Mon, 30 Oct 2017 Ffermio

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-When milk prices

-were low for farmers...

-..production was cut back

-leading to a shortage.

-What effect has it had on customers?

-I was paying about 58 a box.

-That's gone up to

-over 76 over the past fortnight.

-Also tonight, we'll hear about the

-future of the milking industry...

-..in the Welsh Dairy Show.

-And the pride of one family at

-one of Britain's major dairy shows.

-It's put us on the map

-and created a buzz for the family.

-It's also helped the business.

-It's a day to celebrate

-and appreciate dairy cattle...

-..at the Welsh Dairy Show

-which is being held in Carmarthen.

-Over the past few years, the

-industry has faced difficult times.

-Thankfully,

-the situation is improving.

-There's light

-at the end of the tunnel.

-There's even a shortage

-of some dairy products.

-Butter and cream are products

-that we use every day.

-Over the past year, there's been

-an increase in their price.

-By Christmas and the New Year,

-there could be a shortage.

-The price of butter and cream

-have increased by up to 50%...

-..in shops and supermarkets

-compared to the same time last year.

-Businesses reliant

-on cream and butter...

-..have felt the impact

-of the price rise.

-In Taro Deg, Pwllheli, Llio Lloyd

-Williams bakes cakes every day.

-What impact will this have

-on her business?

-I've been here for a year...

-..and I've seen a difference

-in the past fortnight.

-The price

-has increased significantly.

-I was paying 58 a box.

-It's gone up to over 76

-over the past fortnight.

-The past fortnight?

-I was looking

-at the invoices the other day.

-There we go,

-we have to accept that prices rise.

-What happens then? Does the price

-of the cake you sell increase?

-That's the problem. We're so busy

-serving local customers.

-One of the reasons we're busy is

-because they're reasonably priced.

-We have no choice

-but to increase the price.

-We can't bake cakes

-and not make a profit.

-Or buy cheaper ingredients?

-We could, there's a lot of butter

-available that acts as a substitute.

-It doesn't work the same in cakes,

-the taste is different.

-I think the customers would notice

-and that could affect business.

-It's a blow for the customer

-but a good time for processors...

-..such as Hufenfa De Arfon.

-Since January, the cream

-and butter commodity market...

-..has been very strong.

-The global demand has been good.

-That means that stock products

-have been very tight...

-..because the demand

-has been so high.

-That's why prices rise.

-There's been a shortage

-in the global market...

-..and that works its way through

-to local markets.

-That's why we've see prices slowly

-rising over the past few months.

-It's important for producers and

-processors that this is sustainable.

-We have to think about

-the customers too.

-Customers don't like seeing prices

-rising and falling suddenly.

-We need to find a sustainable system

-for the chain.

-It's a complicated system but who

-sets the prices in the supermarkets?

-Who decides how much customers pay

-for half a pound of butter?

-At the end of the day,

-the customers decide.

-If the demand is there,

-the customers pay the market price.

-At the end of the day, the customers

-decide which price they pay.

-With prices high in the shops...

-..does that mean dairy farmers

-receive more for their produce?

-John Hughes

-farms Ynysgain Fawr near Criccieth.

-He supplies Hufenfa De Arfon.

-Does the increase in price

-that someone pays for butter...

-..mean you receive more money

-as dairy farmers?

-No. I'd say that the price of butter

-has increased by 50%.

-We haven't received that back

-in our pocket!

-Having said that,

-this has happened since last year...

-..when the price of milk

-had fallen considerably.

-Farmers were producing far less.

-They all cut their costs

-as much as they could...

-..and in light of that,

-less milk was being produced.

-This has now happened

-across the continent...

-..and the price rise has happened

-because of the shortage.

-This is good news for dairy farmers.

-Yes, it is. If we went back a year,

-the industry was on its knees.

-The cost of production

-was 29p a litre.

-We were being paid 16p a litre.

-It was an impossible situation.

-We've all heard

-about the dairy industry recently.

-More money was going out

-than coming in.

-The price has risen recently -

-it's now 31p.

-You need that price

-to survive and grow.

-Are you under pressure

-to produce more...

-..because there's a greater demand?

-Yes. There's supply and demand.

-The demand is there.

-The supply is less than it was.

-More milk is being produced now

-than there was last year.

-We definitely need more supply.

-How difficult is it

-to strike a balance?

-The market can change in an instant.

-That's where I think processors

-can do far more to help the farmer.

-They know the requirements,

-they know what they need.

-They could control the market and it

-wouldn't be a big problem to do so.

-In the short term,

-how will prices fare?

-As customers, we've seen a 50% rise

-in the price of butter and cream.

-Could we be paying even more for

-the butter we spread on our toast?

-Prices have been rising recently...

-..but I believe

-they've reached a price ceiling.

-I don't foresee prices

-rising any more.

-Does the future look bright

-for the dairy industry?

-The industry has strengthened

-considerably over the past year.

-That's good news for everyone...

-..especially dairy farmers

-and processors.

-It is important to make this

-sustainable for everyone...

-..the dairy producer,

-the processor...

-..and the customers

-buying the produce.

-The competition is the main

-attraction here today...

-..but it's also an opportunity for

-the industry to discuss the future.

-That's even more important

-as we face Brexit.

-According to some, the future

-of the milk sector is promising.

-Gwyn Jones is the chairman

-of AHDB, the dairy board.

-It's important that farmers

-are competitive.

-This might sound odd, but it's

-important that they work together.

-It's a chance to look at the

-current systems of producing milk...

-..to try and makes us competitive

-against other countries.

-People should take a long look

-in the mirror...

-..and make sure they can make

-a profit right now...

-..and that they're ready to face the

-challenges that come from Brexit.

-The price of milk has increased

-substantially over the past year.

-Is this a good time to invest?

-Here's one important statistic.

-There's been a 33% rise

-in the price of milk recently.

-That's exceptional. You have to deal

-with it whether it's good or bad.

-It's a very promising development.

-There's enough money

-to allow farmers to make a profit.

-That wasn't true

-when the market bottomed out.

-Uncertainty in prices is something

-farmers will have to cope with.

-We've seen it happen

-in the dairy sector over two years.

-Prices have been very low. It's been

-great to see them rising again.

-This is how it's going to be,

-prices will fluctuate.

-With all the uncertainty...

-..is now a good time to invest?

-Farmers see this

-as the market returning...

-..to what it was two years ago.

-Everyone's situation is unique.

-Farmers who found it difficult

-have invested recently.

-Some are seeing this

-as the opportunity for them.

-It depends on the situation

-of that individual.

-As a bank, we're happy

-to support businesses...

-..where they think they can finance

-these loans in the future.

-That's crucial for us.

-In the AHDB, we do a lot of research

-work into the market.

-We see a lot of companies offering

-a market price upfront...

-..for the future of the market.

-Farmers can choose

-to accept that price...

-..for some of the milk they'll

-produce in the future, or not.

-That's new. It's easy for farmers

-to do that when the prices rise.

-As we go into 2018, farmers

-must choose if they want to sell...

-..for less upfront than

-they receive today for the milk.

-It's a decision

-they have to consider carefully.

-One major obstacle

-for dairy farmers is TB.

-Andrew Dodd, AHDB's Technical

-Manager for Breeding & Fertility...

-..gave a presentation about genetic

-choice to withstand the disease.

-We've found genetic traits...

-..so we can select for resistance

-to TB within dairy cattle.

-In the past, people have bred for

-milk and fertility's been impacted.

-We now know we've got such a vast

-amount of information available.

-Farmers can breed a cow that's

-fertile, that doesn't get mastitis.

-TB advantages

-is an additional part to that.

-How excited are you

-about this process?

-It's incredibly exciting.

-We're the first country

-to have anything like this.

-We are world leaders

-in genetic evaluation.

-So many elements

-influence the dairy industry.

-How does a day like this

-help the sector?

-This year's show chairman

-is dairy farmer Colin Evans.

-It's a day for the industry...

-..the dairy industry especially

-but for the agriculture sector too.

-It's a showcase for the industry

-in terms of the breeds.

-The semen and food companies

-support us, as do the milk buyers.

-They're all here.

-They can see what's happening.

-They can see the quality

-of the stock.

-You're well-known

-as someone with forthright views.

-What are your thoughts about the

-challenges to the dairy industry?

-As farmers in general,

-not only the dairy industry...

-..we have to explain to the public

-exactly what's going on...

-..and how the system works.

-Some of the unions and the speakers

-who express views for us...

-..they have to tow

-the political line.

-We still have to educate the public

-about what happens on our farms.

-Plenty to ponder there.

-Join us after the break when

-we catch up with the competition.

-See you soon.

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-Over 100 cattle

-are being exhibited here today...

-..all looking at their best.

-Last week, I visited one family who

-had a year to remember last year...

-..as they won a top prize.

-Last year was the highlight

-for Richard and Bethan Thomas...

-..Llancwm, Llandyfaelog,

-near Carmarthen.

-Their cow, Dude Paradise,

-shone in the Welsh Dairy Show.

-The experience

-will live long in the memory.

-It's hard to believe that a year

-has passed since your success.

-What kind of experience

-was it for you?

-It was a great experience

-for the family to win.

-We'd also won in Shepton Mallet

-the previous week.

-It's put us on the map

-and created a buzz for the family.

-It's also helped the business.

-It capped years of hard work,

-breeding and exhibiting.

-We've been showing in the Welsh

-Dairy Show since the first year.

-It was nice to finally win.

-The children benefited greatly too.

-They have more confidence

-and they've learnt new skills.

-Iwan's clipping - he started

-doing that through the YFC.

-He does it full-time for us now

-to save us hiring someone to do it.

-Showing is hard work.

-Showing is hard work.

-

-There's a lot of preparation work.

-We have to keep on milking

-the cattle even when we're away.

-That's where you come into it!

-I stay home while they're off

-enjoying themselves and competing.

-They're gallivanting

-and you're home working hard.

-That's what she thinks! She thinks

-we don't do anything at the shows.

-We need people at home and it's

-the same for every competitor.

-We need the staff at home because

-there's plenty of work to do.

-It looks promising that the

-next generation are ready to work.

-Iwan and Nia enjoy the work.

-He likes the Jerseys.

-The Jerseys and the Brown Swiss

-help us out where we sell milk.

-We sell milk to our dairy partners.

-Fat and protein are important to us.

-We keep Jerseys and Brown Swisses.

-Their protein helps us get

-a better price for the milk.

-Where is Dude Paradise now?

-We flushed her

-to Stantons High Octane.

-We got three eggs, we put two in.

-Two stayed and they'll be here

-in three weeks.

-We have one egg still to put in.

-The cow's ready for sex semen now...

-..between Christmas

-and the New Year.

-A nice Christmas present hopefully!

-The family have a total

-of 200 cattle and milk 80.

-There's plenty of work

-for the whole family.

-How much of a future

-can they see for the industry?

-Milk prices have changed to what

-they were a year to 18 months ago.

-We receive twice the price now.

-If it had held at the price

-it was in May of last year...

-..we'd have had to make a difficult

-choice to carry on or give up.

-Over the past six months,

-prices have increased.

-I think we'll have a good run

-from now on.

-I think a family farm is better off

-than most in the long run.

-Nia and Iwan enjoy helping out

-on the farm.

-They take a keen interest

-in preparing for the shows.

-Nia and Iwan, you've been busy

-since the early hours.

-Both these have calved

-by three months.

-We were lucky enough

-to win two firsts...

-..in the Llandyfaelog Show.

-Both won Champion of Champions

-in their category.

-We then went to the Bath and West

-Show in Shepton Mallet.

-The Brown Swiss ended up

-as the Brown Swiss champion...

-..and we had an honourable mention

-across the whole show.

-We were very pleased with both.

-Nia, the Brown Swiss

-is close to your heart.

-Why the Brown Swiss?

-They're not the most popular breed.

-No, there are very few of them

-in Carmarthenshire.

-I wanted a different breed

-to Dad and Iwan.

-I like the colour and they

-provide high-protein milk...

-..so that's a bonus

-for the cattle and the milk.

-Iwan, I've heard that you're

-the chief clipper on the farm!

-I've been clipping

-for the part two years.

-I've learnt a lot by watching

-other people clipping at shows.

-I've come back and emulated

-the tricks I've learnt here.

-It helps cut down on our costs.

-Dad's happy!

-On the day, the way you lead the cow

-can make a big difference.

-What must you remember

-when you're in the circle?

-You need to keep the head up

-to ensure the top looks straight.

-Also ensure the legs and tail

-can show the udder at its best.

-This pleases the judges.

-With the preparation work

-almost over...

-..what are the hopes for this year?

-The children are involved.

-Nia's taking her Brown Swiss.

-Iwan's taking a jersey.

-Richard won't be leading this year.

-The children are in charge!

-As well as winning

-with Dude Paradise...

-..you had success

-with the Brown Swiss.

-Yes, we were lucky. The Brown

-Swiss won herd champion last year.

-She's been lucky enough this year

-to achieve success in Llandyfaelog.

-She also won down in Bath and West

-three weeks ago.

-She's going back to the Dairy Show.

-She'll be back this year.

-Fingers crossed again.

-What kind of a show have you had?

-What's special about this?

-It's a good show,

-it's the Welsh Dairy Show.

-The standard of the animals

-is excellent.

-The Holsteins, the Jerseys,

-all the breeds.

-It's difficult getting the cattle

-to look their best on show day.

-It's not a job you do in a day.

-You prepare for months beforehand.

-The cow needs to have calved...

-..three or four months previously

-to settle down.

-The standard of the animals

-is excellent.

-After all the hard work,

-how has it gone?

-The children have done well.

-Iwan was second with the Jersey.

-Nia was second with her cow.

-They both secured second places.

-I've heard there were more awards.

-You were successful last night.

-I won the handlers'

-12-16 years competition.

-I then went on to win the 2017 Welsh

-Dairy Show best young handler award.

-That's special.

-How much work was involved?

-My brother and I have worked hard

-since we were young.

-Dad and Mam have helped us

-every step of the way.

-We're very grateful to them.

-We're very grateful to them.

-

-You won a shield, Iwan.

-Tell me more about it.

-I won the most points

-in the six local shows...

-..in the judging dairy cattle stock

-category.

-It's my second victory. This is

-the fourth victory for the family.

-We're trying to keep it

-in the family.

-I'd say you've had a great show,

-all four of you.

-We hope to see you again next year.

-Thank you.

-This is the highlight of

-the competition in the main ring.

-Who'll follow in the footsteps...

-..of Dude Paradise

-and the Llancwm family?

-Five breeds

-are vying for the title this year.

-The judges of each breed

-give a mark for every cow...

-..apart from their own breeds.

-All the animals have walked around

-the ring for the final time.

-It's time for the overall results.

-The standard is so high,

-any one of them could win.

-The queen of the breeds this year

-is Gatrog Bolton Jingles...

-..owned by Elwyn,

-Cheryl and Anwen Thomas...

-..Gelli Gatrog, Carmarthenshire.

-Congratulations to you.

-You reared this cow yourself.

-It makes the occasion

-even better when she's home bred.

-It's been a very good show for us.

-I'm glad we could win. She's been

-a bridesmaid for many years.

-It's nice that she was able

-to come out on top this year.

-This is our first victory here.

-You won with another cow in England.

-Another cow from the herd

-down in the South West Dairy Show.

-This one

-was the reserve champion there.

-Fair play.

-Anwen, things didn't go

-so well for you. What happened?

-I've injured my leg.

-Next year will be my year!

-It's been a very different show

-for you.

-Cheryl, how do you sum up

-the success you've had today?

-It's a team effort,

-the staff that help us.

-We've got a team at home

-milking this afternoon.

-Without them, we couldn't be here.

-A few trophies heading back

-to Gelli Gatrog tonight.

-I'll have to clean them all!

-Congratulations to you.

-Congratulations to everyone.

-That's all for this week.

-We're beef cattle

-and sheep farmers...

-..but we've had a good time

-with the dairy cattle.

-It's been nice chatting to different

-people. That's all for this week.

-Thanks for joining us

-and goodnight.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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