They blocked roads with tractors in response to plans to phase out agricultural subsidies.
Convoys lined German roads, while in Berlin dozens of tractors blocked the main avenue leading to the Brandenburg Gate.
Police reports said roads were blocked in many locations nationwide, and caused traffic jams during the morning rush hour.
Farmers have vowed to blockade major traffic and logistics routes for a week.
They argue an end to tax breaks will drive farms out of business.
Joachim is a truck driver.
"What the government is doing to us, increasing the road tax, increasing the price for diesel and so on, no one can afford this anymore. Everybody is affected and the problem is, everyone going shopping notices it and has to suffer."
Authorities are racing to finalize a draft budget for this year that was delayed by a court ruling.
A backlash from farmers last week caused Germany's ruling coalition to make unexpected changes.
The farmers' tax break on agricultural diesel now won't be abruptly ended, but the subsidy will be reduced by 40% this year, and by just under a third next year.
It will eventually end from 2026.
The government also dropped plans to abolish the preferential treatment in vehicle tax for forestry and agriculture.
The German farmers' association said the changes weren't enough and stuck with plans for protests.
