French farmers have dumped piles of hay in front of the French presidential palace to protest falling food prices and demand more help from the government.

Police have used tear gas to push back demonstrators from the Young Farmers union. About 100 protesters took part Thursday morning.

French farmers are in debt and facing other difficulties as food prices have fallen from record highs in 2007. The Agriculture Ministry said this week that farmers' revenues fell 34 percent in 2009. The industry crisis is considered the worst in three decades.

President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged in October to provide euro1 billion ($1.5 billion) in bank loans and other aid measures for cash-strapped farmers. Farmers say they are not satisfied.