Mon, 13 Jun 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and welcome to Ffermio

-from Rhug Estate near Corwen...

-..where 75 acres have been set aside

-for all kinds of demonstrations.

-There are 26 different

-machinery companies here.

-There are 80 commercial stands

-hoping to greet 5,000 visitors.

-It's the

-Royal Welsh Grassland Event 2016.

-Meinir will be at a pedigree

-Holstein cattle sale...

-..in Llanon, Carmarthenshire.

-Daloni meets one the NFU's youngest

-employees back at his family farm.

-First, Meinir's visit in May

-to Abernac farm, Lledrod...

-..about a Farm Connect event about

-producing feedstuff for stock...

-..after the wettest winter

-in memory.

-Meirion Jones and family

-have a 350-acre beef and sheep farm.

-Like many farmers...

-..he's concerned how the wet

-conditions will harm his business.

-It has made a difference

-because it's been cold and wet.

-It's very different from December

-when it was quite mild.

-We said then that we'd

-be paying for it later.

-We've just entered May...

-..and in the last couple of days

-things have started improving.

-The ground is wet. We've had so much

-rain and it can't drain away.

-The ground can only absorb so much.

-I have nothing to hide -

-like every other farmer.

-I have some good fields

-and some problem fields.

-I hope the expert today can give me

-some tips to improve the problems.

-It's the same for all farmers.

-Farming Connect have set up

-a number of events at the farm...

-..concentrating

-on the state of the ground.

-Lisa Roberts is a Farming Connect

-Red Meat Technical Officer.

-Today's event is designed

-to address the problems...

-..arising from the very wet winter

-we had in 2015.

-We'll look at how to restore

-the earth, grass and crops.

-We'll look at how the earth has

-been impacted and how to restore it.

-We'll also look at controlling

-nutrition in the soil and reseeding.

-Today's expert has already been

-around the farm analysing the land.

-His name is Charlie Morgan.

-We had to take soil samples

-to start.

-We needed to see

-if the important ingredients...

-..such as lime and phosphates,

-were still there.

-When you get the samples back...

-..you need to know

-what to do with the results.

-Farming Connect helps people out

-with lots of grants at the moment.

-80% is available to help them

-get what they need.

-The farmer should also go out

-armed with a shovel.

-You can inspect the earth and

-work out where problems can arise.

-You want to see a consistency

-of colour down to the subsoil.

-You want to see deep-set roots.

-No standing water.

-You want to see holes with air

-in them and where the cracks go.

-If the cracks go across the field

-it's bad, straight down is good.

-If you dive straight into reseeding

-without soil assessment...

-..the place it has compacted may

-allow initial growth of seeds...

-..but the roots

-won't find any deeper purchase.

-When the sun comes out

-you'll find a drought.

-What's your advice on that?

-If you're intent on reseeding...

-..you need to turn to aerators

-or subsoilers...

-..to improve the soil

-before you start.

-What's your main message today?

-Don't be afraid of soil samples.

-They aren't expensive.

-You have to look at the lime.

-Don't be afraid of spending on lime

-and using better fertilizer.

-Charlie

-obviously understands his field.

-After a wide-ranging discussion...

-..on soil impacting, drainage,

-control of rushes and reseeding...

-..how much do the visiting farmers

-think they've benefitted?

-He's shown us what we tend to

-neglect on our farms at home.

-We don't look hard enough

-at the quality of our soils.

-We don't assess it often enough...

-..to know what we need

-to spend on and what not.

-Grass is the cheapest source

-of stock feed.

-It stands to reason that we need to

-get the best out of our grassland.

-Days like these are crucial for the

-farmer to understand how to do that.

-It shows how important

-the soil is...

-..and the importance

-of how we treat and control it.

-That's the basis

-of profitable farming in Wales.

-As students,

-days like these are very useful.

-It's been good to be able to go out

-and look at the field directly.

-It's better than relying

-on pictures in classrooms.

-Everyone who came here

-appears to be pleased.

-What was Meirion's impression

-of hosting a Farming Connect event?

-You can have the best soil

-in the country...

-..but if you don't farm it properly,

-there's no point having it.

-It's really shown me the importance

-of the soil constitution.

-The pH levels, the potash

-and the phosphates.

-It's also about the fertilizer.

-I'm only using nitrogen this year.

-It's been a huge saving for me

-after sampling a few fields.

-They told me

-I was throwing money away.

-Compared to

-what I normally spend...

-..I've saved around 1,000

-on fertilizer.

-It depends on growth.

-As an organic farmer, I learned...

-..that the soil is meant to sustain

-itself without added chemicals.

-Grass is the best

-and cheapest feed you can get.

-Cows and sheep will eat

-the best silage you make...

-..but what they really want

-is grass.

-The best thing we can do is

-produce that as cheaply as possible.

-If you are interested in attending

-a Farming Connect event...

-..you can find out about them

-on their website or over the phone.

-There are only five weeks

-until the Royal Welsh at Llanelwedd.

-Meirionnydd

-is the host county this year.

-This event is part of their

-fundraising drive for the show.

-Alun Jones from Llangollen

-is the man in charge.

-How long have you been

-working towards this big day?

-We've been working hard

-for over a year.

-Who have you managed to attract

-as stall holders?

-All kinds of businesses

-from all areas of agriculture.

-From the smallest to the largest

-with their very expensive machines.

-Meirionnydd is a difficult place

-to find a suitable location.

-The growth of grass happens

-quite late in the year.

-Was this a difficult place to find?

-We didn't have many places

-to choose from!

-This place is perfect.

-The Royal Welsh Grassland Event.

-What does that mean?

-We have all this machinery

-harvesting the silage.

-But also, over an area

-of more than 60 acres...

-..we have trial plots

-seeded by the company Germinal...

-..who are connected to IBERS

-in Aberystwyth.

-That field shows a lot

-of different kinds of seeds.

-Some are very revolutionary.

-How much opportunity

-will there be...

-..for farmers to see

-these new machines in action?

-Seeing these machines in action...

-..is so much better than seeing them

-polished up and stationary.

-We don't see machines like these

-very often on family farms in Wales.

-I'll have to go home and start

-increasing the width of my gates.

-Several times.

-From the sunshine of Corwen

-down the A5 to Llangollen.

-Daloni has been to meet

-a passionate young farmer...

-..who has come home

-to live out his dream.

-After three years studying Law

-at Cardiff University...

-..Aled Daniel Jones

-followed his heart...

-..and returned home to Llangollen

-to farm.

-As well as being a farmer,

-22-year-old Aled...

-..has also become an insurance agent

-for NFU Mutual in Wrexham.

-You work in Wrexham.

-On paper, yes,

-but I'm not often there.

-We cover around 970 kilometres.

-The whole of eastern Clwyd.

-I'm hardly ever in the office.

-I'm much more likely to be on

-a farm or at a business somewhere.

-The car has done

-a lot of miles by now.

-You didn't fancy

-a full-time role in the law.

-Not really.

-When the NFU job came up, it was an

-honour and a privilege to go for it.

-This is your farm.

-This is your farm.

-

-We're giving it a go.

-On top of your other job.

-I don't like sitting still.

-I like being busy.

-Don't tell my girlfriend

-but farming is my first love.

-I'd do it tomorrow given the chance.

-With the world as it is...

-..the option of being at home

-full-time doesn't exist.

-Aled's grandfather

-was born here at Bank Farm.

-It's part of the Vivod Estate

-near Llangollen.

-These days, the farm is run

-by Aled's Uncle Phil.

-Aled spends every spare minute

-helping out.

-There are 170 acres here.

-300 sheep and 25 store cattle.

-Two years ago, Aled started a flock

-of North Country Cheviot sheep.

-You're the fourth generation

-at Bank Farm.

-Yes, my great grandfather,

-my grandfather...

-..Uncle Phil is in charge now

-and I'm here helping out.

-Things have changed over the years.

-Things have changed over the years.

-

-The farm has changed a lot.

-We've cut down on the cattle.

-We've moved away from Welsh Mountain

-sheep towards crossbreds.

-Hopefully, we'll soon have

-pure bred Cheviots.

-Tell me more

-about your flock of Cheviots.

-I'm very passionate about them.

-They are the breed for me.

-I want to be selling

-pure bred rams in the future.

-Was this your first purchase

-with the NFU Mutual wage packet?

-That's right. Apart from the car

-and the sheep I have nothing else.

-You have lovely sheep.

-What have you bought altogether?

-There were 25 but we lost one.

-We're left with

-24 two-year-old ewes.

-We have ten yearlings and 48 lambs.

-That takes us to nearly 80 animals

-in a year.

-Why the Cheviots?

-They are big strong animals but

-they can survive at this altitude.

-The field behind us

-is at 1,300 feet.

-I had to choose a strong breed

-that would cope up here.

-And the cattle?

-The cattle we keep aren't

-the first line of the business.

-The land wouldn't look as good

-without them.

-We want the manure and it's

-nice to hear them in the winter.

-What are your plans for the future?

-I love to make plans.

-Uncle Phil wouldn't mind

-a bit less of that!

-We keep a few store cattle

-at the moment...

-..but the plan is to bring back

-pure bred Welsh Black cattle.

-They belong here.

-How do you manage to juggle

-the insurance job and the farming?

-I feel lucky to have the honour

-of working for this area.

-From the top of this land

-I can see the entire area.

-It also shows me the whole

-of my insurance catchment area.

-It's a privilege to be able

-to come back to my home area...

-..to do a job I consider

-quite important to that area.

-The rain has arrived

-all of a sudden.

-Join us after the break when I'll

-still be here at the Rhug Estate.

-Meinir will be at a farmyard sale.

-See you in two minutes.

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-Welcome back to the 7,000-acre

-Rhug Estate farm near Corwen...

-..where the Royal Welsh

-Grassland Event is being held.

-The Federation of Welsh Grassland

-Societies is 50 years old this year.

-Gareth Davies is the chair.

-The idea developed when Breconshire

-was the featured host county.

-The idea came from

-the then president, John Davies...

-..and his chairman Rob Powell...

-..to stage a Royal Welsh Grassland

-Event at Pentre, Merthyr Cynog.

-It all started because grass is the

-cheapest form of food production...

-..as far as conversion into weight

-gain or where milk is concerned.

-We wanted to bring all sectors of

-the grassland societies together...

-..plus those involved in grassing,

-to show what we could do in Wales.

-It's a big year

-for the grassland societies.

-It's the Federation's

-50th anniversary.

-Everything started back in 1966...

-..with the ideas

-of a number of pioneers.

-We have to thank

-those people today...

-..as to what we now achieve

-from grassland production.

-It looks like being

-a very successful day.

-Absolutely.

-The Federation is also part of this.

-We've got a presence here

-and I'd say it's an excellent site.

-The committee have put together

-an excellent show.

-The number of people

-who've come here...

-..has demonstrated

-it's something that's needed.

-Well done to Meirionnydd

-for putting on an excellent event.

-Last week,

-Meinir went to West Wales...

-..to meet one farmer who has had

-enough of the current situation.

-Because of his personal health,

-as well as the low price of milk...

-..he has changed direction

-completely.

-It's a big day for Alun

-and Mandy Owens from Llannon.

-They have decided to quit milking

-and sell the Penderi pedigree herd.

-This is a highly unusual auction as

-it's all happening here on the farm.

-Alun has been milking

-and keeping pigs...

-...on the 165 acre farm

-all his life.

-But because of ill health,

-Alun and Mandy...

-..are selling the 150 Holsteins

-and most of the farm's equipment.

-What are your hopes for today?

-We just hope the sale goes well.

-Then, after the sale...

-..we hope we can still

-work on the farm...

-..but with less pressure on Alun.

-Things can change, and they have to.

-Things can change, and they have to.

-

-Yes.

-To make things easier, I installed

-a new parlour eleven years ago.

-I'd love to keep going,

-but what comes first?

-Your health or your work?

-I know which I've chosen.

-I've got two discs

-in the base of my spine.

-They want to operate on them,

-either freeze them or take them out.

-Some days, I'm fine,

-but other days, I can't move.

-Worse than that now,

-the pain has moved lower down.

-It's time to change direction.

-It's time to change direction.

-

-Yes, we have to.

-I'm sure milk prices have had

-some influence on your decision.

-Milk prices have been low

-for the past two years.

-I'm getting the same price now

-as I was getting 30 years ago.

-Where's the sense in that?

-In order to generate extra income,

-Alun diversified eleven years ago.

-He started a hog roasting business,

-and now roasts around 100 a year.

-The pigs are already here.

-We slaughter them in Maesteg

-and bring them back with us.

-We roast at least one a week.

-In summer,

-I can be out five times a week.

-The smallest party I've done

-was for 15 people.

-The biggest so far is for 750,

-but I have one this year for 1,000.

-How much difference has the business

-made to the farm's income?

-With milk prices as they are...

-..I couldn't have survived

-or paid the bills.

-The hog roast business

-is a big help.

-How much value

-does roasting the pigs add?

-The pig I have today was worth 70,

-and it cost 30 to slaughter it.

-Today, it will feed 400 people.

-I charge 3.50 per roll...

-..so you do the maths.

-I earn more

-from a Saturday night hog roast...

-..than I do milking cows in a week.

-Farmyard auctions

-are unusual events these days.

-With the sun shining,

-a strong crowd has gathered...

-..to show support

-and to land a bargain or two.

-The standard is very high here.

-It's nice to see a crowd

-turning up to support Alun.

-He works hard

-and deserves every praise.

-I've bought a couple.

-I'm trying to find a haulier.

-It's not far!

-I'm not sure whether

-to walk them or put them in a box.

-We've come from Garn-swllt

-and we've bought a log cutter.

-A saw bench.

-Did you get a bargain?

-Did you get a bargain?

-

-I'd say so.

-It's a sad day,

-another local dairy farm gone...

-..with the cost of milk as it is.

-It's a great shame...

-..seeing farms that have been

-milking for years giving up.

-My husband told me

-to buy a calf, which I did.

-The calf's mother

-is from our herd's lineage.

-It's important that you buy

-when there's a local auction.

-My father used to say

-if there was a local sale...

-..you have to buy something

-to get your name in the book.

-One of the auctioneers

-is John Eirian Davies...

-..from Bob Jones Prytherch.

-It must be unusual for you to hold

-an auction on a farm these days.

-It's more work, compared

-to getting herds into the mart.

-But it brings the community together

-and people have come from afar.

-How were the prices generally?

-Dairy cattle are hard, on the whole.

-Older cows not in calf

-were tricky so sell.

-Younger cows sold fairly well.

-Up to 1,200

-for recently-calved heifers.

-Have you seen an increase

-in herds being sold off...

-..as a result of milk prices?

-Herds have been sold off

-in parts of England.

-It's the first big herd to go

-to market in South West Wales.

-We're going to be very busy now

-for about six weeks.

-After weeks of preparation...

-..what were Alun and Mandy's

-impressions of the auction?

-It was full of people.

-Relaxing, having a chat,

-eating our hog roast.

-It was like a day out.

-Not Tenby, but Penderi.

-What's next for Alun and Mandy?

-We've started already.

-We've got a few stables for livery.

-I'm seeing the doctor on Tuesday.

-I'm seeing a specialist to find out

-what's happening with the surgery.

-We'll see what happens after that.

-How does it feel

-to see the cows leaving?

-I felt better as the day wore on...

-..seeing so many neighbours

-buying them.

-There's a good chance

-I'll see a lot of them again.

-Best wishes to you

-and the whole family for the future.

-Thank you.

-That's all for today's programme.

-Remember, there's no programme next

-week, but we'll be back on the 27th.

-I'll be

-at the Dinefwr Food Festival.

-If you haven't registered

-with Farming Connect yet...

-..the information centre

-will be open tonight until 10.30pm.

-You can contact them during normal

-work hours or on their website.

-So from me

-and the rest of the Ffermio team...

-..thanks for your company

-and goodbye to you all.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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