Mon, 05 Jun 2017 Ffermio

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-The shows have started.

-This show has been held in

-Pontargothi for almost 100 years.

-New legislation from the Welsh

-Government has been introduced.

-Will it sound the death knell

-for some local shows?

-Meinir is also at the show asking

-how the new quarantine rules...

-..will affect small shows.

-A century after the death of

-Hedd Wyn, Daloni visits Yr Ysgwrn...

-..where agriculture

-is alive in a museum.

-First, I'm here to ask why people

-still attend small shows.

-This show started way back in 1898

-and it's still going strong today...

-..with high numbers of horses,

-cattle and sheep for the visitors.

-What is the value of a show

-like this for farmers these days?

-In terms of the business,

-it's very important as an advert...

-..for selling stock

-and the countryside.

-It's a platform for youngsters to

-compete in different competitions...

-..such as cooking and showing sheep.

-That's very important.

-We meet local characters...

-..and yeah, meeting people.

-This is the foundation

-of the industry.

-Youngsters are showing their stock.

-Without shows like this,

-there's no starting point.

-Dairy farmer Iwan Morgan, Nantybwla,

-has competed here for years.

-Last year you were a winner

-at the Royal Welsh.

-How is that different

-to competing here?

-Preparation is the same,

-hard work...

-..you need the best standard

-wherever you're competing.

-Do you see youngsters

-with the enthusiasm to compete?

-I see more and more.

-It's hard work

-but it's a lot of fun.

-They enjoy being part of a society.

-They enjoy meeting up

-and getting to know each other.

-You're very close to Carmarthen.

-Does the way you compete

-include people from the town?

-I think it's important that you

-take time to talk to people.

-It's important that we make

-a good impression on the public.

-We want people to buy our produce.

-It's important to take our produce

-to the people.

-Catrin Reed's a part-time farmer.

-What's the attraction

-of the shows for her?

-We've attended shows

-for many years.

-At the small shows, we build up

-experience and confidence...

-..to compete in the larger shows.

-If we don't support these shows,

-the community misses out.

-We're trying our best

-to support these shows...

-..throughout the year.

-If something prevented a show

-like this happening...

-..you'd be quite sad about it.

-It would be a loss. We're also here

-to try and sell our stock.

-I had a foal. Hopefully,

-someone saw the foal today.

-At the end of the year,

-they might want to buy it.

-It's a way to sell too,

-in addition to a fun day out.

-Chairperson Meinir Davies

-is coordinating the day's events.

-Who are the people in attendance

-and where do they come from?

-It's a mixture from near and far,

-from all backgrounds.

-People who live in towns

-want something different.

-They go to work day to day.

-For people in rural Wales, this is

-our chance to show what we can do.

-What are farmers telling you

-about the value of them?

-Has that changed over the years?

-Originally, it was an opportunity

-to socialise...

-..but it's more important now

-as a showing event...

-..especially with the pressure to

-compete with Brexit on the horizon.

-It changes all the time.

-How does the future look for you?

-You sound confident.

-Yes, we have a strong committee.

-It helps that we own the land

-and we can do as we wish.

-That gives us some certainty

-for the future.

-Today in the show,

-there's a feast of competition.

-As a result of new legislation,

-there are concerns...

-..that this sight could disappear.

-They want to close down small shows.

-It's diabolical.

-They also want the money.

-I completely oppose the idea.

-It doesn't make any sense.

-It's another way to get money

-from farmers.

-Cabinet Secretary for the

-Environment and Rural Affairs...

-..Lesley Griffiths,

-announced that quarantine units...

-..will come into force in Wales

-on June 12.

-Quarantine units will ensure that

-cattle, sheep and goat farmers...

-..can decide between

-approved quarantine units...

-..to control livestock movement...

-..or continue to use the six-day

-movement restriction on their herd.

-Right now, if you want to attend

-more than one show in a week...

-..you can have a separate field

-or shed.

-Under the new system, farmers must

-register for a quarantine unit...

-..and pay almost 173.

-On the eve of the show season...

-..is now the correct time

-to introduce new legislation?

-As one of the officials,

-how will the quarantine units...

-..affect small shows?

-It is rather concerning

-for small shows.

-We've had a lot of exhibitors

-telling us today on their way in...

-..that they're really worried

-about it.

-There are related costs

-and new regulations.

-Some believe the regulations

-we already have are sufficient.

-It gives farmers

-another layer of regulations.

-If farmers are concerned

-about attending shows...

-..we'll worry about our exhibitors.

-Gwynne Davies from Tregaron

-is unhappy with the new regulations.

-To show his dissatisfaction...

-..he's presented a petition

-to the Welsh Government.

-The industry has called

-for an end to the six-day rule.

-It's ended on the main holding

-but you now need a quarantine unit.

-I don't think anyone realises

-the problems that will arise.

-If you want a quarantine unit,

-it'll be a major headache.

-You have to wear

-different clothes inside it.

-You can't use the same food.

-If you're driving a tractor, it has

-to be washed when it comes out.

-The problem

-we have in small shows...

-..the isolation units we had worked.

-They're adding

-the quarantine unit...

-..to the small shows.

-The system we had,

-the isolation unit, worked.

-Everyone knew how it worked

-and I wish someone would ask...

-.."Has there been a problem

-with isolation units?"

-Geraint Jones, Brynyrwyn,

-Ystrad Meurig...

-..has already registered

-for a quarantine unit.

-I was one of the first to register.

-I did it before receiving

-the letter.

-Everything was due to change

-on the 10th...

-..and I'd paid entry fees

-to Malvern four days later.

-We also had a show

-the following week.

-I had to do it

-otherwise I'd lose a lot of money.

-I wanted to attend the shows

-and sell.

-What surprised me,

-when the official came out...

-..this was one of his first farms.

-He didn't know the rules properly.

-He asked me for the CPH number

-of the quarantine unit.

-I'd ask them for an inspection

-so that I could have one.

-They started off on the wrong foot.

-For farmers who don't exhibit...

-..they need quarantine units

-to move animals from day to day.

-It could be beneficial but it's one

-more thing to catch a farmer out.

-You move them in, move them out.

-If you don't do it correctly,

-there goes your Single Farm Payment.

-All they want to do is finish it.

-They should be speaking to people

-at the shows...

-..to see what works best.

-I don't mind there being regulations

-but it must work for everyone.

-Christianne Glossop is responsible

-for drawing up the new legislation.

-This is the alternative

-to the six-day standstill.

-I've talked to a lot of farmers

-about this.

-They are saying they're content

-to stay with the six-day standstill.

-They can plan their movements

-to hold the farm in lockdown...

-..for six days

-before they move animals off.

-Farmers are saying that's possible

-for most of the year...

-..but as they come to the autumn and

-there's movement of ewes and rams...

-..that's when the six-day standstill

-becomes difficult.

-For them, the option of a

-quarantine unit comes into its own.

-The majority of people I spoke to...

-..are worried about the future

-of local shows.

-..and the youngsters

-who attend these shows.

-What's your response to this?

-The way people taking animals

-to shows have managed up to now...

-..is they've had a show isolation.

-The industry asked us if we

-would agree to a show isolation...

-..and a quarantine unit

-and a six-day standstill...

-..and it was becoming complicated.

-This has given us an opportunity

-to wipe the slate clean...

-..start with a blank sheet

-and say you can work...

-..with a six-day standstill or the

-quarantine unit or a combination.

-If they're not able to go

-to the expense and effort...

-..of introducing

-a quarantine unit...

-..it won't stop them visiting shows

-but it will reduce the number.

-What was complicated

-about the show isolation unit?

-It allowed the freedom

-to go to any shows you wanted...

-..any day of the week.

-Those arrangements were in place

-before the Working Smarter review.

-The industry asked us

-to change the arrangements.

-I'm really disappointed...

-..that we now seem

-to be having a reaction...

-..to something that took five years.

-Over the past five years, we've been

-criticised for dragging our heels.

-Now we're being asked to delay this

-until the end of the show season...

-..or to change the arrangements...

-..when we've worked with

-the industry as much as possible.

-According to what the chief

-veterinary officer has said...

-..has the industry misinterpreted

-the needs of cattle owners?

-In a statement, NFU Cymru said...

-"Given the short time scale

-and lack of detailed information...

-"..on the requirements of quarantine

-units in the public domain...

-"..NFU Cymru requested a transition

-period for quarantine units...

-"..and approved isolation facilities

-allowing both to run in parallel.

-"We are yet to be convinced

-that the current rules...

-"..fit our core principles

-and as such we are committed...

-"..to feeding back the concerns

-of our members over issues...

-"..with the implementation

-of quarantine units."

-According to a spokesperson

-from the FUW...

-"The existence of the quarantine

-units isn't the problem...

-"..but the nature

-of the regulations...

-"..and the timing

-of their introduction is.

-"In the absence of changes to

-the six-day movement restriction...

-"..the FUW has argued for the

-introduction of quarantine units...

-"..with fair regulations which

-allow trade during busy times...

-"..and for this to be done

-within a fair timeframe."

-"We have also argued in favour

-of the isolation units...

-"..which already exist for shows."

-How do people feel

-back in Pontargothi?

-The Government

-wants to end small shows.

-I'll give you an example

-with the Royal Welsh Show.

-We're showing at the Cardigan Show

-the following Wednesday.

-If you don't have quarantine,

-you can't attend the show.

-We're not going to do it.

-I've spoken to a lot of people,

-they're not going to do it.

-We already have regulations

-in place.

-It's worked since the outbreak

-of Foot and Mouth.

-The vet has passed our quarantine

-unit, it's called a show unit now.

-They can just change the wording

-and call it a quarantine unit.

-We have to pay for the pleasure

-to keep the countryside alive now.

-Farmers attending shows

-want to exhibit their sheep.

-They don't want barriers. They just

-want something to make life easier.

-This standstill needs to be stopped,

-don't make things more complicated.

-As it is now,

-it's not helping us at all.

-That's it for Part 1.

-After the break, we visit Hedd Wyn's

-former home after its renovation.

-See you in two minutes.

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-Let's be honest. As farmers,

-we face an uncertain future.

-Who knows what will happen

-after Brexit.

-We face losing a market, losing

-subsidies and total uncertainty.

-Is there another way

-to make money from farming...

-..mankind's oldest skill?

-Is it possible to turn agriculture

-into a museum?

-What they have at Yr Ysgwrn

-in Trawsfynydd is unique.

-The land that surrounds me

-is steeped in history...

-..but it is also a working farm.

-Yr Ysgwrn was home

-to Ellis Humphrey Evans.

-His bardic name was Hedd Wyn.

-As a young 30-year-old farmer...

-..he won the Black Chair at the

-1917 Birkenhead National Eisteddfod.

-He never had the chance

-to sit in it.

-He died on the battlefield

-during the First World War...

-..almost a century ago.

-Ellis Humphrey Evans

-was the eldest of 11 children.

-He moved here, to Yr Ysgwrn,

-when he was a few weeks old.

-His parents managed

-to make a living from farming.

-Gerald Williams,

-Hedd Wyn's nephew...

-..has farmed Yr Ysgwrn

-for many years...

-..as well as welcoming thousands

-of visitors to the family home.

-I had to live on the farm,

-but I was spending more time...

-..talking to the visitors.

-I'd done it all my life,

-it was nothing new for me.

-Has farming changed

-for better or for worse?

-That's a good question.

-Around here, you didn't farm

-to produce your own food.

-You farmed to make a living.

-The house, and 170 acres of land...

-..were bought

-by the Snowdonia National Park.

-The venture was funded by the

-National Heritage Memorial Fund...

-..and the Welsh Government.

-By now, 3.4m has been spent here...

-..to develop a museum

-and educational facilities...

-..as well as the farm.

-It would have been nice

-seeing it spent on agriculture...

-..but only a small proportion

-was spent on the farming side.

-We invested just under 400,000...

-..on the agricultural

-and rural management.

-..over the past few years.

-Again, they say we didn't

-get much for our money...

-..but we have to remember

-the heritage of the farm...

-..and the historic implications.

-There's landscaping work

-and cladding the buildings...

-..to bring them up to standard.

-At the end of the day,

-the museum status comes first...

-..and the heritage and culture

-associated with Yr Ysgwrn.

-In those terms, the agricultural

-side has to take a step back.

-Where has the 400,000 been spent?

-New equipment, a new shed...

-..and a new compound.

-Work in the woodlands and a lot

-of work on the natural landscape.

-We're in a position

-to better control the holding now.

-Meilir and Catrin Jarrett

-are the farm's tenants.

-They live in Trawsfynydd and have

-farmed here for almost five years.

-Both work full-time. Meilir is

-a farm-hand and Catrin is a teacher.

-How did you become tenants

-of Yr Ysgwrn?

-We saw an advert

-in the local paper.

-The National Park was looking

-for a tenant for a 10-year period.

-It was a great opportunity

-to get into the agricultural world.

-Opportunities like this

-don't arise often.

-No. If you're a young couple,

-you go for it.

-What kind of farming do you do here?

-Traditional farming,

-much like the work done by Gerald.

-It's a hill farm.

-There have been changes recently.

-Have they been for the better?

-For better and worse.

-A lot of money has been invested.

-It's interesting to see

-how it's changed here.

-What are the major changes?

-This compound is new. That's

-the greatest change on the farm.

-We work full time.

-We need a shed that simple's and

-requires the least amount of labour.

-What's special about it?

-Some parts of the floor

-have made life easier.

-There's no need to scrape

-under the cattle during the winter.

-It saves us

-having to pay for hay.

-In terms of the payments

-you receive...

-..does the Single Farm payment

-come to you or the National Park?

-The subsidies come to us.

-That's well worth having.

-It's crucial for a farm like this.

-What are your aims during this time?

-We'd like to extend the tenancy,

-if that's possible...

-..and make as much money as we can.

-Without it, life would be difficult.

-That's the aim of every farmer,

-to make a living.

-Farming is difficult enough

-as it is.

-Does the fact that more visitors

-will flock to Yr Ysgwrn...

-..make it more difficult

-to farm here?

-It's been a learning process

-for all of us, Meilir and ourselves.

-The holding has changed a lot

-since we took it over from Gerald.

-Stock patterns have changed

-quite considerably.

-That affected our expectations

-as an authority...

-..and our hopes for the holding.

-What is Yr Ysgwrn now?

-A museum or a farm?

-It's a lot of things.

-That's what makes it interesting

-and a challenge.

-It's a museum for some, it's

-a tourist attraction for others.

-It's a very special place...

-..in terms of its

-cultural history and heritage.

-For Meilir and myself,

-it's a working farm.

-It's difficult to put it

-into one box.

-It was the authority's decision to

-make it a destination for tourists.

-At the end of the day,

-it must be self-sufficient.

-It also wanted it

-to be a working farm.

-We hope that modern techniques and

-traditional patterns can continue.

-On the one hand, the history

-of Yr Ysgwrn must be preserved.

-On the other hand, Catrin and Meilir

-need to make a living.

-It's time to find a resolution

-which satisfies both sides.

-That might be the story

-for farms across Wales.

-Farmers will have to consider

-what works and what doesn't work...

-..to ensure a stronger future.

-That's all for this week.

-We're back the same time next week.

-Goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.