France: Farmers blockade Eure govt building to protest low dairy & meat profits

Angry farmers have dumped agricultural waste in front of a government building in charge of agriculture in the region of Eure, in the Normandy town of Evreux, Tuesday, as part of ongoing protests against the unfair profits that supermarkets and retailers are making on dairy and meat products in comparison to farmers and distributors. Farmers also dumped waste including manure and tyres outside Evreux's Cora supermarket before blocking entrances to the town earlier on Tuesday, following a similar Monday protest in the town of Caen. The farmers accuse retailers and supermarkets of breaching an accord to raise food prices by a few cents per week. The farmers, organised by the JA28 and FNSEA 27 unions, have refused to end their protests until they receive a personal visit and assurances of action from French Agricultural Minister Stephane Le Foll after having rejected an invitation to send a delegation to meet him in Paris on Thursday. Le Foll stated over the weekend that about 25,000 dairy, beef and pork farmers are on the brink of bankruptcy as livestock farmers face the worst crisis in the country for 30 years. French President Francois Hollande declared on Tuesday that he would announce an emergency measures package regarding the affected agricultural sectors from Paris on Wednesday.