Nodular Dermatitis Outbreak Challenges French Agriculture Amid Rising Farmer Protests

France is grappling with a significant outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis (DNC) affecting cattle, which has sparked considerable concern across the agricultural sector. Since June, more than 110 cases have been reported nationwide, resulting in the euthanasia of approximately 3,000 bovines to curb the disease, heightening fears about the country's status as an agricultural powerhouse.

The Occitanie region has been particularly hard hit, with 25 outbreaks leading to the culling of 760 animals. In response, a crisis cell was established on December 13, 2025, to coordinate containment efforts. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard visited a farm in Haute-Garonne on December 15 and assured stakeholders that the situation remains under control. She announced an ambitious vaccination campaign targeting between 600,000 and 1 million cattle in the South-West and confirmed that culling of affected herds would continue, warning that failure to contain the outbreak could plunge thousands of farmers into severe economic distress.

However, Genevard's reassurances were met with tension during a meeting in Toulouse with around forty agricultural representatives, where unions such as Coordination rurale and Confédération paysanne voiced strong opposition to the culling policy. Their concerns reflect the growing frustration among farmers over the handling of the crisis.

Adding to the unrest, farmers in Corrèze have planned protests on December 16, 2025, involving three major actions expected to cause significant traffic disruptions on important routes such as the A89 and A20 highways. Authorities have urged the public to avoid these areas and consider teleworking to minimize inconvenience.

The ongoing disease outbreak and the resulting measures underscore critical challenges facing French agriculture. The authorities' efforts to contain the problem through vaccination and culling face pushback from the farming community, revealing the precarious balance between disease control and agricultural livelihoods.