Politics · Spain · 3 hrs ago
Spanish farmers and livestock breeders protest rising production costs in Madrid
Thousands of Spanish farmers and livestock breeders protested in Madrid with about 500 tractors, calling for urgent government action as production costs rise.
The protest was backed by farming groups Asaja, COAG and Unión de Uniones; UPA did not join.
Farmers say higher energy and fertilizer costs are squeezing incomes, with the article linking the pressure on inputs to the war in Iran.
Growing a hectare of rain-fed cereal now costs about €767, up from about €631 a year earlier, while the price received for wheat rose 14%.
The cost gap is reducing farms’ profitability, the groups say, and threatens their future.
They want a support plan, professional agricultural diesel, fair prices, less bureaucracy and enough funding for the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.
The demonstration ended at Spain’s Agriculture Ministry, where farmers called for concrete measures; the ministry said it considered the protest political and pointed to aid it had approved.
Thousands of farmers and livestock breeders, accompanied by around 500 tractors, are gathering in Madrid to demand urgent support over rising production costs.
The protest is being organized by Asaja, COAG and Unión de Uniones; UPA has distanced itself from the action.
The groups say higher energy and fertilizer costs are undermining the profitability and future of farms.
They are calling for measures including lower production costs, fair prices and less bureaucracy.
Spain’s Agriculture Ministry considers the protest political, according to the article.
- Who
- Thousands of farmers and livestock breeders, with Asaja, COAG and Unión de Uniones organizing the protest. UPA has distanced itself from it.
- What
- A tractor protest demanding urgent measures to address rising production costs and protect farm viability.
- When
- Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
- Where
- Madrid, Spain. The tractor columns are due to converge on the capital and end outside the Agriculture Ministry.
- Why
- Farmers say rising costs, especially for energy and fertilizers, are reducing farm profitability. They also want fair prices and other support measures.
Farm organizations
Spain’s Agriculture Ministry
Character of the protest
Farm organizations
The organizations say the protest is a joint demand for immediate measures to address falling farm profitability and threats to the sector’s future.
Spain’s Agriculture Ministry
The ministry considers the protest political.
Spanish farmers held numerous protests alongside farmers in other European countries, leading to changes including simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Spanish farmers and livestock breeders protested across the country against Common Agricultural Policy cuts and the Mercosur agreement.
Five tractor columns were scheduled to set off from locations in Segovia, Madrid and Guadalajara.
The tractor march was scheduled to leave Plaza de Colón, cross central Madrid and end outside the Agriculture Ministry.
- Tractors
- Around 500
- Organizing groups
- Asaja, COAG and Unión de Uniones
- Cost of producing a hectare of rain-fed cereal
- Rose from €630.75 to €766.93 in one year
- Production costs
- Agricultural diesel rose 51%; fertilizer costs rose 20%
- Wheat price received by farmers
- Rose 14% in the same period
What people are saying
That difference is the profitability that disappears from each farm, and no farmer can absorb it indefinitely.
political