Anger of farmers: an army of tractors block the A75 in Antrenas (Lozère), “a historic mobilization”

Les camions ont été contraints de sortir au niveau de l'échangeur 38, dans les deux sens de circulation. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

Deux colonnes d'engins agricoles, l'une au départ de La Garde, l'autre depuis La Canourgue, ont d'abord mené une opération escargot. 

Like any protest demonstration worthy of the name, the snail operation followed by a blocking of the A75 at Antrenas (Lozère), this Tuesday, January 30 2024, also had the right to its divergent figures. Once everyone arrived safely, the Departmental Federation of Farmers' Unions (FDSEA) and the Young Farmers of Lozère (JA 48) indeed demanded "more than 200 tractors and 400 people in place". Considerations brought into fairer proportions by the police, who counted 120 machines, for 250 activists. 

What is certain is that this new action by the department's two main organizations was imposing. At 2:30 p.m., the area around the 38 interchange looked more like the parking lot of an agricultural fair than a road infrastructure. While the A75 was closed in both directions of traffic, road users, mostly heavy goods vehicles, had to resign themselves to getting out and heading towards Marvejols. Monster traffic jams formed both in the direction of Clermont-Ferrand and Montpellier.

"This's never seen before"

Operation snail began at 11 a.m., simultaneously in La Canourgue and La Garde. On the northern side of Lozère, the first fifty tractors set off, before others joined them in Saint-Chély-d'Apcher, Aumont-Aubrac and Le Buisson. In the end, after more than three hours of driving 37 short kilometers, 90 machines reached the rallying point, where 30 machines from the south were waiting for them.

The demonstrators shared a meal directly on the highway tracks. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

"I think this is the first time we have had such an event in Lozère, confided Julien Tuffery, breeder and first vice-president of the Chamber of Agriculture, on the way. Eight years ago, we put 100 tractors in Mende, but here we are many more. It's historic." A widely shared feeling. "I spoke with former union leaders who told me that it's never seen before", confirmed Hervé Boudon, the president of the Young Farmers, during his speech. 

Support from the Association of Mayors

Around ten councilors were also present, some with their tricolor scarves around their necks. "Like last week at Le Buisson, I am here to give them my full support,said Alain Astruc, chief magistrate of Peyre-en-Aubrac and president of the Association of Mayors of Lozère (AMF 48). < em>They need recognition for the work they do, particularly in terms of salaries. We have a strong agriculture, we need a living agriculture. I hope they will have positive responses regarding standards and water storage, among others. Their freedom to undertake must be respected."

The demonstration dispersed at 4:30 p.m. The unions do not rule out other actions, particularly in Paris.

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