FNSEA president Arnaud Rousseau called it courageous to discuss sector challenges, while La Confédération paysanne criticized the plan as a ‘scandalous social plan.’

The 2026 Salon international de l’agriculture in Paris saw an early ~25% drop in attendance over the first four days, attributed to the absence of bovines amid concerns over bovine dermatitis among breeders.

The attendance decline is tied to the lack of bovines, a first in 62 years, caused by dermatitis concerns, which affected farmer participation and public interest.

Show leadership pledged a return that will be stronger, with plans to work with other fairs and the government to develop protocols safeguarding future events beyond standard health measures.

French leaders, including a 12-hour presence by the president on opening day, acknowledged the unusual fair and absence of cattle, vowing that next year’s edition would be stronger.

The attendance drop is contextualized within broader French agricultural crises, including revenue pressures and the need to adapt to sanitary and trade developments.

Organizers label the edition as a unique, “salon pas comme les autres” due to the cattle absence, marking the first time in 62 years and underscoring emotional impact within the agricultural community.

The article is behind a paywall and requires subscription to access full details.

Further specifics are available to subscribers, as indicated by standard Le Monde paywall prompts.

The fair occurred amid agricultural crisis pressures, intensified by the provisional entry into force of the Mercosur trade agreement, fueling broader controversy among farmers and policymakers.

Organizers note a mixed response: some exhibitors reported higher-quality interactions with visitors and policymakers despite lower overall turnout.

Even with fewer attendees, exhibitors experienced more focused engagement with attendees and policymakers.