FARMERS' wives in North and East Yorkshire are still seen by the public as rosy-cheeked, plump and preoccupied with baking cakes, despite the crisis hitting the industry.

A new national study, highlighted by the National Farmers' Union, shows a majority of people maintaining this outmoded view.

Most quizzed also continued to regard traditional roles as being among the primary responsibilities of women on the farm.

After cooking, 74pc believed that farmers' wives spent most of their time looking after the children, while 64pc thought they kept track of bills and paperwork, and 79pc said wives helped to feed the animals.

The survey, by Taylor Nelson Sofres, involved interviews with 2,500 people aged over 16 across England and Wales.

But the NFU says this perception is a far cry from the reality of life on the front line. For many women caught up in the worst slump to hit farming in 30 years.

Statistics showed that nearly half had a key role in managing the farm business, 65pc were a partner in the agriculture operation and more than a third were responsible for new enterprises on the farm.

Helen Swiers, chairman of York County NFU, is among farming women teaming up this week to share their experiences and business ideas and offer each other support at a series of farmhouse seminars organised by the NFU, in conjunction with the National Federation of Women's Institutes and the Women's Food and Farming Union. She will be hosting a forum at her farm at Broxa, near Scarborough, on Thursday. Askham Bryan College, near York, will be the venue for a forum on Wednesday afternoon.

"Farmers' wives have always played their part and filled the gap," said Mrs Swiers, "but it is only starting to be acknowledged now."

Not only are farmers' wives mucking in on the farm but increasingly they are taking jobs outside farming to supplement incomes.

And it was usually farmers' wives, said Mrs Swiers, who were at the forefront of diversification projects, mainly because their husbands were needed to maintain the core business. Examples include, farmer's wife Sally Robinson, from Old Byland, near Helmsley, who boosted her farm's fortunes by setting up bra business Ample Bosom.

Mr Swiers added: "Farmers' wives can feel quite isolated at times, and the forum is also an opportunity for us to offer each other support. It can be helpful to know people are encountering the same problems."

The forums, which are part of international celebrations for World Rural Women's Day on October 15, will end with a day of prayer co-ordinated by the NFU and WFU on Sunday at dozens of churches.