The farmers and ranchers are back on the streets. This Wednesday, a tractor rally, called by ASAJA, COAG, and the Union of Unions of Farmers and Ranchers, will travel through several of the main roads of the capital and will end in front of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, in Atocha. The arrival of around 500 tractors from different parts of Spain is expected.
The first movements are scheduled from 6:30 AM and the entry of the columns into the city will occur starting at 8:30 AM. The tractors will converge in Colón Square at 11:00 AM and, from there, will continue along Recoletos promenade and Prado promenade until the Atocha area, where arrival is expected around 1:00 PM. The concentration is authorized until 6:00 PM, although the resumption of circulation will depend on how the mobilization progresses.
The protest aims to demand measures to ensure the profitability of agricultural and livestock operations, in light of the increase in production costs, the prices received by producers, and the bureaucratic burden.
Schedules for the tractor rally in Madrid today
- From 6:30 AM: the movements of the columns from their points of origin begin.
- Starting at 8:30 AM: the entry of the tractors into Madrid and the beginning of the main incidents in urban circulation is expected.
- At 11:00 AM: the five columns will converge in Colón Square.
- Around 1:00 PM: expected arrival at the Ministry of Agriculture, in Atocha, for the final concentration.
- Until 6:00 PM: scheduled time for the concentration and the main impacts related to the protest.
Route of the tractors: the five columns
The columns will access Madrid from five points: Torrejón de la Calzada, Guadalajara, El Espinar, Buitrago del Lozoya, and Arganda del Rey. All will converge in Colón before continuing together towards the Ministry of Agriculture.
1. From Torrejón de la Calzada
The column will enter through Vía Lusitana and Plaza Elíptica. It will continue along Marcelo Usera, Vado de Santa Catalina, the passage of the Canalization, the bridge of Andalucía, the square of Legazpi, the promenade of Delicias and Embajadores. It will then pass through Puerta de Toledo, Gran Vía de San Francisco, Bailén, Plaza de España, Princesa, Alberto Aguilera, Carranza, Sagasta, Alonso Martínez, and Génova until reaching Colón.
2. From Guadalajara
The itinerary will pass through the roundabout of the Hermitage of the Virgin of Solitude, the avenue of Logroño, Alcalá street, Francisco Silvela, Joaquín Costa, and the promenade of Castellana, before reaching Colón square.
3. From El Espinar
The tractors will access via the bridge of the French and will continue along the promenades of Ruperto Chapí and Camoens, Marqués de Urquijo, Princesa, Alberto Aguilera, Carranza, Sagasta, and Génova, until Colón.
4. From Buitrago del Lozoya
The column will circulate through Nuestra Señora de Valverde, the avenue of Llano Castellano, Mauricio Legendre, and Daniel Vázquez Díaz. It will then take the promenade of Castellana, cross the underground of Plaza de Castilla, and continue along Castellana until Colón.
5. From Arganda del Rey
The route will run through Pirotecnia, Aurora Boreal, avenue of Democracy, Plaza de Alosno, Casalarreina, avenue of Daroca, Narváez, the M-23, O’Donnell, again Narváez, and Goya, before arriving at Colón.
Once gathered, the five columns will travel along the promenade of Recoletos, the promenade of Prado, and the roundabout of Emperor Charles V, to continue towards the promenade of Infanta Isabel and the Ministry of Agriculture, in the area of Atocha.
Which streets will be closed or have restrictions
The main impacts will be concentrated on the roads included in the itineraries of the tractors and in the common route towards Atocha. The passage of the columns may require temporary closures, detours, and traffic regulations. Among the affected streets and axes are the following:
- South and southwest: Vía Lusitana, Plaza Elíptica, Marcelo Usera, promenade of Delicias, Embajadores, and Gran Vía de San Francisco.
- Center and west: Bailén, Plaza de España, Princesa, Alberto Aguilera, Carranza, Sagasta, and Génova.
- North: avenue of Llano Castellano, Mauricio Legendre, promenade of Castellana, and Joaquín Costa.
- East: Alcalá, Francisco Silvela, avenue of Daroca, Narváez, O’Donnell, and Goya.
- Center and area of Atocha: Plaza de Colón, promenade of Recoletos, promenade of Prado, roundabout of Emperor Charles V, and promenade of Infanta Isabel.
Incidents may also occur on streets near these routes due to detours and the accumulation of vehicles. The forecast of impacts does not mean that all roads will remain closed throughout the morning: the closures will depend on the passage of the tractors and the indications of mobility agents.
How it will affect traffic and which areas to avoid
The tractor protest can complicate movements through the center of Madrid and the accesses used by the five columns. The axis between Colón, Recoletos, the Paseo del Prado, and Atocha will concentrate the joint march, while other roads will suffer incidents as the tractors enter the city.
The districts and areas crossed by the routes include Latina, Carabanchel, Arganzuela, Centro, Moncloa-Aravaca, Chamberí, Tetuán, Salamanca, Retiro, Ciudad Lineal, San Blas-Canillejas, and Vicálvaro. The intensity of the impacts will vary according to the street and the time of passage.
For those who have to travel through Madrid, it is recommended to avoid private vehicles in the affected areas whenever possible, allow more time for travel, and check municipal notices before leaving. The City Council will update the incidents through variable message panels and the profile of the Mobility Management Center.
Who is calling for the tractor protest and what does the countryside demand
The mobilization is called by ASAJA, COAG, and the Union of Unions of Farmers and Ranchers under the slogan 'We produce your food, we deserve to live from our work'. The organizations demand measures so that farmers and ranchers can cover production costs and obtain sufficient remuneration for their products.
Their main demands are:
- Agricultural professional diesel: an emergency plan against the increase in costs and reduced and stable taxation for agricultural fuel.
- A CAP with sufficient funding: they reject budget cuts and demand an agricultural policy that protects the incomes of the sector.
- Fair prices: they demand compliance with the Food Chain Law so that producers can cover their costs.
- Reciprocity in imports: they ask that products from third countries meet requirements equivalent to those demanded of European producers and demand effective border controls.
- Less bureaucracy: they request to reduce the procedures and administrative obligations that farms bear.
The call for this tractor protest aims to convey these demands to the Ministry of Agriculture and demand commitments to improve profitability and ensure the continuity of farms.