BUENOS AIRES , Argentina ( CNN ) -- Farmers in Argentina blocked highways and rural routes throughout the country to protest anew the lack in progress in negotiations with the government over export taxes on farm goods . Farmers stage a `` tractorazo '' in Esperanza , Argentina , on March 12 in protest against taxes on exports of soybeans . Argentine television news channel Todo Noticias showed images of trucks and cars stopped along rural routes in the provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Rios on Thursday . In the town of Armstrong , 250 miles northwest of the capital of Buenos Aires , protesters stopped traffic on Route 9 , burned car tires and waved Argentine flags . The roadblocks were the latest in a year-long conflict between the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Argentina 's large farming sector over export taxes on soybeans . Argentina is the world 's third-largest soybean exporter . The country has been hard hit by recent drops in global commodities prices , as well as a severe drought . Last year , demonstrations by farmers caused food shortages and blocked farm products from leaving the country . On Thursday farmers once again mounted roadblocks after lawmakers failed to reach quorum in Congress to debate a bill that would reduce the 35 percent soybean export tax . As farmers gathered Thursday afternoon on the nation 's highways , Fernandez was announcing new money-sharing measures . `` Soy revenues will go to a fund that will be shared with the provinces and municipalities , '' Fernandez told lawmakers at the presidential residence in Olivos . `` Seventy percent of the fund will be controlled by the federal government and 30 percent by governors and local officials . '' `` It 's never been our intention to take anything away from anyone , '' she said , alluding to complaints from farmers that the export taxes on soybeans were unfair . The president said $ 1.776 billion from the fund would be used for social infrastructure needs -- `` schools , houses , drinking water , sewers . '' Fernandez cited `` the moment of international crisis '' as the reason for her decision to create `` a federal solidarity fund . '' But farm leaders criticized the announcement as a political move during an election year . Fernandez has sent a bill to Congress that would move mid-term congressional elections up four months , from October to June . `` The government again will lose again with ideas like these ; this is an attitude that will only serve to provoke farmers , '' Eduardo Buzzi of the Argentine Agrarian Federation told Todo Noticias . `` The people are still being strangled by these taxes . ''
Roadblocks are the latest in a year-long conflict over export taxes on soybeans . Lawmakers failed to reach quorum in Congress to debate a bill to cut the tax . Fernandez announces fund from soy revenues for provinces , municipalities . Farm leaders criticize announcement as election ploy .