German Farmers Converge on Berlin to Protest Against Government Austerity Plan

Farmers from across Germany—many driving their trademark tractors and trucks—converged on Berlin on Jan. 15 to protest against government plans to raise taxes and phase out subsidies associated with agricultural production. The show of force in Berlin caps a week of high-profile strikes by German farmers who have blocked roads nationwide, including several border crossings. Striking farmers complain that government-imposed austerity measures—if carried out—would drive most of them out of business. One striker from Cologne told Reuters that the country’s farmers would “die out” if the government follows through on plans to raise taxes and scrap agricultural subsidies....