NORTH Yorkshire tenant farmer Mrs Rosey Dunn has been named the North-East's farming woman of the year in the NFU president's awards.

Mrs Dunn, who farms at Stockton on the Forest, near York, juggles the responsibilities of motherhood with running a mixed farm alongside her husband Alisdair.

A full partner in the business, she is a familiar sight at the local auction mart where she buys and sells their sheep and cattle.

Since the farming crisis began three years ago, her husband has been driving lorries during the winter months to supplement their income, leaving his wife in sole charge of the farm.

The farming award aims to raise the profile of women who play a pivotal role on the farm.

The judges of the regional heats were particularly impressed by Mrs Dunn's enthusiasm and described her as "an outstanding ambassador for the farming industry".

There are 250 breeding ewes and 110 beef cattle reared on the 112-acre farm. Cereals and sugar beet are also grown there.

Mrs Dunn, who is 39, said: "In recent years, women have taken on an increasingly important role in agriculture and have become more and more involved in farm businesses.

"I enjoy the challenge that running a busy farm brings and I welcome the responsibility of making day-to-day decisions, but our business is definitely a team effort and my husband and I work well together.

"Alisdair and I set the business up 15 years ago and we run the farm on a team basis. He has taught me a lot, and encouraged me in my practical skills and knowledge of the industry, but I do 50pc of the paperwork and ensure everyone gets paid. I also have a small hand which helps at lambing time - particularly with difficult births!"

She grew up in the village of West Knapton, Malton, and was employed at a number of farms after leaving school. She met her husband, who had been a farm manager for ten years, while she was working as a tractor and combine driver.

The Dunns' son ,James, is now 14 and keen to take over their farm.

Mrs Dunn was recently elected vice-chairman of the NFU York county branch and looks set to be only the second woman chairman of the county.

She has lobbied MEPs and Commissioners in Brussels, been host to school visits at her farm and represented her industry in many national, regional and local media interviews. She has also helped promote the little red tractor food label and British agriculture at events in London, Hull, North-allerton and York.

She added: "When I was at the European Parliament I had to stand at the front and eyeball a German MEP while explaining the plight of British farmers. That was quite an initiation into politics."

l The North-East runner-up in the farming woman of the year award was Mrs Carron Craighead, from Ponteland, near Newcastle upon Tyne.

A mother of five young children, including triplets, she helps with much of the farming, and can often be seen at local farmers' markets selling lamb, cooking stir-fries for shoppers and promoting local food.

She plays an active role in the local farming community, and is the Northumberland chairman of the Women's Food and Farming Union