THE extreme summer weather has left many of the region's farmers reeling under severe pressure.

In parts of Yorkshire and the North-East torrential rain has left fields waterlogged, while in Northumberland, last week's floodwaters claimed the lives of at least 800 sheep.

A poor harvest in the arable sector and sodden fields have raised concerns about the impact on next year's plantings.

Even farmers who have managed to get their harvest in have often faced astronomical drying costs.

A spokesman for the North-East National Farmers' Union said: "We have heard some absolute horror stories - moisture contents of 25pc to 30pc, which have to be dried down to 14pc or 15pc causing astronomic drying bills."

The longer drying time has also led to some smaller grain stores having to close until the backlog of wet grain is cleared.

Ironically, although some yields have been high, the crop is poor quality.

The weather has hit the quality of milling wheat, which could lead to a national shortage, and may make farmers consider whether to grow it again - it is the second year running that quality has been hit.

Some farmers are also finding signs of sprouting in wheat which is still in the field.

The problems have been exacerbated for the region's more northerly crops which are naturally slower to ripen.

Many livestock farms have been unable to take more than one cut of silage and hay crops have been a wash out. Straw is also expected to be in short supply.

Potentially there could be a shortage of winter fodder, a problem exacerbated on many dairy farms where animals have been moved indoors to escape the constant wet and mud.

The Met Office said this August had seen the least sunshine since UK records began in 1929 - 105.5 hours compared to 170 hours in August last year.

Farming charities say the financial resilience of even the best run farm businesses have been severely undermined by the appalling weather and spiraling costs.

One Yorkshire farmer's wife told them her husband was "absolutely past himself, on the verge of completely breaking down."

The bad summer weather had forced him to constantly bed up the pigs and cattle as they had always been wet.

She wrote: "He is now in the position that he cannot get the straw he needs off the land.

"He is absolutely tired out. He has 2,500 pigs on straw throughout the year and 100 head of cattle.

What if he can't get that straw?

"As ever, the whole family is suffering as a result of this weather. It isn't just prices and yields, it's the usual homestead stress that is having a real impact on all of us.

"This isn't a sob story, this is how it is for us and thousands of other families."

The Farming Help Partnership charities - the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Farm Crisis Network and ARC-Addington Fund - have a wealth of experience in working with farming families and individuals.

They can help with pastoral care and support, housing provision, domestic financial help, access to debt advice, provision for the disabled and elderly, access to professional farm business advice, help with state benefit claims, advocacy in technical farm problems e.g.

with government agencies.

The partnership is ready to help farmers and their families during the current plight.

They can be contacted on 0845- 367-9990.