Mon, 07 Mar 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and welcome to Ffermio.

-I'm in Llanuwchllyn to meet a man...

-..who has become a familiar face

-on the screen over the past year.

-He has won awards

-for his agricultural abilities...

-..and for his mental

-and physical skills.

-Is that enough of a clue?

-Find out who it is shortly.

-Also on the programme, Meinir

-joins blacksmith Daniel Thomas...

-..and Daloni

-is among chickens near Ruthin.

-But first, I've come to

-Brynllech Uchaf Farm, Llanuwchllyn.

-This is the home of Rhodri Jones...

-..who had a very successful year

-last year.

-He was a member

-of Fferm Ffactor's winning team...

-..and also won a large sum of money

-on The Cube.

-He clearly likes a challenge.

-But what's he like at home?

-In any business, it's important

-to have a competitive streak.

-It helps you to improve yourself

-and what you do.

-Unfortunately, one of my weaknesses

-is that I'm overly competitive.

-We think of Fferm Ffactor

-as being quite intimate.

-I imagine that being on The Cube

-was terrifying.

-It takes guts.

-There were so many things

-going on at the time.

-I applied and thought

-I'd never hear from them.

-One thing led to another.

-I was also organizing a wedding

-at the time.

-Next thing,

-we were filming within a week.

-Tell me about home - the farm.

-This is a very windy spot.

-The snow-capped Moel Llyfnant

-and Arenig are behind us.

-It can't be easy here.

-It can't be easy here.

-

-No, it's not.

-One of the main problems here

-is the lack of shelter.

-It limits the choice of breeds

-that we can keep here.

-Welsh Mountain sheep like it here.

-The way forward for us...

-..is to improve the breeds

-that we're able to keep here.

-What about conservation?

-Are you in the Glastir scheme?

-We've gone to Glastir and try

-to use it to make improvements here.

-We've planted hedges,

-and fenced a lot off...

-..to try to improve shelter

-and to help us in years to come...

-..not just to get the payments.

-There are exceptional views here.

-There are exceptional views here.

-

-It's a favourite spot of mine.

-If I'm in a bad mood,

-I come here to gather my thoughts.

-There's something very relaxing

-about the place.

-Brynllech Uchaf is a 640-acre farm.

-As well as sheep,

-Rhodri keeps 38 Welsh Black cattle.

-Welsh Black cattle

-are one of my big passions.

-What better opportunity

-to promote the breed...

-..than to say on The Cube

-that I need money to buy a bull?!

-You won 50,000.

-I'm sure there are people knocking

-on the door with bulls to sell!

-Everything goes up in value

-if people think I'm interested.

-The Welsh Black cow is special.

-There are very few cattle

-that are cheaper to keep...

-..and that can produce wonderful

-store animals at 18 months old.

-As you've seen, the terrain here

-isn't the most productive.

-We need a cow that is productive

-on a low input.

-Cutting costs is important today.

-If the money

-that we're able we get in...

-..is reduced or limited...

-..we also have to limit our costs.

-In my opinion,

-the Welsh Black cow is ideal...

-..and serves its purpose perfectly.

-You're 38 years old now.

-Yes, poor you!

-You've been fortunate enough...

-..to have been at the helm

-of this business for many years.

-Yes, I've been very lucky.

-When I was very young...

-..Mam and Dad were willing

-to let me make decisions...

-..so that I could learn

-from my own mistakes.

-Although we're still

-three-way partners...

-..they've been very supportive

-of the changes I've wanted to make.

-I hope that they're happy...

-..with the way we've progressed.

-Rhodri is the fourth generation

-to farm here.

-His parents remain a big help

-to him from day to day.

-Llew, how did you decide...

-..to hand over the reins to Rhodri

-when he was so young?

-That's how you keep

-young people interested.

-For one thing,

-it helps them improve.

-He had his ideas,

-and we worked together...

-..though we didn't always agree.

-I think it's important

-to provide opportunities...

-..to keep them interested

-and keep them in rural areas.

-What did you think of him

-on television...

-..winning Fferm Ffactor

-and then all that money?

-Every penny helps us poor people.

-Exactly. It's not easy for you.

-Exactly. It's not easy for you.

-

-He enjoyed it, so we left him to it.

-He told me

-that the only way he could do it...

-..was knowing you were here.

-I'm sure it helped, us entering

-a few shows on his behalf.

-Llew, thank you for your time.

-Llew, thank you for your time.

-

-Thank you.

-And for the welcome.

-I kept out of the way,

-hoping you wouldn't want to see me!

-As if he was a shy man!

-Rhodri is a member of the NFU Cymru

-Next Generation Policy Group.

-Last year, he went to Brussels...

-..to find out more about the EU's

-vision of the future of agriculture.

-I wonder what he thinks...

-..will face our young farmers

-in the years to come?

-I was surprised

-by the support from Europe...

-..and their resolve that farming

-must have a prosperous future.

-Tom Tynan firmly believes...

-..in securing a bright future

-for agriculture in Europe.

-In my opinion, leaving the EU

-would be a terrible mistake.

-Being a part of the European family

-is crucial for agriculture.

-You also live in an area...

-..where there's a wealth

-of young, enthusiastic farmers.

-What kind of future do you envisage

-for them at the moment...

-..when each agricultural sector

-is facing a crisis?

-When we're surrounded

-by this countryside...

-..and people realize that we have

-these wonderful views...

-..because of agriculture

-and our agricultural systems...

-..we must ensure that the industry

-thrives for years to come.

-Providing we do things

-as effectively as possible...

-..I think there's a bright future

-ahead in the long term.

-That's it for this part.

-Join us again after the break...

-..when Daloni visits a farm

-that produces 30,000 eggs a day.

-Don't go far!

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-Welcome back.

-This week, Daloni has been visiting

-an enterprising farm...

-..which has significantly expanded

-its chicken business.

-Here at Ty'n Celyn farm

-in Clocaenog near Ruthin...

-..there is a huge new shed.

-A shed which is home to 32,000 hens.

-Catrin Jones and husband Bruce...

-..started with a handful of hens

-eight years ago.

-Slowly, the hobby

-became a livelihood.

-Eight years ago,

-we decided to buy four chickens...

-..as something for the boys to look

-after, to learn about animals.

-Then we bought a few different

-breeds for them to see a variety.

-After a while, we had too many eggs

-so we decided to get more chickens.

-We then started to sell some eggs.

-We started with 50 hens, then after

-a month, a 100, then 200, then 500.

-We were out all day, every day.

-selling eggs.

-Four years ago, there was talk that

-caged hens were going to be banned.

-As we had the land available,

-we decided to build a big shed.

-Now we have 32,000 hens.

-What's that small shed over there?

-That's where it all started.

-It's there to remind us

-of where we started.

-When you were building the shed...

-..were you sure there was

-a market for the eggs?

-We were fortunate to get a contract

-with Lloyd's Animal Feeds.

-They have helped us tremendously.

-They have taught us

-what to do with the hens....

-..and are always available

-if we have any problems.

-How does it work

-between you and them?

-They order the chickens for us...

-..but then we have to buy feed

-from them.

-They find contracts for the eggs...

-..and at the end of the season, they

-find a place for the chickens too.

-For how long do you keep the hens?

-We keep the hens until they are

-72 weeks old, which is 14 months.

-How many eggs leave here every day?

-We produce around 30,000 eggs

-every day.

-Every day?

-Every day?

-

-Yes, every day.

-A lot of work, Catrin.

-A lot of work, Catrin.

-

-There's a lot of work...

-..but it's nice to see eggs coming

-down on the conveyor belt.

-Despite having a contract

-with Lloyd's Animal Feeds...

-..Catrin still takes eggs to Ruthin

-mart every Tuesday and Thursday.

-She also supplies local shops.

-There are chickens

-in every nook and cranny, Catrin.

-They seem to get louder.

-They think we are talking to them.

-Hello, girls!

-Hello, girls!

-

-They are responding.

-Can we go in?

-Can we go in?

-

-Yes, of course.

-Their cries increase in volume

-as our voices get louder.

-It's very funny.

-Hello, girls.

-Do you have some eggs for us today?

-They're everywhere, Catrin.

-They're everywhere, Catrin.

-

-Yes, indeed.

-They are free to go in and out

-as they please.

-They have the freedom to do

-whatever they like during the day.

-Where do they lay?

-In the centre

-there are some orange curtains.

-They go behind them

-to lay their eggs.

-They can get a bit

-of peace and quiet...

-..and then the eggs roll

-down the conveyor belt.

-The belt goes around twice a day.

-It carries the eggs

-into the packing room.

-What type of hens are they?

-This breed is called Lohmann Lite.

-We've had these since the beginning.

-It's a breed which has worked well

-for us.

-They seem very happy.

-Free and happy hens.

-Yes, and we also give them

-something to peck on.

-You can see the cones, bottles

-and cartons.

-Something to keep them happy;

-what a hen wants to do is to peck.

-If they're happy to peck those

-things, they won't peck each other.

-How much upkeep is involved;

-cleaning, washing and the like?

-They are pecking. Cheeky!

-We muck out once a week.

-The waste is put straight into a

-trailer and sold to farmers...

-..who spread it on their land

-as a fertilizer.

-They look so healthy, Catrin.

-I think that has to do with the fact

-that they're free range.

-They can go outside.

-In this shed...

-..the hens are also on different

-levels and can roam freely.

-You've heard of the "pecking order".

-You've heard of the "pecking order".

-

-Yes.

-This is where it is.

-Sorry!

-It's getting quieter.

-The stronger ones have arrived.

-Sorry, ladies,

-but I had a bit of a fright.

-With the pecking order,

-the stronger ones live at the top.

-If they're a bit weaker,

-they have to go somewhere else...

-..so they don't get bullied.

-It's very clever.

-Huw, you are Catrin's father.

-Huw, you are Catrin's father.

-

-I am.

-When it's busy, you are summoned.

-Sometimes, I'm called at short

-notice if someone hasn't turned up.

-What are you doing here?

-Sorting them by picking out

-the big eggs...

-..the dirty and cracked ones.

-I put them in different places.

-The rejects.

-The rejects.

-

-Yes, the rejects.

-Not many to be seen.

-No, on the whole, it's quite good.

-You are Huw's grandfather.

-Huw, son of Catrin and Bruce

-is over there.

-How are you, Huw?

-How are you, Huw?

-

-Fine, thanks.

-What are you doing?

-What are you doing?

-

-I'm weighing eggs.

-Weighing them?

-Weighing them?

-

-Yes.

-How heavy should they be?

-How heavy should they be?

-

-63g or more.

-Is Taid a good fella?

-Is Taid a good fella?

-

-Yes.

-Does he behave himself?

-Does he behave himself?

-

-Yes.

-Does he work hard

-or is he a slacker?

-He works hard.

-What will you have for supper?

-An omelette probably,

-looking at those!

-Now that the hens have a new home...

-..the old buildings where they

-used to roost have been renovated.

-The two holiday homes here now

-are really worth a look.

-Six years ago, there were about

-300 hens in this house.

-We then built the big shed

-so this wasn't being utilized...

-..so we decided to convert

-it into two holiday homes.

-We haven't looked back since.

-You must be busy,

-all things considered.

-There's always something

-to be done around here.

-What are your hopes for the future?

-I hope we go

-from strength to strength...

-..that the hens continue to lay,

-that people still come to stay...

-..and that one day, the children

-will take an interest...

-..and hopefully, they will help out.

-There's nothing better than seeing

-a skill passed down the generations.

-Meinir has been to see

-a blacksmith of over 30 years...

-..who is determined that the skills

-he's learnt won't die with him.

-Daniel Thomas is

-a third-generation blacksmith.

-He has a large base of customers

-across West Wales.

-The craft runs through his veins.

-He learnt all his skills from

-his father and his grandfather.

-My grandfather, father and uncle

-were blacksmiths in Gorsgoch.

-When I was at school, I was always

-over at the smithy making things.

-I went to college

-in Hereford for four years.

-I finished there when I was 21.

-I've been at it since then.

-Was it hard setting up

-your own business?

-It was.

-It's like every service, treat the

-customer well and you get the work.

-Where's the demand? Do you

-go to it or does it come here?

-Most of it is away from here. No-one

-has time to bring the horses here.

-They want you to go to them

-to shoe their horses.

-Some horses are shy of the horsebox.

-You have to go out

-and shoe it in its own stable.

-What's the appeal

-of being a blacksmith?

-You meet different people every day.

-There's a great deal of satisfaction

-in shoeing a horse...

-..that's been lame for a long while.

-You do the job and then the horse

-wins at a show. That feels good.

-It must be nice

-to sustain a family tradition.

-It was great

-to see Ioan this morning...

-..making a horseshoe

-from a 12-inch strip of iron.

-He made this this morning.

-He has a list of customers

-to visit today.

-The first is Mair Davies,

-Cysgod-Y-Brwyn, Newcastle Emlyn.

-This mare does a lot of jumping

-so she needs support for the heels.

-We place the studs in here.

-The studs go in.

-When Mair is jumping on the day,

-she'll have studs on both sides.

-They come out after the competition.

-Like studs on

-a rugby or football boot.

-Different studs

-for different conditions.

-They help with show jumping.

-It gives the horse confidence.

-Is every horse different?

-They are all different.

-You get to know the horse.

-You do it every six weeks

-which helps.

-Some are tame and quiet,

-others are nervous.

-How dependent are you

-on the blacksmith?

-You have to book him in

-every six weeks.

-He comes when we want him,

-morning or afternoon.

-If one of my horses loses a shoe.

-He asks when the next show is

-and he turns up straight away.

-How crucial is shoeing the horses?

-In the summer,

-she always has studs put in.

-It's so important

-against the clock that she can...

-..turn quickly and

-avoid slipping into fences.

-She has to feel confident

-she won't slip.

-It's worth every penny.

-It's worth every penny.

-

-Yes, it is.

-Daniel is an expert in the field.

-He's won five successive national

-titles for shoeing shire horses.

-He is also the official blacksmith

-for the Royal Welsh since 15 years.

-With nearly 50 horses to shoe...

-..every single week of the year

-he's a very busy man.

-Is there a technique for each horse?

-Is there a technique for each horse?

-

-Every horse is different.

-There's more to do than just

-getting the shoe on the foot.

-You have to

-prepare the hoof for the shoe.

-You have to assess

-what the horse is expected to do.

-This is called a bar shoe.

-It's for horses with

-injured tendons or narrow hoofs.

-It needs a lot of support

-at the back.

-That improves the foot.

-There's less pressure on the front.

-You need them to be standing up

-straight for dressage and jumping.

-That means the hoof

-needs lots of support.

-What else do dressage horses need?

-You've got a famous one today.

-Yes, I'm doing a horse

-out in New Quay today.

-It's won a British title

-for Dressage.

-It needs new shoeing every week.

-We have to ensure

-it has enough support.

-The feet have to be perfectly

-balanced and moving correctly.

-You feel the pressure

-with that type of job.

-He has to be right

-for the big shows.

-You also like having

-apprentices about the place.

-I've been training them up

-for the last decade.

-I have Ioan here from Aberystwyth

-and Cahill from Ireland.

-I help them and they help me.

-It works both ways.

-I've been very lucky

-to get a place with Daniel...

-..because people doing

-the pre-farriery course...

-..struggle for places

-and I've got one close to home.

-Are you enjoying it?

-Are you enjoying it?

-

-Every single minute.

-It's a lot of work and there's

-lots to learn but I enjoy it.

-Working as a blacksmith

-is very taxing and physical.

-Daniel obviously loves his work.

-What's the future for you?

-I hope to carry on for many years.

-I hope my son, Rhodri, will come

-back and work full-time with me.

-He's working away in Welshpool.

-He's a blacksmith too so

-he'll be the fourth generation.

-I hope he comes back

-before I'm over the hill.

-That's all from the first

-official episode of the Spring.

-The mountain tops may

-still be mottled with snow...

-..but there are

-signs of an early spring.

-It will all have settled down by May

-when we want to put the cattle out.

-It's nice to be looking forward.

-We'll look forward

-to your company next week.

-Until then, from me and the whole

-Ffermio team, goodnight to you all.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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