Mon, 16 May 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and welcome to the programme.

-The sun is shining

-on Whitland Market.

-The place is packed with visitors

-to see the Nicel herd...

-

-http://www.jjmorris.com/agricultural_news.php

-..from Nantyci Farm in

-Carmarthenshire go under the hammer.

-We'll hear more

-about the auction later.

-Daloni will find out more...

-..about the importance of

-small abattoirs in rural areas.

-And Alun meets two business partners

-from Merthyr Tydfil...

-..who want to combine Welsh culture,

-heritage and agriculture...

-..on their smallholding

-in Pontycymer.

-But first, Jennifer and Huw Evans...

-..have decided to sell their herd

-of 130 Jersey cattle.

-I visited the family on the farm

-as they faced the end of an era...

-..and milked the herd

-for the last time.

-Nantyci was a beef and sheep farm...

-..when Huw and Jennifer Evans

-moved here.

-Jennifer came from

-a dairy farm background...

-..so ten years ago,

-they created this Nicel Jersey herd.

-

-http://www.jjmorris.com/agricultural_news.php

-The girls were friendly with people

-who went to shows.

-At the time,

-Huw was secretary of Holstein UK.

-They had a group of friends

-who went to shows.

-I thought they could have

-the chance to do the same.

-Nicola had a friend whose family

-were selling a Jersey herd.

-

-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/long-standing-event-thrives-2326857

-They told me they were going out.

-When I came home,

-two calves had arrived.

-They were going to milk them

-and use the milk for the calves.

-That went on for a bit. We ended up

-with over twenty of them.

-In 2005, we decided to start milking

-seriously.

-This year, we decided

-the time had come.

-I felt that the cattle

-were looking their best...

-..and it was an opportunity to

-finish milking and change direction.

-I'm sure it's been lovely

-to work with the Jerseys.

-When we started the Jersey herd,

-Huw was working.

-It was just me with Helen mostly

-and Nicola occasionally.

-

-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/long-standing-event-thrives-2326857

-We did the work ourselves.

-As the herd grew, it took

-more time to do the milking...

-..so we decided it was time

-for Huw to stop working.

-He could stay home

-and be a farmer...

-..rather than an office boy

-for the rest of his life.

-Over the last two years, we've been

-getting up at 4.30am every morning.

-It's time to quit!

-Since it was established...

-..the Nicel herd has been prominent

-at shows all over the country.

-The family's latest success was in

-March at Carmarthen's Dragon Fest...

-..where they won

-the supreme championship.

-Here we are with Nicel Dion Tare.

-

-http://ukjerseys.com/clubs/welsh/2016/jerseyfest.html

-She looks like a lovely cow

-if I may say so.

-She's given us three calves.

-She's looking her best this year.

-She's been a very good cow.

-What are the qualities of the breed?

-If you want a cow

-that's not too big...

-..although

-they don't have to be that small.

-They have to look like

-a true dairy cow, like this one.

-She's clean along the back

-and through the bones.

-She's wide enough

-through the body...

-..to use her body to graze well...

-..and eat enough to produce

-plenty of milk from that grass.

-Jersey cows are famous

-for the quality of their milk.

-There is plenty of fat and protein

-in their milk.

-The milk is useful and is good for

-making all kinds of milk products...

-..such as cream and butter...

-..and also our milk is used

-for mozzarella cheese.

-That must add value to the milk.

-The milk is worth 5-6 pence more

-than the average price.

-In addition to the quality of

-the milk, you have fun showing.

-It's been a hobby for the girls.

-It's also been a way to advertise

-the herd and the breed.

-In 2011 we were very successful.

-We won at the Dairy Show in

-Carmarthen against other breeds.

-We did the same thing at the

-Pembrokeshire Show that year.

-That's a year I'll never forget.

-The girls will miss the cattle

-once they've been sold.

-They'll miss them more than we will.

-It won't be easy.

-This is the last time the herd will

-enter the Nantyci milking parlour.

-With the herd and the farm

-going under the hammer...

-..what is next for Huw and Jennifer?

-You'll see an enormous difference

-when the herd is gone.

-I suppose so,

-but we've kept 100 young stock...

-..so there'll be

-plenty of jobs to do there.

-We're hoping to rear the calves

-and turn over the stock once again.

-I'm not saying we're stopping.

-I'm not stopping.

-Huw can make up his own mind.

-Milk prices must have influenced

-your decision to some extent.

-That's right.

-It's possible we would have carried

-on for another year or so...

-..until I reached retirement age.

-That would have been the time...

-..that one would stop working.

-It just felt right

-to do it this year.

-I didn't feel

-that we were going to make a profit.

-At the moment,

-the dairy farm is losing money...

-..because our running costs

-are higher than our profits.

-It's not the best time

-for dairy farming...

-..but what sort of prices do you

-think you will get tomorrow?

-There's a lot of interest in

-this type of breed at the moment.

-

-Bridiau Lliwiog - Jerseys + Guernseys???

-The industry

-is undergoing changes.

-Milk companies are asking

-for a higher fat content...

-..and milk of a higher quality.

-People feel there is

-a chance to do something.

-We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

-Between the fact that it's unusual

-to see a Jersey herd in a sale...

-..and the good weather,

-it promises to be a good day.

-Yes.

-The cattle have arrived safely

-at Whitland Market...

-..ready for the big day.

-I wonder now

-how the Nantyci family are feeling.

-Huw, there's no turning back now.

-No, the day has finally arrived.

-It was a bit odd waking up today and

-not having to go down the parlour.

-When I arrived here and saw

-the cattle, I was happy.

-How does it feel to be the seller

-rather than the auctioneer?

-A friend of mine once told me

-when I ran an auction for him...

-..that it's different when you're

-selling your own stock.

-It's a different feeling

-working on the cattle with the boys.

-If I was selling for someone else,

-I'd just be thinking about the cash.

-It's different with these cattle.

-Good luck to you and the family.

-Good luck to you and the family.

-

-Thank you.

-Alun has been to Pontycymer

-to meet two business partners...

-..who have invested

-in a forty-acre smallholding...

-..without having

-any background in farming.

-No-one has farmed Ty Meinwr

-in Pontycymer near Bridgend...

-

-http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45264076.html

-..for about twenty years.

-However, a farm of some sort

-has been here for 200 years.

-Here, between the woodland and the

-hills, in the valley called Garw.

-The name says it all.

-Looking back further

-than 20 years...

-..sheep and cattle have grazed

-the forty acres around Ty Meinwr.

-Since then,

-locals have rented the land...

-..and horses have been kept here.

-Ty Meinwr is now

-in the hands of two people...

-..who want to regenerate

-and restore the farm...

-..using a new, exciting plan.

-A month ago,

-Jamie Bevan from Merthyr...

-

-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/chairman-cymdeithas-yr-iaith-gymraeg-8589678

-..and his partner,

-Marit Parker from Aberystwyth...

-

-Ma na Marit Parker yn ymddangos ar y we o Aber - methu cysylltu hi a Jamie Bevan ddo.

-..came to live at the farm.

-The aim is to establish

-an environmentally friendly farm.

-The big question to ask is do either

-of you have any farming background?

-Do you have any experience

-for this new venture?

-I come from a farming background.

-As a child,

-I lived in a small village.

-Both my parents

-came from farming families.

-I'm just a townie from Merthyr!

-I don't have much of a clue,

-but I am learning.

-I have learnt so much

-over the last six months.

-How did you get together, come up

-with this idea and then develop it?

-We both had similar ideas

-separately.

-Then a friend introduced us

-and said we should have a chat.

-I have always wanted

-a land-based project...

-..where people could come

-to appreciate, learn...

-..and practise the language.

-A place where people could come

-to appreciate the Welsh language.

-I want to experiment with ideas

-of farming in a sustainable way.

-I can't think of sustainability...

-..without thinking about

-the language and the culture.

-They are all linked.

-It was crucial for us...

-..to have somewhere close

-to the villages in the valley.

-A big part of what we want to do

-is working with local communities.

-To give local people

-a chance to work on the land...

-..an opportunity

-they may not usually have.

-In that way, we can introduce them

-to the Welsh language.

-Tell us a bit about

-the history of this farm.

-The previous owners

-kept horses here.

-Some would say too many horses.

-Some are still here;

-we await their departure!

-How important will local people

-be to this process?

-They could tell you

-about the history of this place.

-We are hoping to work with

-some local groups...

-..such as a heritage group

-and Menter Iaith...

-..on a project to gather stories

-about Ty Meinwr and the village.

-How has the work been going

-over the first month?

-It has been a shock to the system!

-It is developing.

-The links with the local community

-are developing.

-Volunteers are beginning to come.

-At the moment, Ty Meinwr

-is being smartened up.

-In the future,

-an orchard is being planned...

-..using Welsh heritage fruit trees.

-They also plan to keep bees,

-create a market garden...

-..and keep a small number

-of animals.

-Both of them have

-a strong community spirit.

-Jamie is very passionate

-about the Welsh language.

-He is Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

-His father, Gari,

-was Welsh Learner of the Year...

-

-http://cymraeg.llyw.cymru/news/index/gari-bevan-dysgwr?lang=en

-..at the Meifod National Eisteddfod.

-What do you have planned next?

-We have stables and a barn

-on the site.

-We plan to use the barn

-for activities...

-..when schoolchildren visit us.

-Although the horses will be gone...

-..you do plan

-to keep some animals here.

-There is a breed of sheep

-native to these valleys.

-It would be nice

-to have some of them here.

-How much of a risk have you taken

-by giving up your jobs...

-..leaving the lives you once had

-and starting over again?

-It's a big risk, a big venture.

-My family and friends

-have been very supportive.

-But at the same time, they think

-I'm a bit mad to give it all up.

-We want people to go

-to our website, tymeinwr.cymru

-They can go and see what we do here.

-If they like what they see...

-..they can get in touch

-and come here to help out.

-You can learn here, make friends,

-experience the land...

-..and speak the language.

-If that suits you, come down.

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-Welcome back.

-The sale is in full swing

-with the place packed out.

-It's looking good

-for the Nantyci family.

-Before I say any more,

-here's Daloni.

-In recent years

-we've seen a big decline...

-..in the number of

-small Welsh abattoirs.

-Since 1990, 42 of them have closed.

-While abattoirs

-like Dunbia in Llanybydder...

-

-http://hccmpw.org.uk/market_prices/industryinformation/abattoirsinwales/

-..and St Merryn's in Merthyr

-are crucial suppliers of meat...

-..to the supermarkets

-and international markets...

-..their smaller counterparts

-supply local shops and butchers.

-There are now only 18 abattoirs

-of this size left in Wales.

-Even well-established ones

-are struggling to compete.

-Cig Oen Caron abattoir has been

-in existence for over 50 years.

-They are one of the only abattoirs

-in West Wales...

-..to process pigs

-as well as sheep and cattle.

-Increasing running costs

-are making life difficult.

-I'm the sixth generation

-of butchers in Tregaron.

-It's a long-standing

-family business.

-When I started

-working with my father...

-..we'd slaughter a couple of cattle

-and half a dozen lambs...

-..on a Sunday morning.

-No-one would inspect the meat

-until the day after.

-These days, there's always a vet

-on site while we are slaughtering.

-He watches the killing and all the

-work done on the meat after that.

-All the rules add to the cost.

-It is necessary because the public

-want to feel it's done properly.

-All the meat coming out of

-Welsh abattoirs these days...

-..is completely safe

-for consumption.

-What really sustains our business

-here is private work for farms...

-..who want their own meat

-for consumption...

-..and for their wider families.

-They come

-from the south of Pembrokeshire...

-..and the Swansea area...

-..all the way up to Talybont

-to the north.

-The catchment area is huge

-because we're the only one in Dyfed.

-The new rules that came in as a

-result of BSE and Foot and Mouth...

-..have meant significant problems

-with disposal of waste materials.

-You can't do anything else with it.

-It has to be incinerated.

-When I started, we received a penny

-for every pound of that waste.

-Now, we pay 150 per tonne

-to get rid of it.

-Waste removal now costs us

-around 800 to 1,000 a week.

-That's our biggest expense.

-On top of that, we used to be

-quite well paid for the hides.

-Beef cattle hides were worth 35.

-It's down to 15.

-Lamb hides

-are down from 7 to 1 apiece.

-If you want to know

-the provenance of your meat...

-..small abattoirs are the answer.

-Here in Machynlleth, Wil Lloyd

-Williams has won numerous prizes...

-..for the meat he sells in the shop.

-Much of that meat is processed

-at Wil's abattoir down there.

-I used to slaughter

-for six to ten butchers.

-They're all gone.

-The power of the supermarkets

-has eradicated them.

-We only slaughter once or twice

-a fortnight, when the need arises.

-The costs are too high.

-People don't realize that.

-In the old days,

-you'd open the gate...

-..and there'd be two cows,

-ten lambs and six pigs.

-Today, you open the gate...

-..and the cost is 700 or 800

-before you even start.

-There are taxes.

-The vet is 38.50 per hour.

-Do you only slaughter meat

-to be sold in your shop?

-We slaughter for farmers.

-When you get these

-big slaughterhouses...

-..that kill 4,500 lambs for

-Sainsbury's and 4,500 for Asda...

-..there's no room

-for Tom Williams and two pigs...

-..because they have contracts

-to fulfil.

-I've been banging the same drum

-for thirty years.

-Where are people

-going to get animals like those...

-..slaughtered and butchered?

-It will be done illegally.

-A recent survey said we've lost

-many slaughterhouses in Wales.

-Where have they been until now?

-The industry has disappeared.

-Look at the ages of these men.

-They are 60 years old on average.

-There's no new blood coming in.

-They know how much of a hole

-they would be in...

-..in terms of legislation and costs.

-Your grandfather

-started the business.

-Will your son

-be following in your footsteps?

-Unfortunately for

-William Lloyd Williams and Son...

-..when it's time for this Wil Lloyd

-to hang up his hat...

-..my son Tom Lloyd works in Canada

-for Toronto Football Club.

-I can't see him coming home

-to cure meat!

-These small slaughterhouses

-provide an important service...

-..to rural Welsh farmers.

-Their existence means animals do not

-have to be transported for miles.

-Customers have access

-to local produce.

-What does the future hold

-for small Welsh slaughterhouses?

-At the end of the day, agriculture

-won't be able to survive.

-In order to get meat

-from an animal...

-..you need to have a slaughterhouse.

-I've spent 270,000.

-Many others have done the same.

-I don't see fewer inspections,

-I see more obstacles...

-..more paperwork

-and now they have introduced EID.

-Some days,

-after slaughtering the lambs...

-..I spend half as much time again

-doing the paperwork.

-If that doesn't change,

-there won't be a future.

-It breaks my heart

-to say things like that.

-Back at Whitland Market...

-..the buyers are obviously pleased

-with the standard of the animals.

-First class. First class.

-I've just spent five weeks

-in New Zealand.

-The animals there

-aren't as good as these.

-The people there

-are treated better than us here.

-And prices are better.

-And prices are better.

-

-Yes, they are better.

-It's been a good day.

-The cattle

-have all been turned out well.

-They look good and fit.

-The top made over 1,500.

-That was promising, considering

-the current financial climate.

-Helen, what a day.

-I bet you're tired.

-Yes, it's been difficult.

-I admire anybody who gets up every

-morning to milk a herd for hours...

-..with the amount they're paid

-at the moment.

-I wouldn't like to go to work

-if I wasn't being paid for it.

-That's the situation farmers

-find themselves in at the moment.

-Nicola, the whole family

-has worked hard...

-..to ensure that the cattle

-look their best.

-Yes, they have.

-The aim of the Nantyci family

-is to work together.

-We were very proud

-to see the cattle being sold.

-It was encouraging

-to see the best cattle go.

-There are certain families

-who have been good to us.

-It was good to see people

-paying more for those cattle.

-The Nicel name

-will continue to exist.

-Everything has sold well.

-Considering the current state of

-the industry, it went really well.

-Best wishes to you as a family

-for the future.

-Thank you.

-That's all for this week.

-It's the end of an era

-for the Nantyci family.

-The herd will enrich other herds

-across the country.

-We'll be back

-the same time next week.

-Until then, thanks for your company.

-Goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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