn, and a seasonal worker had to drop out due to Covid-19. All these factors were too much for the 50-year-old farmer.

I no longer saw my cows on the farm, no more 'Blüamli', no more 'Lisa', just a farm full of cows. My brain was somehow switched off.

He went to the family doctor, where he had to explain himself: how hard he had worked to get the medical certificate. And it took a few more months until they found someone to take care of the farm. So Simon continued to work for two or three months, even though he was diagnosed with burnout. He then went to a clinic for three weeks. However, when he returned to work after said three weeks, Simon realised that it wasn't working.

You shouldn't expect to live over your limit for 20 years and then fix it in three weeks.

The farmer emphasises that none of this would have been possible without his wife, who has helped him a lot. He now takes part in coaching sessions and takes his free time more serious. They are reducing the size of the farm and giving away some of their meadows. On good days, Simon feels like a "jack of all trades" again, just like before. On bad days, he becomes aggressive again. The process is not over yet.

Why are farmers twice as often affected by burnout?

Seven working days a week and few holidays: farmers strongly relate to their job because they spend a lot of time on the farm. Ricarda Caderas, coach and supervisor, agrees. She compares farmers to managers, because there is a lot of pressure and a lot of responsibility.

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Farmers can't take off several weeks a year. It's difficult to find a replacement, and it is also a financial burden. Time management is not easy. For example, if a farmer realises that he or she needs a coach, it's not easy to make an appointment. However, more and more farmers, especially those in their 50s, are seeing Ricarda Caderas. She herself has a farm and therefore understands the doubts of those affected. People come to see her  before they are sick or after they have undergone psychological therapy.