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Aberdeenshire sheep farmer John Fyall has become an internet sensation in recent days, following his view on the price of wool.
In a Facebook post this week, Fyall took aim at the price of wool, saying that it has devalued to such an extent that it cannot buy even a common household television.
“One hundred years ago this load (of wool) would buy me a house. Fifty years ago it would buy me a Mercedes car. Ten years ago it would have bought me a BMX.
“Today, it’s come up a wee bit again, but would not buy a 48-inch Sony Brava TV and a year’s Sky package.”
“Yet there’s folk with no intention of working that can afford the Sony, because farm produce is such a low price in their basket and complain about subsidising farmers. A year’s wool harvest from over 700 sheep. Less than a best-selling telly,” he said.
Speaking to the Farmers Journal Scotland this week, Fyall said the general public is falling further away from understanding the role of the farmer.
“I wasn’t trying to be negative – it was just an observation. I just wanted to show people the value of what the farmer does. There was a time when everyone had a relative who was a farmer, a granny or an uncle who farmed, but that’s the case anymore. We have to show people just what we do and our importance,” he said.
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