Germany's Habeck hopes to speak with protesting farmers in Mainz

German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck hopes to use planned farmer protests during his visit to the western city of Mainz on Thursday as a chance for dialogue with the demonstrators.

A convoy of tractor-driving farmers have announced a protest in Mainz, part of a wave of demonstrations against government plans to eliminate a diesel fuel subsidy for the agricultural sector.

"The farmers naturally have concerns and needs which, in my view, go beyond the agricultural diesel discussion," Habeck said on Thursday.

He did not know whether they could all be resolved in the evening, "but if there is a chance to have a brief exchange of views, then I would like to take it."

Habeck, a leading Green Party politician, has been a particular target of ire among many of the protesting farmers.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition agreed to eliminate the fuel subsidy as part of efforts to plug a major budget gap by raising tax revenue and cutting spending.

The move outraged German farmers, many of whom see themselves as threatened by rising costs and burdensome regulations. Farm groups have demanded that the government withdraw the proposal, something that leading ministers including Habeck have refused.

Farmers have staged numerous protests against the subsidy cuts across the country in recent weeks, including a mass rally in Berlin that attracted several thousand tractors to the city centre.

The German Farmers' Association called for further nationwide protests on Friday with rallies, bonfires and vigils.

The group's leader, Joachim Rukwied, urged German lawmakers to support farmers and vote against the government when the budget comes up for debate in parliament next week.

Farmers from the eastern state of Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin, announced plans for tractor parades in front of the offices of all three parties in Scholz's coalition on Friday.

Brandenburg Farmers' Association President Henrik Wendorff said he expected around 100 to 150 tractors to take part in the demonstration against Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), Habeck's Greens and the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP).

Habeck said he believes in the power of conversation and the right of peaceful protest.

But Habeck also referenced an ugly incident earlier this month where his ferry home from a North Sea island was forced to divert after an angry crowd including farmers gathered to await him at the ferry landing.

Habeck is visiting Mainz to visit local business leaders, including the Mainz-based multinational glass company Schott.