Cattle farmers from the Confédération Paysanne (Farmers’ Confederation) are back on the roads of the Hérault department to defend their cause. After an initial wave of mobilization on December 14th, they will carry out a slow-moving protest this Wednesday, January 7th, heading towards the Departmental Council building. Their objective: to encourage local elected officials to reconsider their position on the culling of herds affected by lumpy skin disease (LSD). A highly anticipated return of the farmersThis Wednesday, January 7th, marks the return of angry farmers to the department’s roads. Gathering from 10:30 am in the Cadoule parking lot in Vendargues, members of the Confédération Paysanne will assemble to march to the Departmental Council building. They will take the M65, passing through Le Crès, Castelnau, Clapiers, and Montferrier, to make their voices heard by the departmental councilors. A clear message: no total culling of herdsNicolas Vitou, spokesperson for the
Peasant Confederation
in the Hérault region, explains that their goal is to stimulate public debate regarding the management of CND (Chronic Dwarf Virus). While elected officials in the Aude region voted against the widespread culling of affected herds, local farmers hope that the Hérault region will take a similar stance. “We refuse the total culling of our herds as soon as an animal tests positive for CND,” he insists. On the contrary, they are calling for targeted culling of infected animals, accompanied by confinement of the others. Vaccination is underway, but not everywhere. Although no cases of DNC have been detected in the Hérault department, the vaccination campaign, initially planned for certain municipalities near the Aude department, has been extended to the entire department. By January 5th, nearly 7,000 cattle had already been vaccinated, representing more than half of the Hérault cattle population. However, as Nicolas Vitou points out, this vaccination program is not being implemented in the Gard and Pyrénées-Orientales departments, which is causing concern among farmers, particularly ahead of the bullfighting season in mid-March.
A mobilization in a climate of tension with the government
This day of mobilization is planned for the day after a meeting between representatives of the Confédération Paysanne (Farmers’ Confederation) and the Prime Minister. The management of DNC is not the only point of contention: the Confédération Paysanne also opposes the signing of the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, further exacerbating existing tensions with the government. A symbolic and strategic route After their visit to the Departmental Council headquarters, the farmers will return by the same route in the afternoon, before heading to the A9 roundabout in Lunel to symbolically filter traffic. This maneuver aims not only to capture attention, but also to demonstrate the farmers’ unity and determination in the face of a situation that, in their view, requires a more appropriate and nuanced response.