MRS DOWN'S DIARY

"IF YOU want any steak for John you had better buy it this week," my butcher said. "Beef has gone through the roof. It's because you farmers want all this money for feed."

What villains farmers are, to be true.

"What had he paid for lamb?" I asked, knowing that prices had sunk to an all- time low and that it is cheaper to send lambs to be processed for bio-fuel in Scotland than even attempt to fatten them.

Plans to turn wheat into bio-fuel are being scuppered now that the price of corn has risen so much.

Never mind put a tiger in your tank. How about a baa-lamb? Wonder if that means that vegetarian and vegan drivers will have to take to their bikes?

John has pruned our flock of breeding sheep drastically.

No-one we know has any faith in sheep. "They have been a waste of time this year" is the general agreement.

Prices at market are the same as 20 years ago, so if you are paying any more in the shops do not blame farmers. "You can't turn women, water and sheep" I was told the other night, and I think that might also include the Government's perception of farming being an industry that can endlessly absorb setbacks.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette October 17