GETTING down to the bare essentials has proved a nice little earner for a farmers' charity.

Dairy Daughters, the livestock AI company, produced a 2008 calendar featuring its own scantily-clad female staff.

They were sent to customers free of charge with a request that they make a donation to the Farm Crisis Network charity - £1,500 was raised.

Alison Lovell, sales and marketing manager who modelled as "November", said the staff are in daily contact with farmers by phone.

"Now they can finally put a face to the voice, which we have found strengthens our relationships,"

she said.

"Some of our farmers have even told us that they keep their girl' up on the wall, no matter what month it is!"

Helen Bagwell, the charity's deputy national co-ordinator, said they had recently been particularly busy helping farmers and their families cope with livestock disease outbreaks and movement restrictions.

Other problems often include low prices for farm produce, the burden of regulation, health, depression, bereavement and family breakdown.

The charity was founded in 1995 and relies heavily on donations and its network of over 250 volunteers.

It gives practical and pastoral care to more than 3,000 people a year and can help find financial assistance.

Its work reached a peak last autumn, after a prolonged period of low farm incomes, the additional strain of severe flooding and outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, bluetongue and avian flu.

Mrs Bagwell said: "We handled five times more calls than usual, and have been helping over 400 farming families in some months."

The FCN helpline - 0845-367-9990 - is open 7am to 11pm each day. Further information is available on www.fcn.org.uk.