Mon, 05 Feb 2018 Ffermio

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-Farmers frustrated with broadband.

-Has it affected their businesses?

-There are cases where cables

-have reached the poles...

-..but haven't been connected and

-the project hasn't been completed.

-Also on the programme,

-a family invests 1m in its future.

-I'm grateful to Mam and Dad

-for investing the money.

-We have to make the investment work.

-How to avoid pitfalls

-during the lambing season.

-If the lamb doesn't suckle,

-it could get hypothermia.

-With more agricultural services

-moving on line...

-..a fast and effective

-broadband connection...

-..is more important now

-than ever before.

-To improve the service throughout

-Wales, the Welsh Government...

-..awarded the Superfast Cymru

-project to Openreach.

-That project

-has now been completed...

-..but some are still waiting

-and are unhappy with the result.

-I live on a farm

-just outside Llandysul.

-Our broadband is extremely poor.

-It affects my work...

-..when I'm loading photos

-from charity events.

-I also upload videos

-of fundraising concerts.

-I can't upload them because

-the broadband's too slow to do so.

-I have terrible problems

-with broadband.

-I live less than two miles, as the

-crow flies, from the Welsh Assembly.

-I get half a meg of broadband

-to my house.

-I can't get broadband

-to my farm cottage.

-I cannot get broadband to my milking

-parlour and I am really frustrated.

-We've heard a lot

-from the Assembly...

-..about how they've rolled out

-broadband to 80-90% of Wales.

-In our area,

-and across rural Wales...

-..it has to be sorted out to allow

-us to run our businesses properly.

-Critical to making this investment

-work is proper infrastructure.

-Superfast broadband

-and reliable 5G coverage.

-Some weeks ago on Ffermio, we heard

-Michael Gove and Lesley Griffiths...

-..challenging Welsh farmers

-to be more ambitious...

-..by expanding their businesses.

-With all the problems

-surrounding broadband...

-..how will that be possible?

-Bythynnod Cwmcoedog

-relies heavily on broadband.

-Tourists from across the world

-book online to visit the cottages.

-They expect Wi-Fi access

-when they're on holiday.

-Arwel Davies feels this is having

-a negative effect on his business.

-Visitors make their enquiries

-and book online.

-We promote

-and market ourselves online.

-If we don't have sufficient speeds

-to reply, they'll move on...

-..to another company

-We invested in satellite

-broadband...

-..but it's more expensive

-than standard broadband.

-We're constantly making enquiries.

-They told us two to three years ago

-that we'd have it within months.

-We haven't heard a thing...

-..and we don't know

-when we're likely to have it.

-Last year, I visited Dafydd

-and Lynda Morris in Llanrhystud.

-They'd invested in a milking parlour

-which relied on internet access.

-They paid an additional premium for

-a satellite to improve the process.

-A year later, they're still waiting.

-Openreach haven't connected to

-the cable 20 yards from their house.

-Very little has changed.

-BT has been and installed a box.

-You can get fibre through the box

-but nothing's been connected.

-We've paid for 4G for the robots

-because you need internet access.

-If something's wrong with them,

-the people who fix them...

-..need remote access

-over the internet to send updates.

-Everything is linked

-to the internet.

-If we didn't have it,

-I don't know how we'd function.

-Daioni has benefitted

-from the government's scheme.

-The company is based

-in Boncath, Pembrokeshire.

-The situation improved

-three years ago.

-We export many products

-and that's increased over time.

-Hong Kong

-is one of our biggest markets.

-It's important to us because we have

-a small window to speak to people...

-..because of the time difference.

-We come into the office at 8.00am.

-We only have an hour to speak

-to them before they finish work.

-It's very important for us to have

-fast broadband to contact them.

-It's crucial to have fast broadband

-or the business can't grow.

-Some are happy, others feel

-frustrated with the situation.

-In a recent report from the NFU...

-..91% of farmers believe broadband

-is crucial to their businesses...

-..but only 59% believe

-their connection is fast enough.

-Who's responsible

-for that situation?

-The Superfast Wales project was

-funded by the Welsh Government...

-..but Openreach,

-part of the BT Group...

-..was responsible

-for completing the day-to-day work.

-The target was to reach 690,000

-homes. Was this figure reached?

-We've introduced a network

-that allows over 700,000 people...

-..to access speeds of over 30mb.

-We're working

-with the Welsh Government...

-..to show that it's been completed.

-We've heard

-from very frustrated farmers...

-..where cables have reached a pole

-within 20 yards of the business...

-..and they've been there

-for up to a year...

-..but there's still no connection.

-Why hasn't the final work

-been completed?

-There are cases where cables

-have reached the poles.

-People don't realise how far back

-the service has to be connected...

-..to reach the network behind it.

-We've sometimes given work to

-contractors to work on the poles.

-They've completed that work but

-we've had problems further back...

-..which means the project

-hasn't been completed properly.

-We have to return to finish the work

-on the poles...

-..when we've been able

-to sort out the problems...

-..further back in the network.

-The minister responsible

-for this specific scheme...

-..and Wales' digital infrastructure

-is Julie James.

-Last week she announced

-that an additional 80m...

-..would be made available

-to connect almost 100,000 homes.

-What's her response

-to the complaints from farmers?

-Can you understand

-farmers' frustration?

-They've diversified, many have gone

-down the tourist route.

-It's difficult for many to access

-what they've been pushed towards.

-We have every sympathy with that.

-There are two or three elements

-to the offer for farmers.

-Many farmers are connected to

-Superfast, we're pleased with that.

-Those who aren't may be

-in the phases of the next project.

-We're announcing

-three different phases.

-We'll pick up the people

-the last project nearly got to.

-There are about 2,500 of those,

-we'll pick them up.

-There's another set of people who

-had a build start towards them...

-..but didn't get anywhere near them.

-We're negotiating

-about what we do with that.

-For farmers who have diversified

-into tourism...

-..we have

-a business exploitation team.

-It's important to get in touch

-with those.

-Quite often, farmers have waited

-for Superfast to get to them...

-..it's got to them and they've

-discovered it's not enough.

-We have vouchers for that,

-don't wait.

-Only time will tell

-if access to fast broadband...

-..will improve in rural Wales.

-With all the uncertainty in the

-industry, every weapon is needed...

-..to communicate and promote

-our produce on every continent.

-After the break, Meinir joins

-one family as it faces the future.

-Join us after the break.

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-Many farm sons and daughters dream

-about the freedom and opportunity...

-..to become farmers themselves.

-That's what happened to Owain

-Rees, Treclyn Isaf, Eglwyswrw...

-..at the young age

-of 19 years old.

-Earlier this year, Owain,

-girlfriend Britt, Alfie the dog...

-..and 200 dairy cows moved

-from Ceredigion to Pembrokeshire...

-..to start an exciting journey.

-Owain, after two years

-of planning and building...

-..the cattle are in

-and you've started to milk.

-Yes, they're in.

-They all seemed to have

-settled here now.

-They're producing milk, they're

-eating more, they're drinking more.

-Everything's improved.

-Has their performance improved

-since moving here?

-Each cow is producing

-two additional litres.

-The investment

-has paid dividends already.

-Yes, it's been a success already.

-How much was the investment?

-About a million in total.

-It's a lot of money.

-It's a great opportunity for me.

-I'm a young man starting out.

-I'm grateful to Mam and Dad

-for investing the money...

-..so we just have to work hard now

-and hope it'll pay for itself.

-How has your life changed compared

-to the time before investment.

-It's changed so much.

-We used to milk 20 hours a day,

-we're now down to three hours a day.

-An hour and a half in the morning,

-an hour and a half at night.

-That allows us

-to do other farm work.

-Four of us

-used to work on the farm...

-..we can get away

-with two or three now.

-We have more time to spend with

-the cattle and work on the cattle.

-Everything is easier,

-everything is better.

-Everyone's happier.

-We have lives that allow us

-to do things outside farming.

-It's important

-to have interests outside farming.

-Owain's father, Aled, was the first

-winner of Fferm Ffactor on S4C.

-Along with his wife,

-he's always been enterprising...

-..to give Owain

-and his sisters opportunities.

-He still farms but both farms

-are part of one business.

-There's enough work

-to keep everyone happy.

-Owain wanted to go

-to an agricultural college.

-He'd always wanted to be a farmer.

-We wanted to increase our herd.

-We had no opportunity to increase

-the size of our current farm.

-The opportunity arose

-to buy this family farm.

-We were renting the farm next-door.

-It made perfect sense

-to establish a new set-up here...

-..with more land to milk more cows.

-It's a priceless opportunity

-for one so young.

-Many will believe

-it's been given to him...

-..but he's worked hard for it.

-He has a lot of work ahead of him.

-He's responsible enough

-to take that opportunity.

-He's the seventh generation

-to farm here.

-We bought it through the family.

-It maintains a family tradition.

-Why did you choose the rotary?

-We saw it working.

-It was far more efficient.

-As a family farm, myself and Dad

-didn't want to pay someone to milk.

-By milking ourselves, we want

-to do it as quickly as possible.

-It's nice and quiet,

-the cattle are happy doing it.

-We didn't look back

-after seeing it in action.

-We decided there and then

-we wanted one of these.

-Looking around, I can see

-a lot of interesting ideas.

-Starting off with the feed barrier.

-At home, there was a post

-for every light.

-When I fed, I either needed a feeder

-wagon and conveyor to get it over...

-..or I'd hit the post

-and it fell off.

-We decided to put a post up the

-other side and one across the top.

-There's no need to stop

-to spread the silage.

-Back home,

-we had some very narrow passages.

-The cowpats would build up...

-..and the cattle's feet suffered.

-We have more room here.

-This is 18ft wide.

-There's plenty of room for a cow

-to stand up and walk away to be fed.

-The buildings we had

-were low and old.

-When you were in there,

-very little air would circulate.

-Here, we've raised the roof

-and placed boarding on either end...

-..instead of closing them off.

-On a windy day,

-you feel the wind blowing through...

-..but the cattle like it cold.

-They prefer

-five-degree temperatures.

-It's a lot healthier in here.

-How does the partnership work?

-We're still trading

-as Jenkins and Rees Cyf.

-David Jenkins is Aled's uncle.

-We live with him in Trefere.

-We've kept the business as it is.

-As it is now, Owain works for us.

-We pay him a wage every month while

-we're getting everything together.

-Who knows

-what will happen in the future?

-Owain could join us as a partner.

-He'll have to work his way up first!

-He has the freedom to operate here

-but you're overseeing the business.

-He can make his own decisions.

-He can pass things through you.

-Both of them work well together,

-some days are better than others!

-Like every father and son.

-Like many farms in Wales...

-..succession planning for the

-younger generation to take over...

-..and keeping the farm in the

-family's hands is a major priority.

-Succession has been very important

-to us over the past few years.

-We've put things in place

-because we're a limited company.

-We needed to put things in place to

-secure the loan to facilitate this.

-We have a plan for our future

-and hopefully it'll all work out.

-It's important that we've spoken

-about it over the past few years.

-We have planned the succession.

-We've been open and discussed it.

-Owain and our two daughters

-know all about it.

-We're all in this together.

-A lot of hard work and planning

-has been done...

-..to establish this system.

-The enterprise is in its infancy...

-..but the enthusiasm and energy

-of the family...

-..has already paid dividends.

-From what I can see,

-this place looks very impressive.

-Everything is in place.

-There's a lot of pressure

-on your shoulders.

-Yes, yes. I'm under pressure, it's

-a great responsibility at my age.

-I'm enjoying it right now. It's

-a challenge that keeps me going.

-I've always wanted to be a farmer.

-I'd wanted to be on the farm

-as often as I could.

-I've been away to learn more

-and now I've come home.

-It's nice to come home, to take over

-and face this challenge.

-I'm happy that things have happened

-as they have done.

-My dream's come true.

-We've looked forward to this

-over the last three or four years.

-It's here now. It's nice in a way,

-we've reached the end.

-We're just enjoying life now.

-The lambing season

-has begun in many areas.

-For many farmers, lambing will start

-in earnest over the next few weeks.

-It's a period of new life

-but it's also a period of losses.

-How do you limit those losses?

-How do you spot a weakness

-in a sheep?

-Back in September, we visited

-Richard Tudor on Glanystwyth Farm.

-We saw how he was preparing

-to turn out the rams.

-Now, four months later,

-how is he preparing for lambing?

-We're scanning them,

-the same as we usually do.

-We have about 180 older sheep...

-..and we're about 5% down on

-the younger sheep, about 155-160.

-After the autumn we had,

-we're happy with what we've got.

-How are you preparing for lambing?

-All the sheep have been sheared.

-They came in early last December.

-I've given them HepatoPac B.

-They're also on Footvax today.

-You do a number of things

-before lambing.

-It's been difficult this year -

-it's been so wet.

-The sheep aren't as strong

-as I was hoping.

-We've also detected fluke.

-The sheep themselves

-are all kept indoors.

-The sheep are all in.

-Lambing will start in three weeks.

-Iwan Lewis is a vet

-with Ystwyth Surgery.

-He's advising farmers

-about lambing.

-The most important element

-is the sheep's health...

-..and how to try and avoid diseases.

-What diseases are most dangerous

-to sheep at this time of year?

-You have four major diseases

-to keep an eye on.

-Twin lamb disease, hypocalcaemia...

-..prolapse and listeria.

-The sheep will look dull,

-she won't come for food...

-..and the term we use is stargazing.

-The sheep can look blind

-and she'll just stare into space.

-The best thing to do is make sure

-the sheep has plenty of energy...

-..especially in the weeks

-leading up to lambing.

-Also make sure

-the sheep has room to roam.

-In Welsh,

-it's called 'clefyd llaeth'.

-Hypocalcaemia

-is a low calcium count in the sheep.

-Their behaviour is similar to cattle

-- they'll lie down, unable to stand.

-They'll look listless.

-Is it possible to treat

-hypocalcaemia?

-Once again, you can inject the sheep

-with calcium.

-It usually comes

-with calcium, magnesium and glucose.

-They should improve after that.

-Listeria is a problem

-when silage is heavy on the land.

-It's a common problem

-in wet weather.

-One of the big symptoms is seeing

-the sheep walking in a circle.

-They walk in a circle because the

-bug affects one side of the brain.

-Often, treating the sheep

-won't improve the situation.

-You need to catch it early

-and treat it with Penicillin...

-..one mill per six kilo.

-You'll see a red lump

-under the tail.

-Where the lamb

-is held in the sheep...

-..instead of pushing

-the lamb out...

-..the sheep pushes out

-what's holding the lamb.

-If it's seen, it has to be treated

-as soon as possible.

-The longer it's out, the more

-the damage that can be done.

-That's the advice for the sheep

-but what about the lambs?

-The common problems include

-hypothermia, a cold starving lamb...

-..navel ill and joint ill...

-..which affects the lamb's joints...

-..and watery mouth.

-Make sure the lambs have plenty of

-colostrum which is high in energy.

-If the lamb doesn't suckle enough,

-it'll go down with hypothermia.

-The disease starts

-around the navel...

-..and it can go

-right through the lamb.

-The easiest way to avoid it

-is to make sure...

-..everything is clean underfoot,

-clean hay.

-Also use iodine on the navel

-within 15 minutes.

-Make sure you splash it on.

-Splash more iodine on the navel

-two to four hours later.

-The best way to prevent this, and

-the other diseases, is colostrum.

-Make sure it's good quality,

-the lamb gets enough...

-..and every lamb needs 50 mill

-per kilo within the first hours.

-Make sure the colostrum goes in

-nice and early.

-The colostrum is of no use

-to the lamb after 24 hours.

-The quality diminishes and the lamb

-can't absorb it over the gut.

-The message from you is colostrum,

-colostrum and more colostrum.

-Precisely.

-That confirms what every farmer

-knows from experience.

-For a new-born lamb, there's

-nothing better or healthier...

-..than the sheep's first milk.

-Lambing season is both busy

-and important for farmers.

-If you're already hard at work

-or about to start, good luck.

-Join us again at the same time

-next week. Cheerio.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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