Australian Potato growers protest outside McCain Ballarat factory

Potato growers are using 50 tractors to protest outside the McCain factory at Ballarat, in central Victoria, over contract negotiations. The 100 growers have vowed to remain outside the plant until the company meets their demands for a better potato price.

They have been in talks with the Canadian-owned company for several months.

Growers spokeswoman Laura Poole says the protest is an 11th-hour bid to get a better offer.  "McCain haven't given the growers a fair go this year,"she said.

"Growers are completely fed up and this is sort of a last-ditch effort to draw attention to their cause."

McCain Potato Growers Association president Dominic Prendergast says they will not leave until the company responds.