Teulu Pen Bryn Llan Cefn Gwlad

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-I'm in the magnificent

-Vale of Clwyd...

-..in Llanrhaeadr near Denbigh.

-This is Pen Bryn Llan farm...

-..the home of Elfyn and Meinir Jones

-and their three sons.

-It's a proper family farm.

-When you have three sons

-on a family farm...

-..they do more than you think.

-The youngest

-is now in his last year at school.

-The middle son is a fine singer

-and at a London college of music.

-The eldest is a graduate

-of Harper Adams University.

-Surely one of the three

-will come home?

-We'll see now.

-Looking down onto the Vale of Clwyd

-from Pen Bryn Llan...

-..it's hard to believe that Elfyn

-and Meinir milk 200 cattle here...

-..given that they're kept inside

-all year round.

-We have some cows

-that have been in since 2006...

-..while about half of them grazed.

-But for three years,

-they've been in all the time.

-That's not to say some of them

-might graze again next year.

-It all depends.

-Of course, the farm's close by.

-You're fortunate that you can

-rent land, in a place like this.

-Yes, it's hard to get a block

-of land in the Vale of Clwyd.

-But my father rented here...

-..and it has been

-a long-term contract.

-This is the time of year

-to harvest the 55 acres of corn...

-..that will feed the herd

-through the winter.

-It's almost ready.

-I cut through them like this

-to see how far off they are.

-It's too expensive a crop to grow

-and harvest a little too early.

-You need it at its best.

-Of course, the land is in use

-for the best part of a year.

-You'll only get one crop.

-Yes, we sow in early May...

-..and harvest in October.

-On a busy dairy farm, there's plenty

-of work for the whole family.

-When they get the chance...

-..Ynyr, the youngest,

-who's still at school...

-..and Llion, the eldest,

-who has just graduated...

-..are always keen

-to help their parents.

-It was also good

-to see Dafydd, the middle son...

-..singing so well

-at this year's Anglesey Eisteddfod.

-# If ye would know how I take life

-and play my part

-# I from my father learnt

-the earliest human art

-# I learnt to make the fen

-all fruitful meadow land

-# And how to clothe with green

-the barren waste of sand #

-How many farmers

-have sung that old song?

-Pen Bryn Llan

-is a productive dairy farm.

-Even though there is uncertainty

-in the industry...

-..with milk prices unstable,

-Elfyn is hopeful for the future.

-# And bend to the ruddy plough

-upon the mountain height #

-The cattle look very happy,

-to think they're inside all year.

-Yes, they're content

-and never seem to miss the fields.

-Food and water and room to lie down

-and they're content enough.

-And they're much better off

-when it's wet.

-Yes, that's right.

-One reason they're inside

-is because you're among houses...

-..and to stop them

-making a mess on the road.

-That was the biggest problem,

-moving them back and forth.

-Because of the farm's geography,

-everything had to cross the road.

-Are there benefits

-to having them inside?

-Or are there drawbacks

-to having them inside all the time?

-Management.

-There's more work involved

-with having them inside, obviously.

-But it's easier

-to manage their feed...

-..because the weather

-doesn't affect the pasture.

-Your cows have fine udders.

-That's an aspect of dairy cattle

-which has improved immensely.

-Yes, certainly.

-I like a good udder.

-It's more important than anything.

-It's more important than anything.

-

-Because you're there twice a day.

-That's true, and I like something

-nice to look at while I'm milking.

-Supporting Elfyn at Pen Bryn Llan

-is his wife, Meinir...

-..who's as happy in the milking

-parlour as she is on a tractor.

-Well, Meinir.

-Hello, how are you?

-It's a husband and wife job

-day in, day out.

-Jack of all trades!

-That's a family farm for you.

-Everyone has to pitch in.

-Everyone has to pitch in.

-

-Pull their weight, yes.

-What's on today?

-Bedding for the calves?

-Hay under the calves, yes.

-That's expensive stuff these days.

-Very expensive, yes.

-But it's important

-to have enough bedding.

-You've raised three sons.

-You must miss them

-every time one leaves the nest.

-Oh, yes.

-You've always been a family

-with the children here.

-We're very close as a family.

-It's hard to see them go...

-..but it's nice that they're doing

-what they want to do.

-And if they want to farm,

-they've been to college.

-Yes.

-You do get some farmers' sons

-who don't want to farm.

-We're lucky that all three want to.

-But it's important that they have

-something behind them as well.

-Middle son Dafydd

-is about to leave the nest...

-..to study at the Royal College

-of Music in London.

-But it's clear where his heart lies.

-This is quite a young cow.

-This is quite a young cow.

-

-Yes, on her second calf.

-The herd is all Holsteins.

-The herd is all Holsteins.

-

-Yes, they're all pure Holsteins.

-The cattle are inside

-summer and winter, day and night.

-Yes, 24/7, as they say.

-It must make the job easier

-when the weather's bad.

-Yes, every day's the same.

-You get into a routine

-and just do it.

-But you can't lean on a gate

-and watch the cows in the field.

-That's the only thing, yes,

-when the weather's fine.

-Where did this interest start?

-Are you the first in the family

-to want to show cattle?

-All three of us showed cattle

-when we were younger.

-We started at Llanrhaeadr show,

-almost as soon as we could walk.

-My interest has grown since then.

-Farming can keep you at home

-for long periods.

-It's good to have something

-different to look forward to..

-..like choir practice

-every Thursday.

-Are you in a choir?

-Are you in a choir?

-

-I've just left Lleisiau Menlli...

-..as I'm off to college,

-and Cytgan Clwyd choir.

-But I'm too old for that now too!

-It'll be

-a bit different in London...

-..and leaving

-the beautiful Vale of Clwyd.

-It will be a big change

-going into the city.

-There'll be less greenery...

-..but I'll appreciate it more

-when I come back.

-Over the years, you must have helped

-with all aspects of the farm's work.

-Yes, that's true.

-Yes, that's true.

-

-But you're focusing on singing.

-It was a tough decision,

-which way I was going to go.

-Up to sixth form,

-I still wasn't sure.

-Would I go for agriculture

-at Harper Adams University...

-..or for the singing?

-The singing won out eventually.

-Your voice was coming now as well.

-You've competed quite a lot by now.

-Yes, I've been around

-the eisteddfodau since I was small.

-Local eisteddfodau,

-and the Urdd and the National.

-I've enjoyed it

-and gained experience.

-Of course,

-and this year in Anglesey...

-..you won the solo

-with Idris Lewis' Can Yr Arad Goch.

-Watching you sing

-was like watching a master at work.

-You enjoy it, don't you?

-Yes, I do. I love it.

-There's something

-about an audience's reaction.

-It does something to you.

-Yes, it does,

-and the pavilion has changed now.

-They audience is a lot closer,

-and it makes a difference.

-# And bend to the ruddy plough

-# Upon the mountain height #

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-It's late September...

-..and the maize harvest

-is about to begin at Pen Bryn Llan.

-Elfyn Jones is hoping

-for some favourable weather.

-You're doing well with this maize.

-How many acres of it

-do you grow in a year?

-We grow about 55 acres, in all.

-About 18 acres under plastic,

-as an early crop...

-..then the rest

-comes a little later.

-It's a crop that has become vital...

-..for all these large herds.

-Yes, it has.

-It's excellent feed

-for the cattle...

-..and it mixes well with silage.

-With the TMR,

-the Total Mix Ration...

-..yes, it makes very good feed.

-I wouldn't like to be without it.

-This is a product that's cut,

-like the silage of old...

-..and goes directly into the pit.

-Yes, it's cut and goes straight in.

-The machine that harvests it

-is incredible, the speed.

-Do you bring contractors in?

-Do you bring contractors in?

-

-Yes, contractors.

-We use contractors for most jobs.

-We only do the slurry

-and the fertilizer ourselves.

-Everything else is a contractor.

-With just over 50 acres of maize...

-..and with favourable weather,

-how long will it take to harvest?

-They clear up to 50 acres a day.

-Get away!

-They shift a lot of stuff

-when they're at it.

-That's some machine.

-It must be.

-And they go at some speed.

-They don't hang about.

-The trailers and the machines

-keep getting bigger.

-It doesn't take them long

-to clear it, not long at all.

-Is it anything like barley?

-Is the stem as valuable as the cob?

-Or is just the cob?

-No, the leaves and stems

-are just as important as the cob.

-You have to gather it all in.

-You'd never believe it.

-Good grief! You're vanishing,

-there's so much growth.

-You could stand

-on your own shoulders!

-The cob weighs as much

-as the rest of the plant.

-Years ago, Dad carried out

-an experiment and weighed them.

-It's full of nutrition, isn't it?

-Oh, yes.

-And that's all stripped away?

-The machine takes it all in...

-..and this weighs the same

-as the rest of the plant.

-If you weighed this and the plant

-separately, they'd balance out.

-The machine cuts every one

-of these kernels in half.

-It's hard to believe,

-but it opens each one out.

-You can tell that it's nutritious

-and must make excellent feed.

-Yes, it's nutritious,

-and it gives them condition as well.

-The eldest son, Llion,

-is just back from college.

-Like Dafydd, his heart is also set

-on working at home on the farm.

-Llion, how are you?

-Llion, how are you?

-

-Very well, thank you.

-You're the oldest of the boys.

-You're the oldest of the boys.

-

-Yes, that's right.

-You've just finished college.

-Yes, I finished at

-Harper Adams University this week.

-Is there a big day ahead of you?

-Is there a big day ahead of you?

-

-Yes, graduation day.

-Good lad.

-Did you enjoy it there?

-Did you enjoy it there?

-

-Yes, thank you.

-It was a great experience.

-A four-year course,

-Agricultural Engineering.

-I spent the third year working

-for Teagle Machinery in Cornwall...

-..with straw-cutting machines.

-You got to do the actual work.

-Yes, a little bit of everything.

-Six months of my time there

-was spent in the design office.

-I was able to do

-a big design project.

-That product is now on sale.

-It's nice to see something

-that you've done on the market.

-What is going to happen

-now that you've graduated?

-At the moment, I think

-that my future lies at home.

-The engineering course

-was agricultural.

-And the things I've learnt

-on the course...

-..will be extremely useful

-to help Dad at home...

-..and to work alongside him.

-Your parents

-will be looking forward to it.

-They're both busy

-and there's a lot of work...

-..when you have 200 cows to milk.

-It's not easy.

-Yes, it is a lot of work for two.

-I think that's where I can help.

-To share the burden

-and let them do less work.

-Once you start farming,

-it's in your blood.

-It's hard to turn your back on it.

-You go to college and learn

-about diversifying and so on.

-A lot of people

-have turned to making ice cream...

-..or selling unpasteurized milk.

-It's becoming a big business.

-What about the youngest son?

-Ynyr is also interested

-in music and singing.

-# I was a part

-of the tithe men's campaign

-# Their boring empty talk

-# I'm a man of the open air

-# Every day, I go to hunt

-on the lands of those who believe

-# That they are the landlords

-# There's no choice,

-we have to change

-# A system that strangles

-our freedom to live

-# Words don't spark a revolution

-# Actions change the world #

-# Now, I must fight

-# Today, I must challenge #

-Well, Ynyr, home from school

-and straight to work!

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-Fine, thank you.

-You're the youngest of the boys.

-Where are you at school now?

-Are you sitting your final exams?

-Are you sitting your final exams?

-

-I've just finished my GCSEs.

-I've gone back into the sixth form.

-What do you intend doing eventually?

-I hope to come back home

-to farm, sometime.

-It depends how I get on at school.

-I hope to go to agricultural college

-then come back home to work.

-What subjects are you studying?

-Maths, Woodwork and Economics.

-Business of some sort.

-They're important subjects today.

-Yes, plenty of work.

-What are your hobbies?

-Rugby or football or singing?

-Yes, I enjoy singing.

-I sing with Cytgan Clwyd choir.

-I like playing football too.

-Do you?

-You're working here at home

-at the weekends and in the evenings.

-As much as I can.

-As far as farming goes,

-what are your interests?

-Cattle or pasture or what?

-Cattle or pasture or what?

-

-Well, a bit of everything.

-Driving tractors, milking,

-whatever needs doing, to be honest.

-Fair play.

-Elfyn and Meinir

-have now reached the crossroads...

-..that faces many families

-as the children reach working age.

-All three are very interested

-in agriculture and farming at home.

-They all lean different ways.

-Llion likes the machinery and crops.

-Dafydd's into the breeding side...

-..and Ynyr pitches in.

-He doesn't mind if it's milking,

-driving the tractor or whatever.

-Everyone should have the chance

-to do what they want.

-Yes, that's true enough.

-But it's very hard

-when land is scarce.

-Yes, it is. We have to look at it.

-Will you and Meinir be farming now?

-The boys are in college

-and what have you.

-The two of you are very busy.

-The two of you are very busy.

-

-We have enough on our plates, yes.

-We have part-time staff coming in.

-Yes, things are

-a bit more difficult at the moment.

-But Llion, the eldest,

-has just graduated at Harper Adams.

-He fancies coming home.

-That would be nice.

-It would ease the burden

-on you and the wife.

-Yes, the farm is still here...

-..but it's important that the sons

-are free to pick their future paths.

-Dafydd has reached the top

-with his singing...

-..and it all started

-in Nain, Mrs Brenda Jones' parlour.

-# There's a wideness in God's mercy

-# Like the wideness of the sea

-# There's a kindness in His justice

-# Which is more than liberty

-# There is no place

-where earth's sorrows

-# Are more felt than up in Heaven

-# There is no place

-where earth's failings

-# Have such kindly judgment given

-# But we make His love too narrow

-# By false limits of our own

-# And we magnify His strictness

-# With a zeal He will not own

-# If our love were but more simple

-# We should take Him at His word

-# And our lives

-would be all sunshine

-# In the sweetness of our Lord

-# In the sweetness of our Lord #

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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