FARMERS hit by the flooding crisis, earlier this month, will be briefed on a meeting with the Government on Wednesday.

National Farmers Union (NFU) president Ben Gill has presented a "dossier of chaos" to Agriculture Minister Nick Brown, urging Westminster to thrash out a rescue package for the industry, still locked in its worst recession for decades.

Among the suggestions is a request that the deadlines for planting crops are extended, to ensure owners of saturated land do not miss out on support grants.

At Wednesday's meeting, at York NFU headquarters, farmers will also have an opportunity to highlight the impact of the November deluge.

Yesterday, NFU regional director Richard Ellison said: "For some producers, the financial cost of the recent floods will be disastrous. The NFU will continue to impress on the Government the need for practical assistance.''

Waterlogged fields mean winter cereals have suffered, with a knock-on effect expected during the harvest next summer.

Potato farmers are among the worst hit, with as much as 40 per cent of this year's crop still underground in North Yorkshire.

British Potato Council field manager Marcus Walker said: "These problems shouldn't mean big price rises, because there are potatoes on the Continent, which can be imported."