I was absolutely delighted to receive a call today from a lady from a recruitment agency, asking if I had a vacancy for a new sales person. Now... I have worked in sales for about nine years and as much as I would like to think that Rural World was generating enough business to be able to recruit an experienced full time sales person, to be honest, we ain't there yet!

So why was I so thrilled? The gentleman in question had come over from New Zealand and was asked by the agency to name some companies that he would like to work for and he apparently said he'd like to work for Rural World! It's nice to think that the word is spreding that far!

Actually, there appears to be a shortage of skilled workers in agriculture at the moment. I'm not sure if that extends to sales - there does always seem to be a raft of sales men and women out there - but other areas seem to be crying out for skilled staff. In fact, in his article in the Independent today http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/az-careers/agriculture-671529.html?r=RSS ) , Allan Nickson of Myerscough College suggests that this shortage is affecting other countries too to the point where they are looking to poach our newly qualified students! John certainly isn't often short of contracting work to supplement the farm and with the shearing season nearly here, I'm sure that he won't get much spare time to spend at home. So I do have to ask myself, what has happened to our own agricultural career path to bring about this shortage?

I can't help but wonder if part of the problem has been caused by our potential young farmers growing up on family farms that have been constantly hit by devastating issues such as BSC and Foot and Mouth. Living with the turmoil and insecurity brought about by these disasters must surely have put a good number of young people off from following in their parents farming footsteps. I also think that as the old ways of tenant farming slowly come to a close, most young people brought up in a tenant farming household realise that unless they are very fortunate or very successful, having a farm of their own some day is highly unlikely. In fact, that's exactly the position that John and I are in now - do we own a house or land? At the moment we certainly can't afford both!

So I'm really not surprised that the young people in our rural communities are shying away from agriculture as a career and to be honest, I can't say I blame them. It's hard work, involves long hours, reems of paperwork and legislation and frankly, isn't very financially rewarding. However, if you've ever got up early in the spring and watched the sun come up after having saved the life of a ewe and her lambs by correcting a badly presented lamb and helping it into the world, then gone home to a full english breakfast, safe in the knowledge that you've already burned off the calories then you'll know why I will keep fighting to ensure that John and I can keep farming!