Polish farmers protested at the border crossing with Ukraine over low grain prices

On Saturday, September 6, Polish farmers held a protest near the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing with Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s State Customs Service, the farmers temporarily blocked trucks heading to Ukraine until 17:00 Polish time. The action was aimed at addressing low grain prices and unfair conditions in the agricultural market.

As reported by the Polish outlet Tygodnik Rolniczy, the protest took place in Medyka, located in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship. The farmers described the action as a warning, highlighting the critical situation in agriculture. They stated that warehouses are overflowing, loans are not helping, and grain sales are hindered by low procurement prices.

“We’re backed into a corner. Loans don’t save us; we need a market for our grain. Two years ago, we protested here against the influx of Ukrainian grain. Today, we’re back because wheat prices are the same as 25 years ago—600 PLN per ton—while bread has jumped from 2 to 10 PLN,” said Roman Kondrów from the “Subcarpathian Deceived Village” organization.

The farmers’ main grievances included several issues. First, low prices: corn was offered at 350 PLN per ton, which did not cover production costs, and wheat was priced at around 600 PLN per ton. Second, double standards: Poland enforces strict environmental regulations and GMO bans, yet soy from Brazil and Argentina is imported without restrictions. Additionally, farmers complained about the ban on crop protection products, excessive bureaucracy, and EU climate policies that force them to reduce production.

“This was a cry of desperation. Polish villages are collapsing, and we wanted to be heard,” the protesters stated. They emphasized that the current situation threatens the survival of small and medium-sized farms, which struggle to compete in an uneven market.

According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure, truck movement through the Medyka crossing was restored by 16:00 on September 6. The protest ended, but the farmers warned they might resume actions if their demands remain unaddressed.

Tags: Ukraine, grain, Poland, protests, agricultural products, restrictions