Joves Agricultors i Ramaders de Catalunya (JARC), an agricultural and livestock farmers’ organisation, will hold a tractor protest in Lleida on Friday 9 October, calling for more help with production costs and drought losses affecting farms without irrigation support.

Farmers and livestock keepers planning to join should gather from 10:00 outside the State Tax Agency delegation in Plaça Cervantes. JARC has asked participants to bring tractors, trailers, slurry tankers and other agricultural machinery.

The convoy will pass several Catalan and Spanish government offices, according to JARC. The organisation has not set out a detailed route or end time in the information provided.

JARC seeks higher diesel and fertiliser support

JARC says the Spanish government’s current agricultural diesel rebate of 20 cents per litre is insufficient. It is seeking a minimum compensation of 40 cents per litre, alongside tax reductions linked to electricity and gas use, stronger fertiliser aid and the fullest possible use of European crisis funds.

The organisation says agricultural diesel became 62.1% more expensive over six months, while urea and other fertilisers rose by between 50% and 80%. It also cites higher electricity, gas and animal-feed costs.

  • a minimum 40-cent-per-litre agricultural diesel rebate;
  • specific tax reductions for electricity and gas consumption;
  • increased aid for fertilisers; and
  • maximum national top-ups to European crisis funding.

JARC says high temperatures and low rainfall have damaged rain-fed crops. It also points to price crises affecting vineyards, rice and citrus farms.

2025 drought package covered several crops

The Generalitat’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food reached a separate aid agreement with agricultural organisations on 4 February 2025. The agreement covered crops severely affected by drought and other adverse conditions during 2023 and 2024.

According to the Generalitat announcement, the package was worth about €25.6 million and supplemented drought aid paid during 2024. It included support for maize, market gardening, vineyards, fodder crops, dry-land olive groves, cherry trees, almond trees, carob trees and hazelnut trees.

That 2025 agreement is separate from JARC’s planned 9 October 2026 protest. JARC says the measures now announced by the Spanish government and the Generalitat do not adequately compensate farms for rising costs and drought conditions.

Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by Ràdio Tàrrega.