Mon, 18 Dec 2017 Ffermio

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-After hitting the heights

-with Scarlets and Wales...

-..the story of an ex-player

-and his new life.

-I get more satisfaction doing this

-than anything I did on the field.

-Also on the programme, what's on

-the menu for you this Christmas?

-We meet a farmer who knows

-how to please the customer.

-There's a demand

-for free range chickens.

-People want to know

-where they come from.

-We can see

-that they come from Fishguard.

-A Christmas tree farm where there's

-plenty of work to keep Alun busy.

-We'll try one of the big ones

-in the netter.

-You can pull.

-We'll hold it, you can pull.

-I see. I need to prepare myself.

-Welcome to the final Ffermio

-of 2017.

-A year has flown by.

-Yes indeed.

-At Christmas, we celebrate

-all the fresh produce...

-..produced in our

-farming communities.

-We often hear about rural pubs

-closing down.

-This week, we're in the Butchers

-in Llanddarog...

-..where a former Welsh rugby

-international and his family...

-..have invested in their future.

-I'm off to meet them in Porthyrhyd.

-You two can go in to keep warm

-by the fire. Ta-ra!

-They're in the right place,

-where they want to be.

-They're right in

-opposition territory.

-They're going for it.

-They've scored the try.

-Powerful, physical and solid.

-Words that describe Dafydd Jones

-on the rugby field.

-He's now swapped the playing field

-for the racecourse.

-When did you become interested

-in horses?

-This is a change of direction.

-It is. I've always had an interest.

-I used to hunt when I was younger.

-I always wanted my own racehorse.

-It started with one

-and that became two.

-I just get huge satisfaction

-doing this.

-I've had some success and some luck.

-It helps build confidence

-to move on.

-Tell me more about the horses.

-I raise them to sell them.

-The foals, I sell them as foals.

-I keep the fillies on...

-..in the hope I can breed from them.

-There are three mares here.

-I have room for eight

-but I don't want any old mare.

-I need mares that fit the bill...

-..to make sure what we produce

-will perform as well as it can.

-There's nothing guaranteed

-in this game.

-The competitive streak is evident

-in Dafydd.

-How does racing compare to rugby?

-This is a challenge,

-a huge challenge.

-Everyone wants the best pedigrees.

-I'm like everyone else.

-You have to get up in the morning

-to feed them.

-There's a competitive element and

-trade prices are high at the moment.

-This is a new one, I bought this one

-in Ireland last month.

-Trade is as high now

-as it's ever been.

-It's a competitive sector

-but I'm doing things slowly.

-I'm doing what I can when I can. You

-need some luck like everything else.

-The three mares I have this year...

-..when they produce foals

-in springtime...

-..that's the best time for me.

-It's a very special time, isn't it?

-It's fabulous, it's fabulous.

-It's the highlight of the season

-for me.

-I don't enjoy the racing element

-so much...

-..it's what happens at home.

-One won last week for JP McManus.

-It left here as a four-year-old.

-It was called Out Of The Loop.

-They think the world of him.

-That's the first foal I sold.

-It's such a great feeling.

-I get more satisfaction doing this

-than anything I did on the field.

-More than rugby?

-It's hard to believe, yes, but

-knowing they've been reared here...

-..it shows that

-what we're doing works.

-Horses are easier to deal with

-than rugby players!

-I think that's true,

-I think that's true.

-I'm not so sure about this one.

-This one's a naughty one.

-What's the target for these horses?

-I just want to rear more winners,

-it's as simple as that.

-There's no time for this family

-to reminisce about the past.

-As well as the horses,

-Dafydd and his wife, Lynwen...

-..have bought the Butchers

-in Llanddarog.

-Well, Lynwen and Dafydd,

-it's odd to see you behind the bar.

-It's a real career change.

-It's been a complete

-change of career.

-I was a teacher for over 15 years.

-I was ready for a new challenge,

-a new career.

-Had you ever dreamt

-about owning a pub?

-Not a pub, no. Daf wanted ideas

-of businesses we could run.

-We were also thinking

-about the children's futures too.

-Life has changed

-for the whole family.

-Yes, it has.

-Things have changed for us and them.

-It's very evident

-that you're working hard here.

-I believe you get out

-what you put in.

-That's the biggest challenge.

-It's been a busy time for us

-over the past six months.

-It's incredible how many people

-have been in to support us.

-We have to praise the staff.

-From the very first day,

-they've all been fantastic.

-We often see rural pubs

-closing down.

-It's nice to see someone taking on

-the challenge of keeping one open.

-Since the first day, we've been

-very lucky with the local community.

-The locals have all been fantastic.

-The customers of the former owners

-continue to come here.

-We've also attracted

-new regular customers.

-It's a place where the community

-can meet regularly.

-We're new to the area. Lynwen's

-from Farmers, I'm from Llanarth.

-We've moved here and been welcomed

-in Porthyrhyd and Llanddarog.

-The welcome has been incredible.

-We've met a lot of the pub's

-local customers.

-We feel very fortunate to be part

-of a very close-knit community.

-We enjoy seeing people

-coming here to enjoy good food...

-..have a drink and enjoy themselves.

-Well, Meinir, I hope you have

-some racehorse tips for us.

-If I did,

-I wouldn't be sharing them.

-I hope you've been busy peeling

-potatoes or doing something useful.

-Peeling potatoes?

-I've done no such thing.

-But I have been sorting them out.

-Do you know precisely

-what you're eating this Christmas?

-When you look at the plate of food

-in front of you...

-..are you confident

-that you're eating Welsh produce?

-According to figures published

-by the NFU...

-..almost 60% of Welsh people

-last year...

-..had no idea if the produce

-on the plate in front of them...

-..was from Wales.

-Only 18% of us ate a turkey

-that was reared in Wales.

-Less than 30% of Welsh people

-ate potatoes grown in this country.

-I'm visiting one potato farmer

-from Lleyn...

-..as he fills his potato sacks

-for Christmas.

-Hirdre Fawr is located

-between Edern and Tudweiliog.

-They milk almost 400 cattle

-and grow four acres of potatoes.

-Our family have been here

-since 1700.

-When did the family

-start growing potatoes?

-They've grown potatoes

-almost the entire time.

-When did you get involved

-in that tradition?

-When we bought the machine

-to lift potatoes from the field.

-We plant Wilja potatoes.

-Why Wilja?

-Why Wilja?

-

-Everyone likes them.

-The potatoes at Hirdre Fawr

-are planted in April.

-They're taken

-from the ground in July.

-All the potatoes are stored

-inside for the winter by September.

-How many potatoes

-do you grow in a season?

-Between 15 and 20 tonnes per acre.

-There's some waste in that too.

-They end up feeding the cows.

-You can get up to 80 tonnes.

-Between everything.

-Are you surprised that

-so few people buy Welsh potatoes...

-..for their Christmas dinner?

-Yes, but they shop in supermarkets

-and buy their potatoes from there.

-They get everything

-in the supermarkets.

-Now is helped by his son, Robert.

-What will you do with these?

-We'll feed these to the cattle

-in the shed.

-There's no real wastage here.

-No, the cattle enjoy eating them.

-It's not a problem for them.

-Gareth Wyn, Now's cousin,

-also helps him.

-How many hors

-do you spend here every day?

-I'm here twice a week.

-How many sacks do you sell

-this time of year?

-We sell about 60 a week.

-Do you really?

-Gareth's stealing my potatoes!

-You'd best be quick

-or they'll be gone!

-Jacket potatoes.

-# Potatoes, jacket potatoes #

-It's busy.

-Now delivers to local shops,

-hotels and restaurants.

-Do you enjoy it?

-Yes, I enjoy every minute of it.

-I'm used to it.

-You're the Hirdre potato king.

-That's a catchy title!

-It is true what they say.

-If you have a sack of potatoes

-at home...

-..you can make a quick

-and simple meal.

-A huge sack for 8.

-You can't go wrong with that.

-You can't beat it. I'm looking

-forward to eating this meal.

-After the break, join me in my quest

-to find a Christmas tree.

-See you soon!

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-No Christmas would be complete

-without decorating the house.

-The Christmas tree

-is central to that.

-Whether it's artificial or real...

-..7m will be sold

-across Britain this year.

-Hundreds will come from here...

-..Parcyrhos, Blaencwrt,

-Llanwnnen in Ceredigion.

-Gareth and Wendy Evans...

-..have been growing trees

-on their land for nine years.

-They started selling them

-three years ago.

-Gareth, Wendy, where did you get

-the idea of buying and selling...

-..Christmas trees?

-It's something unusual.

-We have 30 acres of land.

-We couldn't make a living with it

-one way or the other.

-We wanted a hobby but also

-a source of extra income.

-The income comes

-in a small space of time...

-..but you invest your time

-over a long period.

-We grow the trees for seven years

-before we cut them down.

-What did you know about

-growing trees before you started?

-Not much, to be honest.

-We had a friend

-in a neighbouring village...

-..who used to run a pub.

-He had one field of Christmas trees.

-We spoke to him

-and took it from there.

-We're still learning.

-What does the customer like

-these days?

-Is any one particular size

-popular in general?

-Every customer is different.

-I might not like the tree

-on our presentation stand...

-..but a customer

-might love the tree.

-Some want a bushy tree while others

-want a tall, thinner tree.

-Everyone is different.

-There's a lot of variety.

-Four different kinds of trees

-are grown here.

-Norway Spruce, Nordman Fir,

-Fraser Fir and Noble Fir.

-There's a variety

-in type and size...

-..which is essential

-to appeal to the customer.

-How does your year shape up

-in terms of the trees?

-Is there anything

-you have to do every month?

-After Christmas,

-we check the trees every February.

-We trim them back.

-That helps them keep their shape.

-We don't want them growing too big.

-Like people, you have some tall

-trees and you have some wide trees.

-All the trees are different.

-We don't use any chemicals

-or fertiliser.

-They grow completely naturally.

-The Christmas tree

-is a Christmas tree.

-You also have interesting sheep -

-two very rare breeds.

-We normally keep Llanwenog sheep.

-I was told that the Shropshire sheep

-would live around the trees...

-..and not eat them.

-Come to think of it, Llanwenog sheep

-came from a Shropshire ram...

-..and a Llanllwni mountain sheep.

-We keep Llanwenog sheep in the field

-around Christmas time...

-..and they behave themselves.

-To keep the grass height down.

-Otherwise the grass would grow

-and ruin the trees.

-Yes.

-We've cut this tree down. What's

-happening to this tree tonight?

-Is there a local event?

-If you have time, you can help me

-pull it through the netter.

-We'll load it on the trailer...

-..and there's late-night shopping

-in Lampeter tonight.

-You don't deal in a lot of weight

-- they're quite light.

-We'll try one of the big ones

-in the netter.

-You can pull.

-We'll hold it, you can pull.

-I see.

-I've got to prepare myself now.

-Grab the base.

-Shake it up and down.

-That's like pulling a calf.

-It's a good one.

-I'd say you enjoy what you're doing.

-It's nice to get something

-out of your own ground.

-We have a small area

-to grow trees...

-..so it's more of a hobby

-than anything else.

-You bring happiness

-into people's lives...

-..at a time of celebration.

-Christmas is a very special time

-to spend with family and friends.

-For me, personally, one of the

-highlights is the plucking work.

-Here, on Cilshafe Farm,

-I'm in my element.

-There are feathers

-and birds everywhere.

-I keep chickens and turkeys

-on our farm at home.

-Martyn and Danielle Lloyd...

-..keep thousands of turkeys, geese,

-ducks and chickens near Fishguard.

-Traditionally, a goose was the

-chosen meat for Christmas dinner.

-These days,

-two-thirds of us now choose turkey.

-We're expected to eat 10m turkeys

-this year.

-We need many families

-like the Lloyds...

-..to ensure

-that no-one is left disappointed.

-We're a family farm.

-Dani and I do everything ourselves.

-We receive customer feedback,

-there's no middle man.

-Customers phone me up and

-I have to serve them straight away.

-That's very important these days.

-Absolutely.

-After a Farming Connect meeting

-in Fishguard...

-..the family decided to keep

-poultry and grabbed the opportunity.

-There was a gap in the market

-for free rang chickens.

-Dani said, "Oh, we can do that."

-We started off with 30 chickens.

-That's how it all started.

-The business

-has developed considerably.

-They now keep 10,000 birds...

-..a significant increase

-over 10 years.

-Who plucks and opens the poultry?

-I kill the poultry.

-I have staff who pluck the poultry.

-Dani opens them up and dresses them.

-She does everything.

-Wow, she works very hard, I'd say.

-Absolutely.

-She's a workhorse. Absolutely.

-Danielle doesn't have

-a farming background...

-..but she's totally committed

-to the work.

-I do all the dressing

-of the chickens.

-Once they're dressed,

-they go into the chiller.

-They're weighed up and sent out

-to farm shops and butchers.

-Was it difficult

-moving into farming life?

-No. When I was a kid, I wanted

-to be a lorry driver or farmer.

-We did that, both of them,

-didn't we?

-So yes, it's enjoyable. I wouldn't

-want to work for anyone else.

-Yes, nice.

-With four children

-and one on the way in January...

-..there's plenty of work here

-for Martyn and Danielle.

-They do all the hard work

-to keep their customers happy.

-Of course, looking after

-the farm business is crucial.

-How much of a difference have

-these birds done to your business...

-..compared to the time

-this was a beef and sheep farm?

-Massive, massive.

-We have about 50% more turnover.

-There's a demand

-for free range chickens.

-People want to know

-where they come from.

-We can see

-that they come from Fishguard.

-They're enjoying themselves today.

-It's great to see.

-The sea's very close too.

-One simple fact

-falls in their favour.

-From Fishguard to Chepstow,

-no other farm is free range...

-..like our farm.

-The poultry isn't the only thing

-keeping them busy.

-They have another enterprise

-which ties everything together.

-There's a farm shop in Fishguard.

-We also have a cafe

-and a restaurant next door.

-Mainly selling produce

-from this farm?

-We sell everything from this farm

-in the shop.

-How do you cope with all the work?

-I enjoy what I do.

-I don't want to do anything else.

-It's been great talking to people...

-..who make the most of the land

-under their feet...

-..and make our experience

-of Christmas as local as possible.

-It's also nice to see people

-who work hard succeeding.

-That's all for another year.

-Thank you to each

-and every one of you...

-..for your support and company

-throughout the year.

-We'll see you again on 2018.

-From the three of us...

-Merry Christmas.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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