Mon, 12 Mar 2018 Ffermio

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-The effect of leaving dogs loose

-in the countryside.

-The problem still exists

-and it's getting worse.

-Also tonight, the latest advice

-about spreading slurry responsibly.

-We have problems,

-we have a long way to go...

-..but I think we've turned a corner.

-Alun meets an 18-year-old

-European champion from Bala.

-It was a shock to hear I'd won.

-Good news

-for one of our Welsh dog breeds.

-12 months ago, I visited a farm

-in Borth-y-Gest near Porthmadog...

-..to discuss the problem

-of dogs attacking and killing sheep.

-It's incredible

-that we're now in 2018...

-..and we're still discussing

-the same subject...

-..and the situation

-is getting worse, not better.

-According to

-an NFU Mutual survey...

-..80% of people say

-they walk their dogs in rural areas.

-7% of those admit that their dogs

-chase farm animals.

-One farmer who's suffered

-his fair share of losses...

-..is Derek Jones,

-Bryn Ibod, Tremeirchion.

-The last loss was three sheep

-and eight or nine were injured...

-..after the attack

-that happened that day.

-What happened?

-I arrived back from the auction,

-I'd taken a phone call already.

-I was told that a dog

-was in the field.

-On my return, I was told

-that the dog had been there...

-..for two and a half hours.

-He'd attacked the sheep.

-Three had been attacked so badly,

-they'd died.

-Was the dog destroyed?

-Yes. That's one of the conditions

-of returning the dog.

-It had to be destroyed.

-You'll get nothing but trouble.

-It'll do the same again.

-Once it learns how to kill,

-it'll kill again.

-The North Wales Police

-rural crime team...

-..takes every case of attacks

-on farm animals seriously.

-One member of the team

-is Constable Dewi Evans.

-We've been tackling the

-problem over the last four years.

-The problem still exists

-and it's getting worse.

-Dogs attack sheep all the time.

-We have around 100 different

-attacks in North Wales every year.

-Are these attacks similar?

-Every attacks is different,

-every attack is unacceptable.

-We're putting together

-a set of recommendations...

-..to pass on to the government.

-Those recommendations outline the

-changes we want to see in the law...

-..to tackle this problem.

-The current law was introduced

-in 1953 and it's time to change it.

-The different recommendations

-tackle the problem...

-..from different directions.

-If we suspect a dog

-of attacking a sheep...

-..we want the power

-to enter the home...

-..and take a sample

-of the dog's DNA...

-..to compare it

-with the sheep's injuries.

-According to a report by the

-National Police Chiefs Council...

-..since 2013, at least 1,000 sheep

-have been killed in North Wales.

-50 dogs have been destroyed

-and 100 attacks on farm animals...

-..happen every year.

-How do you understand the law

-as it is right now?

-What is the law

-relating to dogs chasing sheep?

-As it happens, the last time,

-we captured the dog.

-We managed to get it

-into the trailer.

-The policeman told me...

-..that if I'd destroyed the dog

-when it was under control...

-..I would have been prosecuted

-under livestock protection.

-It would have been a crime.

-Can you explain to me, Dewi...

-..what rights farmers have...

-..if they see a dog

-attacking their livestock...

-..or if they suspect that a dog

-has attacked their sheep?

-If a farmer can see a dog

-attacking the sheep...

-..the farmer has a right

-to shoot that dog...

-..if the attack is continuing.

-They must notify us

-within 48 hours of what's happened.

-Do you have public footpaths

-on your land?

-Yes, I do.

-Public footpaths cross the farmland

-in different places.

-Is that a nuisance for you?

-Yes. Yes, it is.

-The main problem is having people

-walking along the footpaths...

-..who care little about releasing

-their dogs on the farmland.

-They can see sheep in the field.

-It's pure nonsense.

-It says on the gate,

-or on the stile...

-.."Please keep dogs on leads."

-They still let them loose.

-The answer I'm always given is,

-"It won't do any harm."

-You can't guarantee that.

-What are a farmer's rights

-when he sees someone on his land...

-..on a public footpath

-walking a dog without a lead?

-Do we have the right to ask that

-walker to place the dog on a lead?

-Any farmer has a right

-to challenge someone...

-..and ask them

-to place their dog on a lead.

-If a crime has happened, phone

-the police and we'll take over.

-The truth of the matter is...

-..the dog owners have the power

-to stop attacks.

-The farmer can only go so far.

-This message is for dog owners. They

-should control their animals better.

-How do you feel

-after these experiences?

-It's very unpleasant

-for us as producers...

-..and it's also unpleasant

-for the dog owners.

-The dogs are their pets.

-At the end of the day, these dogs

-will be destroyed if they attack.

-Let's hope that the situation

-will improve...

-..and we'll have far less attacks

-in the future.

-Having the ideal conditions for

-spreading slurry can be difficult...

-..especially with all the rain and

-inclement weather we've experienced.

-What's the general advice offered...

-..for spreading slurry

-without harming the environment?

-Ioan Williams leads

-the Natural Resources Wales team...

-..in Carmarthenshire.

-He offers farmers advice...

-..on how to safeguard the

-environment when spreading slurry.

-We advise farmers

-to check the weather conditions.

-Don't spread slurry

-when rain is forecast.

-It's very frustrating for farmers.

-We've hardly had 48 hours

-without rain.

-No-one said it was easy.

-This is a major problem.

-We sympathise with farmers,

-their storehouses are full.

-Contractors want to move on

-to the next farm.

-Farmers need to have a map

-they can show contractors...

-..to highlight the streams

-and rivers.

-They should stay 10m away from them.

-The contractor might not be sure

-of the location of the streams.

-How much effect does slurry have

-on the river?

-It has a significant effect.

-When the slurry seeps into streams,

-it takes oxygen out of the water.

-That can destroy fish.

-It also affects the river's ecology.

-There have been cases this year

-that caused you problems.

-We've had problems with slurry

-being spread too thickly.

-It's been spread on the wrong fields

-at the wrong time.

-There are still some problems

-and we have a long way to go.

-I think we've turned the corner.

-The industry is looking at it

-more seriously.

-They've identified the problem

-and they're working together...

-..to find a solution.

-We've heard about accidents

-linked to slurry on farms.

-How do you deal with this?

-Give us a ring,

-someone will come out and decide...

-..how to lessen the impact

-the slurry will have on the river.

-Farmers are looking at slurry as

-something to use, not to dispose.

-If there's enough storage

-on the farm...

-..farmers have the option to spread

-it at the right time of year.

-Contractors with over

-18 years experience...

-..are Daniel James and family

-from Stepside Agri.

-This winter has been one

-of the worst for the business...

-..because the weather

-has been so poor.

-It's been raining at some point

-every day.

-We've had customers phoning up

-to say lagoons had filled overnight.

-We had to act like a fire brigade

-service and pump the stuff out.

-We have to watch out

-for ourselves too.

-It comes back on us as contractors

-as it does for the farmer...

-..when pollution happens

-and slurry seeps into the river.

-Because of the responsibility,

-you've decided to invest.

-Tell us more about that.

-The GPS we've invested in, it maps

-the park and provides information.

-The flow meter on the injector

-communicates with the tractor.

-If a pollutant incident happens

-and slurry gets into the river...

-..we have traceability.

-That's what everyone wants

-right now.

-They want a paper trail

-and traceability on the slurry.

-Over a year ago, the Welsh

-Government started a consultation...

-..to discover

-the most effective way...

-..to decrease nitrate pollution

-in rivers.

-There were two options.

-Setting regulations about spreading

-slurry in specific areas...

-..the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone...

-..or administering the plan

-across the whole of Wales.

-The consultation received a

-good response but what was decided?

-Leading the response is the Cabinet

-Minister for Energy, Planning...

-..and Rural Affairs,

-Lesley Griffiths.

-We had 256 responses

-which is an incredible number.

-Some of the responses

-had very good ideas in them.

-I decided that whilst the voluntary

-approach wasn't working...

-..I didn't want to go to

-a full regulatory approach either.

-It was a balance

-between voluntary and regulatory.

-A group is looking at this for me.

-I've told them that

-it's an unacceptable number...

-..of pollution incidents

-that we are seeing.

-You decided to take

-a farm-by-farm approach.

-What steps are you taking

-on these particular farms?

-We're looking at individual farms.

-The majority of responses,

-60% of the responses...

-..wanted me to do an all-Wales

-territory response to this.

-I didn't want to

-bring legislation in.

-It's better to work

-with our partners...

-..and they're keen to work with me.

-Hopefully,

-over the next few weeks...

-..we'll see some good responses and

-good suggestions to take forward.

-It's time for a break.

-After the break, Alun meets

-an European champion from Bala.

-See you soon.

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-The Six Nations rugby championship

-is drawing to a close.

-We beat the Italians

-over the weekend...

-..but we won't win

-any trophies this weekend.

-In a recent competition

-for young shepherds...

-..the first prize came back to Bala.

-18-year-old Dafydd Davies

-from Penbryn Coch, Parc, Bala...

-..competed in the final of Europe's

-best shepherd competition in Paris.

-He won the competition.

-Dafydd, congratulations

-on your achievement.

-Did you expect it?

-Was it a shock that you won?

-Yes, to be honest.

-I went there with little hope.

-It was a huge shock

-when I discovered I'd won.

-Tell us about the opportunity

-you had to go to Paris initially.

-It started back in May.

-The Welsh NSA show.

-I was joint first there.

-I was fortunate to be chosen

-to represent Wales in Europe.

-I reached the European stages...

-..and the next stop

-is the Malvern NSA show.

-Tell us what you had to do

-in the competition?

-We had an exam paper

-to complete in the morning...

-..on the knowledge we had

-about the sheep industry.

-We had to recognise ten different

-French breeds.

-You must've had to prepare for that.

-We had a list of the breeds,

-there were about 45 to memorise.

-It was then just a matter

-of recognising them.

-Glynllifon nominated and helped you

-reach where you are today.

-How important has that contribution

-been to your life?

-Of course, I've taken a lot

-from the college.

-I've learnt a lot.

-You must remember you can't build

-a house without a foundation.

-I feel I've had

-a good grounding at home...

-..between, Dad, Taid and everyone.

-Home, on the family farm in Bala,

-Dafydd learnt most of his skills.

-The family farms 750 acres

-on an upland farm near Trawsfynydd.

-They also farm 182 acres

-here at Penbryn Coch.

-We turned out 1,150 sheep

-to the ram this year.

-The main flock is at Trawsfynydd

-with 600 lambed outside.

-There are 550 at Penbryn Coch,

-450 of them lambed indoors.

-The other hundred

-are lambed out here.

-You also keep cattle here.

-We have some pedigree

-Welsh Black cattle.

-We fatten the heifers we don't keep.

-We sell the steers as stores...

-..at 18-23 months old.

-You're in college at the moment.

-How often are you at home?

-I'm at the college four days a week.

-I'm home at the weekends to help.

-I won't be home for lambing

-this year.

-I was away last year and I'll be

-lambing in Worcestershire this year.

-That's good.

-In terms of what you're learning,

-how do you relate that to the farm?

-Are you starting to influence

-any changes on the farm?

-Dad likes to remind me

-that not every farm is the same.

-I feel that every farm

-can be improved in every way.

-Nowhere is perfect.

-I strongly believe

-that you can't stop learning...

-..no matter how old you are

-or how much you think you know.

-There's always something to learn.

-Being willing to learn

-is so important.

-There's more research happening.

-There's no point being stubborn and

-sticking to what you've always done.

-You must be willing to adapt

-in this day and age.

-Dafydd's family are naturally

-very proud of his success.

-Instrumental in encouraging Dafydd

-to his current success...

-..is his father, Dylan.

-Dylan, what were your expectations

-when Dafydd went to Paris?

-Did you expect him to return

-as champion?

-No, to be honest.

-He's only 18 years old.

-We knew he was

-the youngest competitor.

-We had quite a shock. He texted

-his mother to say he'd won.

-Well done him!

-We didn't expect that at all.

-Has that enthusiasm

-always been in him?

-He's been at my side

-since he could walk...

-..standing in the mud

-in his wellies!

-That's always been his life.

-It's good to know

-that there will be a succession.

-He also has a brother

-and both of them enjoy farming.

-I was hoping someone

-would succeed me on the farm.

-I want them to go out and work for

-others first before returning home.

-I think it's important to learn

-that Dad isn't always wrong!

-Precisely.

-Dafydd has a keen interest in

-the industry and has great ability.

-What are his plans for the future?

-After leaving Glynllifon,

-a year or two at Aberystwyth I hope.

-Then New Zealand to work

-as a shearer or on a sheep farm.

-Again, it's a chance to see

-something new and continue learning.

-Do you talk to your friends

-about the future of agriculture?

-There's uncertainty

-but are you confident?

-You'll always need a farmer

-to put food on your table...

-..three times a day.

-There will be a future.

-Whether that future is successful,

-who knows?

-We'll always need farmers

-to farm the land.

-We'll always need food producers.

-The future will look brighter

-in a few years' time.

-No farm is without a sheepdog

-these days.

-Years ago, this cute breed,

-the Welsh Corgi...

-..was king of the farmyard.

-In 1956, over 8,000 Pembrokeshire

-Corgis were registered.

-The success didn't last.

-By 2014, the breed

-was designated vulnerable...

-..with less than 300 registered.

-I'm visiting

-the Llanddarog horse centre...

-..to meet Ron and Debbie Thomas

-who've always kept corgis.

-I want to know more

-about the breed's situation today.

-There are 200 more registered

-with the Kennel Club than there was.

-A lot of them are reared

-without being registered.

-A lot more are actually born...

-..than are actually being recorded.

-Why do you think

-their popularity has increased?

-She's always kept them and I think

-a lot of it is down to the Queen...

-..and the Royal Family in general.

-The Chinese buy them.

-We know of one that went to Trinidad

-last month.

-That's in the Caribbean

-where the weather is hot.

-It cost 2,500 in transport costs

-to take the dog over there.

-At one time, French Bulldogs

-were linked to wealthy people.

-I think the Corgi has started

-to join that category.

-When people used to take hundreds

-of cattle up to London...

-..they would take a herd of Corgis

-with them.

-It's amazing.

-When I was at home, I remember

-Corgis snapping at cattle's hooves.

-They told me

-that's what the drovers did.

-They were quite sharp.

-They're strong and they're weighty.

-With an increase in the numbers

-of Pembrokeshire Corgis...

-..they're not now

-on the vulnerable list.

-What is their appeal?

-When I was a child,

-they were snappy.

-Their temperament has changed,

-they're much finer.

-What attracted you to the breed?

-What attracted you to the breed?

-

-I think their personality.

-They're little dogs.

-They've got huge characters.

-They're very easy to have about

-with the horses, they're not snappy.

-They're just lovely characters.

-All you have to do

-is look at that face.

-When they're older, they're nicer.

-They're faithful animals.

-Can you imagine being without them?

-Definitely not.

-Who knows, Corgis might become

-working dogs on our farms...

-..and kings of the farmyard again.

-That's all for this week.

-Thank you for joining us. Cheerio.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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