A VISIT by top-ranking agriculture officials to the Yorkshire Dales could become an annual event.

On Thursday and Friday of last week, farmers and other small businesses took the opportunity to demonstrate at first hand some of the problems facing people trying to make a living in rural North Yorkshire to eight officials from Defra.

During a visit arranged by Peter Pybus, chairman of the Dales branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, the group toured a number of farms and businesses, including the Wensleydale Creamery and Outhwaite's Ropemakers, both at Hawes; Dales Shoes in Richmond; McIntyre's abattoir at Bainbridge, water treatment works and landfill sites.

Mr Pybus, of Thornton-le-Moor, near Northallerton, arranged the visit after he went to London in September on behalf of the federation.

He said the officials had been left in no doubt as to the problems faced daily by small rural businesses.

"The visit went exceptionally well," he said. "They learned an awful lot and they were received very well by the farmers and business people.

"It was mainly an exercise to discuss the new environmental rules which are going to be finalised in Brussels this month. We needed to discuss their effect on all rural businesses."

One important issue was the rapid rise in insurance premiums, which had in some cases trebled or quadrupled, leading some farmers and businesses to go uninsured.

Feedback from farmers and businesses following the two-day visit led to a request that it be made an annual event, an idea which has been received favourably by Defra.

During their visit, the officials stayed at Lovesome Hill Farm bed and breakfast, near Northallerton.