Madam, I must say how much I enjoy reading the letter page every week.

There's always something to laugh at - I'm so pleased there are enough with nothing better to do than to write about their gripes, as did R Garratt.

I always love it when grandfather is brought up. It is true what she says, of course, but in "grandfather's day" a good finished lamb would pay a week's wage to a working man, a ton of wheat, now valued at about £70, would pay three to four weeks.

Tears were shed by grown men when tractors replaced horses, they knew driving over soil would compact it and ruin it, but yields have gone up, not down so how could that be unsustainable?

Then there are those who begrudge the amount farmers cost taxpayers in subsidy, so should we praise the ones who grow potatoes and strawberries, which are not subsidised? No, they get even more complaints.

In "grandfather's day" 50% of a working man's earnings went to buy food for his family - he was pleased to get it.

Now it is less than 15%, the essentials of life come so easily we have time to write letters to the newspaper. Keep up the good work.

CLIVE DALE,

Preston-on-Wye.