Embattled farmers, fighting the foot and mouth epidemic, have suffered another blow as the Agricultural Wages Board ruled that wages for farm workers must rise by 9.9 per cent.

The president of the National Farmers' Union criticised the ruling as "outrageous" and industry economists warned that the increase will cost the industry £86 million a year at a time when farmers' incomes had slumped by 70 per cent to the lowest level since the 1930's.

In the House of Commons, environment minister Hilary Armstrong promised extra help for farmers who choose to diversify into non-agricultural businesses.

Cases of foot and mouth rose by seven to 1,522 yesterday with the number of animals slaughtered rising to 2,349,000.