French farmers unions organized a nationwide day of protest yesterday, staging demonstrations in villages and cities across France. Thousands turned out, expressing their anger at collapsing prices (due in part to sanctions against Russia), increased environmental regulations, cheap imports, and high costs. They took to the streets, dumping tons of produce, flinging manure on government buildings, burning effigies, and throwing apples at riot police. The farmers also urged their fellow countrymen to "eat French" and support local agriculture.[25 photos]
Farmers dump pumpkins in front of an entrance to buildings of the Vaucluse prefecture in Avignon, southeastern France, on November 5, 2014, during a demonstration called by French farmers unions FNSEA (Federation Nationale des Syndicats d'Exploitants Agricoles) and JA (Jeunes Agriculteurs). France experienced widespread farmer strikes across the country on November 5, protesting their increasing constraints and charges, the collapsing prices of cereals, milk and vegetables, caused in part by the sanctions on Russia, as well as rising fertilizer prices.(Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Imag
A car burns in a bonfire during a protest by hundreds of farmers in Chalon-en-Champagne, France, on November 5, 2014.(Francois Nascimbeni/AFP/Getty Images) #
Demonstrators throw apples at riot policemen during a protest of French farmers in Marseille, southern France, on November 5, 2014.(Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images) #
A child stands near tractors during a demonstration by French farmers in Strasbourg on November 5, 2014, as part of a national day of protest. (Reuters/Vincent Kessler) #
A farmer holding a sign that reads "between agriculture and alimentation there is administration, find the problem" runs past a pile of burning hay and manure dumped outside the DDT (Direction Departementale des territoires) offices during a protest in Vesoul, France, on November 5, 2014. (Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images) #
Farmers burn piles of hay and manure dumped outside the DDT (Direction Departementale des territoires) offices during a protest in Vesoul on November 5, 2014. (Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images) #
French farmers push barriers as they face French riot police during a demonstration in Marseille on November 5, 2014 as part of a national day of protest. (Reuters/Jean-Paul Pelissier) #
Farmers throw newspapers next to a pile of pumpkins dumped in front of the Vaucluse prefecture in Avignon, on November 5, 2014.(Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images) #
A man wearing a mask of French president Francois Hollande runs from a burning effigy of French Ecology minister Segolene Royal as members of the French farmers unions FNSEA and JA demonstrate in Dijon on November 5, 2014. (Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images) #
Farmers build a wall to block the main entrance of the DDT (Direction Departementale des Territoires) during a protest in Vesoul on November 5, 2014. (Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images) #
A man looks at a shopping trolley with a dead boar on top and several coypus (large rodents) inside during a demonstration of French farmers in Nantes on November 5, 2014. Animal rights activists were upset when several farmers were filmed using the coypus as props for the protest, dumping the animals, considered pests, on the street and kicking them. (Reuters/Stephane Mahe) #
A man poses in front of the Marne department prefecture where manure has been sprayed on the walls during a farmer protest on November 5, 2014 in Chalon-en-Champagne. (Francois Nascimbeni/AFP/Getty Images) #
Farmers throw eggs at riot police next to burning tires in front of the prefecture of the Sarthe in Le Mans on November 5, 2014.(Jean-Francois Monier/AFP/Getty Images) #
Beatrice Abollivier, Charente-Maritime Prefect, speaks with farmers who gave her a calf as farmers from the French farmers unions FNSEA and JA demonstrate in La Rochelle on November 5, 2014. (Xavier Leoty/AFP/Getty Images) #
People pick up potatoes distributed by French farmers during a protest at Republique square in central Paris, on November 5, 2014.(Reuters/Philippe Wojazer) #
Farmers block trucks they suspect are carrying foreign goods bound for the French market at a toll gate on the A10 motorway in Sorigny, France, on November 5, 2014. (Guillaume Souvant/AFP/Getty Images) #
A farmer from the French farmers union FNSEA passes by the main entrance of the DDT (Direction Departementale des territoires) with steaming piles of manure stacked outside during a protest in Vesoul on November 5, 2014. (Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images) #
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