TORRENTIAL rain is causing problems for farmers across the county as they try to gather their harvest.

Farmers from Tarrant Rawston to West Lulwoth are battling the elements as they try to save crops of wheat, hay, and barley from the elements.

Matthew Price, a senior agent at the Sturminster Newton office of the NFU Mutual finance firm, told the Daily Echo that conditions were "grim".

"Farmers are not very happy at the moment. I looked out of my window before I went to bed and saw headlights moving in all the fields around me in fear of the torrential rain forecast that night," said Mr Price.

"A lot of barley is still standing because of the warm, moist conditions. When the crop starts to sprout again, it's a sign that it's ruined.

"Work is starting to back up. For contractors, all the jobs are coming at once, with farmers asking for the crop to be cut on the few bright days.

"Livestock farmers are also affected because they need straw for their animals," said Mr Price.

Rawston Farm is among those feeling the effects of the bad weather. The 2000-acre mixed farm in Tarrant Rawston is owned by James Cossins.

"The weather has been really bad. We're about two weeks behind. Some areas of the country have had good yields, but the poor quality means the price is depressed," said Mr Cossins.

Planting of next season's crops could now be delayed as farmers struggle to harvest their fields of this year's yield, he added.

Paul Simpson, who runs Newlands Farm in West Lulworth, said progress in harvesting his wheat, barley, oats and oilseed rape had been "completely" hampered by the weather.

"We're burning about 1,000 litres of diesel fuel a day just to dry the grain. It's at the stage now where it's starting to fall out in the wind, so we have to get it done," he said.