Hundreds of tractors driven by angry farmers block traffic during protest over plan to cut nitrate levels

Hundreds of tractors driven by angry farmers protesting plans to cut nitrate levels gathered in Brussels on Friday, disrupting traffic in Belgium’s capital city.

According to Brussels police, the BB farmers association and several others tried to collect more than 2,700 agricultural vehicles.

Several major roads in Brussels were closed and police warned that disruption could last until the end of the day, recommending that people use public transport instead of private cars.

Brussels on lockdown after explosions at transport hubs

The Flemish regional government is struggling to find a deal to reduce nitrate pollution over farmers’ objections that it would lead to the closure of many businesses.

Tractors driven by angry farmers block traffic on a road in the center of Brussels during a demonstration on March 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Farmers also claim that their trade has to make deeper cuts than industry and they would like to see a more equitable spread. Negotiations dragged on for weeks and weakened the regional government of northern Belgium to the breaking point.

Click here to get the Fox News app

The debate over agricultural pollution is fast turning into a political issue in many of the EU’s farming nations. It is set to be a centerpiece of Dutch elections in two weeks’ time and is also affecting Belgium, another EU nation where intensive farming has pitted environmentalists against the agricultural lobby.