Mon, 08 Jan 2018 Ffermio

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-A new year and new beginnings.

-The dreams of one young farmer

-being realised in Llyndy Isaf.

-Farming's what I always

-wanted to do.

-As this shows, if you want

-something badly, it can happen.

-Also on the programme,

-the Welsh Sheepdog Society...

-..celebrates 20 years

-protecting an unique breed.

-If we hadn't done this back in 1997,

-the breed would have disappeared.

-From the practical to the academic.

-How student Cain Owen

-bridges both worlds...

-..on an university

-agricultural course.

-They've invested heavily here.

-They've given it to the students

-in some ways.

-It's great to see this system.

-You face many hurdles

-when you start farming...

-..if you're not fortunate enough

-to inherit a farm.

-Each year, the National Trust

-and young farmers' clubs...

-..give one lucky individual

-the opportunity...

-..the chance to start farming.

-27-year-old Teleri Fielden

-from Meifod...

-..is the latest recipient

-of the Llyndy Isaf Scholarship.

-It's a 600-acre hill farm

-in Nant Gwynant, Snowdonia.

-Teleri will farm here for 12 months.

-She will receive a salary.

-Congratulations on winning

-the scholarship, Teleri.

-How's it going?

-Yes, interesting.

-There's a lot to learn.

-For me and the dog, to be honest.

-I'm really enjoying it.

-It's wet on Snowdonia...

-..but I've learnt a lot

-and I have a lot more to learn.

-What were you doing

-before you arrived here?

-I was working with the FUW

-in their Aberystwyth offices.

-You left a secure, full-time job

-to move and work in Llyndy Isaf.

-You sound like Mam!

-Yes, yes. To be honest,

-I've always wanted to farm.

-Fair play, since I arrived here,

-my family's been very supportive.

-I've always wanted to farm,

-Taid used to farm.

-I worked in the industry and

-I've finally returned to farming.

-I've always had an interest

-in the environment...

-..agriculture in general

-and animals.

-Everything has fitted neatly

-into place.

-I'm enjoying it.

-To survive on a farm

-like Llyndy Isaf...

-..you must be able to do

-a little of everything.

-Teleri is more than willing to face

-the daily chores on the farm.

-Is the work never-ending?

-It's a 600-acre farm.

-There's plenty of maintenance work.

-This is where the cattle

-broke through.

-This is one of the jobs on my list.

-Patching up?

-Patching up?

-

-Bodge job!

-I'll hold this in place for you.

-You must be able

-to turn your hand to everything.

-Yes, yes.

-I don't repair fences every day.

-It's a simple job.

-Bring the bucket and hammer out.

-Job done.

-I'm not going to call

-a contractor out for this.

-If you're walking around

-checking the stock...

-..you can see jobs that need doing.

-I just have to remember

-to bring everything with me.

-You live in Llyndy on your own.

-You live in Llyndy on your own.

-

-Yes, yes.

-Is that difficult?

-You're far from everywhere.

-I have plenty of visitors,

-my days are busy.

-When I was in France,

-I was in the middle of nowhere.

-Beddgelert is nearby,

-Hafod y Llan is across the way.

-There's a family

-in the front part of the farmhouse.

-It's not quiet enough!

-What did you do in France?

-I worked on a farm

-down in the South of France.

-I was also participating

-in a farm study and horse racing.

-Horse racing?!

-It was a mixed bag!

-As a hobby or work?

-As a hobby or work?

-

-Work.

-That's how I paid

-for my agricultural studies.

-They wanted someone small

-to compete in endurance racing.

-That was additional

-to the farm work and the studies.

-Is your future here in Wales?

-Is your future here in Wales?

-

-Most definitely.

-When I was in France, I had

-the opportunity to do share farming.

-I thought long and hard about it...

-..but I decided I wanted to be in

-Wales, I wanted to farm in Wales...

-..I want my family close by.

-You're so dependant on family

-and neighbours as a farmer...

-..I wanted to do it back in Wales.

-Friends like me who are ready

-to help you mend fences!

-Come on, or the Welsh Black cattle

-will be through again.

-Let's get on with it.

-As well as keeping an eye

-on the stock and maintenance work...

-..there are other responsibilities

-tied to the scholarship.

-Is a lot of the work you do linked

-to conservation more than farming?

-There's a little of everything here.

-There's a strong emphasis

-on conservation and Llyndy.

-In terms

-of the available habitats...

-..there's so much

-conservation value.

-I have a lot of work

-maintaining the walls...

-..and making sure the sheep

-and cattle are in the right place.

-I just keep an eye on what's going

-on, especially on the mountain.

-How many sheep are here?

-I have 80 sheep...

-..and 12 cattle.

-Most of the sheep have gone

-to be wintered.

-I've retained a small group

-to help me practise my skills.

-The others have come down

-from the mountain.

-You're responsible

-for the hydro system.

-I keep an eye on it, I make sure

-the leaves are swept away.

-Down at the bottom,

-I also keep an eye on the turbine.

-It's interesting to see

-how much it can power...

-..and when I can use the dishwasher.

-The rhododendron

-is still proving to be a problem.

-Yes, the plants in the forest

-are the last major problem.

-They've done a lot of work

-in the past few years...

-..as part of the Glastir project

-to get rid of it.

-I'm still finding places

-and I'm making a note of them.

-I'll then go back to deal with it.

-Teleri's enthusiasm is infectious.

-She could have followed

-a different, easier career path...

-..but this young woman's heart

-is in the land.

-You're in Llyndy for the next year.

-What do you hope to achieve

-during that time?

-The emphasis for me is to learn...

-..and gain the experience

-of managing something myself.

-I'm learning, making decisions

-myself and trying things out.

-The thing is,

-what I want is a tenancy.

-I understand that to get a tenancy,

-I'll have to continue working too.

-I'll have to face some challenges...

-..but there's

-an interesting year ahead too.

-Without sounding too much like your

-mother, as you suggested earlier...

-..are you worried about the future?

-Are you worried that you'll face

-more challenges next year?

-Yes. Even if I want a tenancy,

-I'll need to invest in stock.

-I'll need machinery.

-Very few tenancies become available.

-There's so much uncertainty

-surrounding Brexit.

-Yes, I am worried,

-but as this has shown...

-..if you want something

-badly enough, it can happen.

-And you want to farm,

-from your heart.

-Good luck to you.

-Good luck to Teleri

-over the next year.

-It's time for a short break.

-Join me, and the Welsh sheepdogs,

-a little later.

-See you in two minutes' time.

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-Welsh sheepdogs are renowned

-as the dogs of the old drovers.

-When the Welsh Sheepdog Society

-was formed in 1997...

-..there was concern

-about the breed's future.

-Some feared they would disappear

-completely.

-20 years later,

-what does the future hold for them?

-Establishing the society

-was the Welsh sheepdog's salvation.

-Since then, the breed

-has increased in popularity.

-In 1997, 60 dogs were registered.

-2,500 are registered today.

-Recently, for the first time ever...

-..dogs have been registered

-in Sweden and the Czech Republic.

-John Davies, Cefn Coch farm,

-Llanilar, was there at the start.

-Tell me the story

-about setting up the society.

-We were looking for new blood

-to keep the old bloodline going.

-We searched everywhere.

-Most dogs around here were related.

-One night I phoned Huw Thomas,

-who was then working with the MLC.

-He used to travel from farm to farm.

-I wanted to know

-if he'd seen dogs similar to ours.

-Huw suggested that we form a

-committee and that's how it started.

-Huw called a committee meeting and

-50 people attended the first night.

-They all contributed 10

-as a membership fee.

-That's how the society began.

-Since then, it's gone

-from strength to strength.

-How would you sum up the strengths

-of Welsh sheepdogs?

-They're intelligent,

-when they're out of sight...

-..they know how to herd sheep.

-When they're on a mountain.

-That's right,

-and it's a trouble-free dog to own.

-The society's former chairman

-is Huw Thomas.

-Back in 1996, John understood that

-the dogs were becoming so rare...

-..they were in danger

-of disappearing completely.

-We should have realised

-a century ago...

-..that there was a need

-to register them, but we didn't.

-Had we not started in '97, the breed

-would have disappeared by now.

-There are no particular

-characteristics in terms of colour.

-No, no, they're a kaleidoscope

-of different colours.

-In North Wales, there's a strain

-of black dogs in Merionethshire.

-There's a hint of blue

-in the dogs in Cardiganshire.

-There are also red dogs

-in North Wales.

-To see them together,

-it creates a beautiful picture.

-What's so different

-about the Welsh sheepdog?

-When they settle at a farm,

-they know what to do.

-I have a bitch at home,

-John trained her...

-..she knows by the way I open

-a gate what's coming next.

-The sheep are often in their pens

-before I've turned around.

-As many have pointed out,

-they have brains.

-That's important.

-The farmer doesn't need that much

-between his ears!

-Well, from my point of view...

-..I'd rather see the bitch working

-than me running around!

-On Cefn Coch farm, the family

-have always stuck with the breed.

-Three generations

-are currently working the dogs.

-When I was a young boy, I had Welsh

-dogs, as did my father before me.

-My father was a shepherd

-and he kept Welsh and Scottish dogs.

-The Welsh dogs drove the sheep.

-My grandfather also drove sheep

-all the way to Brecon.

-He used a Welsh dog

-to drive a large flock of sheep.

-Once a dog completed one journey,

-he knew the way home.

-My grandfather would jump on the

-train and the dogs would run home!

-Hedd, you've decided to continue

-with the family tradition.

-Why?

-It's an ideal work dog

-and it's good company.

-We use them on the sheep and cattle.

-They have plenty of energy if the

-cattle are proving to be stubborn.

-They're loud enough

-to get them moving.

-John, this is an important breed

-for you, as a family.

-It's nice to see that

-it's been here for such a long time.

-That speak volumes.

-That speak volumes.

-

-Well, yes.

-My great-grandfather kept them.

-We've always had them on the farm.

-They have a working purpose and they

-attract attention across the world.

-Some went to different countries

-many years ago.

-People are showing an interest

-in them all time.

-The dogs are now registered

-internationally.

-Is the future more secure now?

-What kind of a future

-do you foresee for the breed?

-It's good right now but we must

-work hard to keep them going.

-We need to show them in open days

-to make people aware of them.

-That's how we can

-keep the breed going.

-Hedd, you're under pressure to

-continue the tradition on the farm.

-Definitely.

-Every farmer's son's dream is

-to follow in his father's footsteps.

-Right now,

-I have a rich heritage to follow.

-We'll see what comes of that.

-Back in September,

-Daloni visited a student...

-..preparing to study an agriculture

-course in Aberystwyth University.

-With the first term over...

-..let's catch up

-with Cain Owen from Anglesey.

-This is Fferm Penglais.

-It's not a farm.

-The campus is called Fferm Penglais.

-The first term

-was better than I expected.

-I settled in easily.

-I was worried

-when I first arrived here.

-I'm not too far from home but I

-wasn't used to being away from home.

-It's been relatively easy to settle

-in to the campus and this site.

-Everything's going well.

-It's a pleasure to be here.

-The course

-isn't completely practical.

-There's a greater

-emphasis on paperwork in farming.

-The education we're receiving

-in our lectures...

-..is going into greater depth,

-especially lectures about biology.

-That will benefit us

-on our farms at home.

-It's about finding

-the right balance.

-Some will have a greater interest

-in the practical side...

-..while others will concentrate

-on paperwork.

-My brother prefers the practical

-side while I prefer paperwork.

-There is a balance and it's nice

-that everyone is different.

-Cain spent two years in

-Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Glynllifon.

-How does the university compare?

-The first term

-was a real eye-opener.

-It's been what I expected it to be.

-I'm just getting used to the outline

-of all the different modules...

-..before going

-into more detail later.

-They're making sure everyone

-is on the same level of information.

-The experience at Glynllifon

-has helped me with that aspect.

-On Trawsgoed Farm, Cain has been

-learning about the dairy herd.

-How did Cain get on

-with the evaluation?

-We've been concentrating on the

-health and wellbeing of the animal.

-The size and dimensions

-of the cubicles.

-We're trying to determine if

-any injuries are caused by cubicles.

-I liked that part of the work.

-I like assessing information.

-It was very interesting.

-You could improve the business

-of this farm eventually.

-I hope so!

-If we wanted to see one move,

-would she rise for us?

-Here, missus, stand up for a moment.

-Let's see you, let's see you.

-Will you come out for us?

-Come on then, come on then.

-There we go.

-How do you assess movement?

-This one looks very fit.

-We were here to assess

-any injuries to the legs...

-..knees and neck.

-If there were neck injuries...

-..it means the railings

-were too low...

-..or they were having trouble

-rising in the cubicles.

-You must remember that dairy cattle

-live their lives on concrete.

-Injuries will happen.

-It's not a perfect world.

-You've learnt all this

-in the space of one term.

-It would be good to record

-what we've seen...

-..and reassess them in the summer.

-That's what I'd like to do.

-Cain was brought up

-on a beef and sheep farm.

-What does she think

-of dairy farming?

-This is an experience, seeing

-this piece of machinery working.

-You don't see this every day

-of the week.

-It's been a substantial investment

-from the college...

-..not only for the business but

-for the educational institution.

-That's a challenge, for them,

-to keep up with the latest trends.

-They want to generate success...

-..but they also want

-to give students a good education.

-It's a challenge for them to ensure

-the latest resources are available.

-It's also practical for the business

-to be operating like this.

-They couldn't be

-an enterprise otherwise.

-They've made

-a substantial investment here.

-You must remember that. They've

-given that to us, as students.

-You wouldn't see a system

-like this every day.

-For students not interested in the

-dairy sector, it's an eye-opener.

-On Gogerddan Farm, the students have

-their final session of the term.

-They're measuring growth

-and evaluating crops...

-..as part of the Crop

-and Grassland Management module.

-Iwan Owen is a lecturer

-at the university.

-He's overseeing the session.

-This is the first year students'

-fifth visit to the plots.

-They're following the life cycles

-of the barley and wheat crops...

-..from the period they arrived

-in September until the end of June.

-This is how we reinforce the work

-from the lecture halls.

-They can see the crops

-growing out in the fields...

-..along with the weeds and diseases.

-What's your assessment

-of the crops on your own plot?

-I'm happy with it.

-It's been subject

-to some extreme weather recently.

-I'm generally satisfied

-with what I've seen.

-What questions have you asked?

-Is it established?

-Are there any weeds?

-Half the plot

-was left untouched intentionally...

-..to help students compare

-between both sections.

-I've just been counting

-the plants on either side...

-..and I've made my assessment.

-This is your final work

-for this term.

-I can't wait to see this plot

-when I come back.

-You'll have to think ahead

-to next term.

-Will you be tested on this aspect?

-Not in January...

-..but it will be part of our ongoing

-assessment work on the plots.

-Very interesting.

-Thank you very much.

-We'll catch up with Cain

-later in the year.

-That's it for this week.

-Next week, following

-Michael Gove's announcement...

-..that farm subsidies

-will continue until 2024...

-..we'll look at the challenge he's

-set for the future of agriculture...

-..as we remember that agriculture

-has been devolved to Cardiff.

-Plenty to discuss

-at the beginning of a new year.

-Until next time, goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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