Sad facts - In so many countries, including ours, the hours worked and investment involved in agriculture is just never fully appreciated.

Reports have just come from America confirming that, for every dollar (100 cents) consumers spend on food, the farmer receives just 14.8 cents. This figure represents a five per cent decrease from the previous year’s data and the lowest ‘farm share’ since USDA began reporting the figures in 1993.

US NFU president Roger Johnson noted that new low speaks to the state of the farm economy, corporate control of the food system, and the importance of prioritising family farm agriculture in national policymaking.

He says: “This figure strikes a chord with family farmers who are dealing with the sharpest decline in net farm income since the great depression. The prices that farmers have been receiving for their products aren’t paying the bills, and too many are being forced to give up farming.

“Our nation needs a dramatic, progressive movement towards ensuring family farmers can receive a fair price from the marketplace. Otherwise, we’re going to continue to lose too many of the family farmers who feed, fuel and clothe our country, steward our nation’s land, and power our rural communities and economies.”

Indicating a decline of up to 50 per cent on some commodities the latest NFU Farmer’s Share shows that beef producers receive just $2.01 for 1 lb. of beef that costs $8.99 at the supermarket. Wheat farmers average a meagre 12 cents on a loaf of bread that retails for $3.49 and dairy producers receive only $1.34 (less than 6p/litre) from a $4.49 gallon of fat free milk.

Johnson reminded: “Most consumers do not fully realise the volatility and risk associated with farming or the economic despair many family farmers are enduring right now. However, when you consider that what you’re paying at the grocery store continues to drop, and you see the ‘Farmer’s Share’ continue to drop, you can imagine that it’s hard to earn a decent living in agriculture right now.”

(For the benefit of comparison £ sterling equates to 1.36 US dollars).

Just us

You fall, you rise, you make mistakes, you live, you learn. You’re human, not perfect. You’ve been hurt, but you’re alive. Think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, and to chase the things you love. Sometimes there is sadness in our journey, but there is also lots of beauty. We must keep putting one foot in front of the other even when we hurt, for we will never know what is waiting for us just around the corner.

Mindless

At a time when livestock farmers are virtually at their very wits end coping with bio-security measures trying to ensure that bovine tubercolosis does not spread to their animals we see Natural Resources (Wales) sending groups of their officers traipsing, unannounced and with no apparent official permission, from one farm to another, infected or not infected, on river patrols.

In doing so they also refer to what they term as the very latest - but inaccurate - ordnance survey maps which indicate rights of way that do not and never have existed over the past 100 years.

Festival fun

Apart from the royal wedding the highlight of the coming day at the Builth Wells showground is the Royal Welsh Spring Festival with lots for all ages to see and do.

Not least in and around the main ring which is always a hive of activity and this year there is even more going on for all visitors to watch and enjoy.

Throughout the weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, and in-between the show jumping and working hunter classes, the main ring will be packed full of entertaining shows and demonstrations.

Back by popular demand, the exciting and action-packed equestrian sport of scurry racing will be among the attractions in the main ring: opening the season for the Scurry Drivers Association season, this exciting sport gets the crowds gasping and cheering as pairs of ponies pulling specially-built racing carriages weave their way through a series of obstacles at break-neck speed. As the drivers urge their ponies on to notch up the fastest time, their grooms battle to keep the carriages from overturning.

World record holder, James Dylan and his team of amazingly talented riders will also be keeping the spectators on their toes by performing their incredible motorcycle stunts. With their entertaining commentary and high level of skill the James Dylan’s Stuntworld Motorcycle Stunt Show will keep you entertained as you watch on in amazement.

Always a firm favourite with visitors, Meirion Owen and his famous Quack Pack will again be there combining the skills of his clever Border Collies with cheeky Indian Runner ducks - the humorous and hugely entertaining show is not to be missed. Children and adults alike will be transfixed throughout the display and will love the opportunity to jump into the ring and join in with the show.

Visitors will also be able to watch in awe as the BASC Gundog Display team show off the talents of the skillful handlers and clever dogs. The display is geared towards showing visitors how anyone can train a dog, given time and patience, with lots of hints and tips to take home and put into practice with our own dogs.

Completely new for this year, the festival main ring will also host an ever-popular tug-of-war competition along with a spectacular display called the Festival of Welsh Land Rovers. Made up of Welsh Land Rover clubs, displaying a large number of vehicles, ranging from vintage models up to the highly modified vehicles used in endurance events in the modern day.

Festival director Kay Spencer assures me: “We pride ourselves in providing a full and exciting day out for the whole family here at the Spring Festival. Not only is it excellent value for money, with children 16 and under entering for free, there is also a packed programme of workshops, have-a-go activities and interesting things to see and do whilst you’re here.

“Ensuring that the crowds are kept entertained and have something to look forward to throughout the day is very important to us. Along with all things ‘food’ the event is packed full of interesting things to see and do, live music, country sports, livestock, competitions, shopping, demonstrations and fun, have-a-go activities… the perfect day out for all.

When Grace Is Needed

Little Mikey and his family were having Sunday dinner at his grandmother’s house and everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served.

When Little Mikey received his plate, he started eating right away.

“Mikey! Please wait until we say our prayer,” said his mother.

“I don’t need to,” the boy replied.

“Of course, you do,” his mother insisted through gritted teeth. “We always say a prayer before eating at our house.”

“That’s at our house,” Mikey explained. “But this is grandma’s house and she knows how to cook!”