The most difficult thing is that the public don't know whether they can come to the farm or not

Beryl Otley

But restrictions imposed in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis have also been putting these subsidiary businesses out of action - and in many cases, it is the new sidelines which have been keeping the farm afloat.

With farm incomes falling by up to 70%, it is easy to see why farmers have had to look elsewhere for revenue sources.

Projects have ranged from farm shops and tearooms to more adventurous schemes such as brewing beer and setting up a parachute school.

The government has encouraged this by offering �150m in rural development grants for England.

Cancellations mount

These have been particularly welcomed in areas such as the west country, which are reliant on agriculture and tourism.

Many farmers there have turned parts of their farms into visitor attractions or opened up bed and breakfast operations, but these are now seriously threatened.

In most cases, the phones have stopped ringing regarding forward bookings

Malcolm Bell SW tourism

"In most cases, the phones have stopped ringing regarding forward bookings," said Malcolm Bell, chief executive of South West Tourism.

"They are also receiving cancellations from people who were due to come down, and obviously the dilemma for an operator is that they don't really want to alienate their customer by demanding payment. Their only other choice is to repay and go without income themselves."

It is often farmers' wives who run these new businesses.

Two women in North Yorkshire have set up a beauty salon and a clothes shop on their premises.

Persuading customers

Nearby, another woman sells bras over the internet.

Not all such businesses are actually on affected land - some of the farms are arable, some shops are in separate premises.

Some farms have become visitor attractions

But persuading customers to keep coming could be difficult.

Get Ahead is a co-operative of 13 outlets around the country selling hats.

The owners hope customers will call to find out the exact position but some are having to make other plans.

"The most difficult thing is that the public don't know whether they can come to the farm or not," explained Get Ahead's Beryl Otley, who runs a showroom near York.

"One of the shops has made tentative arrangements to move into the village, another one has arranged for deliveries to be collected at the local hotel and we are going to put notices in the paper."

Keeping farms going

Mrs Otley said such businesses were becoming increasingly important in ensuring farms kept going.

"Our group is very profitable and it helps with the running of the household and is very heavily relied on in some cases," she added.

Many farms have diversified so far that tourism income is their only real income, and that should be taken into account in financial support now and after, when the crisis is over

Malcolm Bell

However, making short term contingencies is one thing - long term recovery is another.

The first compensation payments have just been announced by the government, but farmers will be hoping ministers realise the full extent of the damage.

"Many farms have diversified so far that tourism income is their only real income, and that should be taken into account in financial support now and after, when the crisis is over," said Malcolm Bell.

With 1,200 farm attractions attracting 10 million visitors each year, it is clear the traditional face of farming in the UK has changed a great deal.

If customers as well as livestock are affected by foot and mouth, farmers might have nowhere else left to turn.