BRUSSELS (AP) French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire has appealed to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to consider providing urgent aid to dairy farmers hit by falling milk prices.

Mr. Le Maire met with Mr. Barroso on Friday to push for new measures to help farmers. Thousands of farmers from across the EU have protested in Brussels recently, demanding the bloc reconsider moves to end quotas that guarantee prices.

Mr. Le Maire says EU officials should analyze why milk prices have fallen. He suggests the EU bring back stockpiling dairy products to lower amount reaching the market as a way to raise prices.

Dairy farmers say they need drastic steps now because a 50 percent drop in milk prices over the last year is forcing them to sell below cost.

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