Oh la vache!

"Oh la vache!" is basically the French way of saying "holy cow!" which I actually heard someone say today while watching the arrival of dozens and dozens of tractors at the official gathering point for the demonstrating farmers. It was quite appropriate, on the day for the manif (manifestation), with the most recent figures reporting 1,700+ tractors from all over the region of Moselle (and elsewhere in Lorraine) descending on Metz to protest unfair and unreasonable prices in the agriculture world.


"Sarkozy: L'agriculture a un prix" [click for photos from all over France] was the slogan of the day for the FNSEA (Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles), the national farmer's union. The farmers are reminding President Sarkozy that farming is costly, and that being underpaid for their products is unacceptable. Much like in the US (Vermont, for example, where dairy farmers aren't being paid what it takes to produce each gallon of milk), it's a question of equitable prices. With the support and backing of the National Minister of Agriculture, farmers all over France decided to strike today to drive home the point. There were reportedly 52,000 farmers striking all over France, with about 7,000 tractors in total.

Metz was the notable "capital" of action today, with the largest and most populated demonstration (~3,000 people) this afternoon that involved all 1,700+ tractors forming a loud, honking parade that followed the route of all the major boulevards that encircle Metz-proper. This morning, farmers held a special farmer's market in Metz where they sold their products at realistic, equitable prices. News reports said that 4.5 tonnes of produce was sold in only 1 hour!

The protesting farmers we not an angry bunch, as one might imagine, and not a menacing pitchfork was to be seen. Instead, they enthusiastically had decked out their tractors with the union's flags, signs noting where they came from, and signboards with complaints like:

"Always the same problem: low prices for the producers and high prices on the shelves"

"With Sarko: [only] Promotional Prices"

"No country without Country-men"

"The right prices for survival!"

Lots of people turned out in the streets and marched along the sidewalks beside the tractors, despite the cold mist and drizzle all day long. They cheered, clapped and gave thumbs-ups to the farmers. And really, how often is it that one gets to see thousands of tractors crossing the Moselle in the middle of Metz?