Farmers in northwestern France have repeatedly spread straw, manure, old tractor tyres and vegetables outside supermarkets accused of pushing down prices in recent talks between producers, processors and retailers.

Farming organisations have targeted retailers since the middle of this week, as the Government introduced legislation to strengthen rules on below-cost selling and transparency in food pricing.

Meanwhile, more farmers have blocked motorways for the past week in the southwest of the country over proposed changes to the map of areas of natural constraints, which they say would exclude 1,000 recipients from the scheme in their region.

Others moved into the centre of Montauban, one of the region's main towns, with local media footage showing farmers starting bonfires and clashing with police using water cannons.

Read more

Deep soul-searching among French farmers

Eyes on France as Mercosur talks resume