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| French farmers escalate blockades over price squeeze | French farmers escalate blockades over price squeeze |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Farmers in north and west France have blocked roads in protest at falling prices, hours before the government was due to announce emergency aid. | Farmers in north and west France have blocked roads in protest at falling prices, hours before the government was due to announce emergency aid. |
| At one point the A1 motorway was partially blocked south of Lille, as farmers warned of more action if the measures did not go far enough. | At one point the A1 motorway was partially blocked south of Lille, as farmers warned of more action if the measures did not go far enough. |
| Major roads were also blocked around Caen and Poitiers. | Major roads were also blocked around Caen and Poitiers. |
| Farmers accuse supermarkets and the food industry of keeping prices low, forcing many of them into bankruptcy. | Farmers accuse supermarkets and the food industry of keeping prices low, forcing many of them into bankruptcy. |
| Farmers' union president Xavier Beulin has told the government to go further than the "trivial measures" it has so far implemented. | Farmers' union president Xavier Beulin has told the government to go further than the "trivial measures" it has so far implemented. |
| President Francois Hollande intervened in the dispute on Tuesday and Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll promised to look at subsidies to ensure that "aid goes to farmers with financial difficulties". | President Francois Hollande intervened in the dispute on Tuesday and Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll promised to look at subsidies to ensure that "aid goes to farmers with financial difficulties". |
| But Mr Beulin said he was seeking better labelling of French produce, improved contracts and greater focus on debt restructuring for farmers. | But Mr Beulin said he was seeking better labelling of French produce, improved contracts and greater focus on debt restructuring for farmers. |
| "There's a sort of exasperation and anger that's been escalating for weeks. This hasn't come out of nowhere," he told France Info radio (in French). | "There's a sort of exasperation and anger that's been escalating for weeks. This hasn't come out of nowhere," he told France Info radio (in French). |
| That mounting frustration was evident in several areas of Normandy and Brittany in particular. | That mounting frustration was evident in several areas of Normandy and Brittany in particular. |
| Some 200 farmers attacked a supermarket in the Breton town of Lannion late on Tuesday night, dumping manure at the entrance and setting alight to tyres. | Some 200 farmers attacked a supermarket in the Breton town of Lannion late on Tuesday night, dumping manure at the entrance and setting alight to tyres. |
| The Socialist government estimates that 10% of French farms could be facing bankruptcy and is studying an independent report it commissioned on pricing in the food industry. | The Socialist government estimates that 10% of French farms could be facing bankruptcy and is studying an independent report it commissioned on pricing in the food industry. |
| Last month, ministers pushed the food industry to raise the prices paid to farms but Mr Foll said last week that pork producers were still being paid below the target price of €1.40 (£1) per kilo. | Last month, ministers pushed the food industry to raise the prices paid to farms but Mr Foll said last week that pork producers were still being paid below the target price of €1.40 (£1) per kilo. |
| Dairy farmers say they are being paid €300 per tonne of milk and need at least €340 to break even. | Dairy farmers say they are being paid €300 per tonne of milk and need at least €340 to break even. |
| Supermarkets and suppliers are being blamed for not passing on the recent price rises on meat and dairy products. But prices have been pushed down by foreign competition and reduced meat consumption. | |
| A Russian ban on EU food imports and reduced Chinese demand have added to the problems. |