Mon, 17 Oct 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and welcome to Ffermio.

-Meinir meets two brothers

-who have left the big city...

-..and returned to their home

-in the Preseli mountains.

-We'll also be considering the value

-of agriculture to local economies.

-But first, farmers these days

-have to be much more creative...

-..about using their

-farm's natural resources...

-..to bolster their profit margins.

-On Heartsease Farm, near Knighton...

-..the water that once quenched

-the thirst of beef cattle...

-..is drunk by people worldwide.

-Daloni has been

-to the source of the spring.

-13 years ago, the water

-from this bottle...

-..would have been drunk

-by cattle on this land.

-The cattle have all gone...

-..but they've been replaced

-by a factory employing 180 people.

-This was the vision

-of the late John Watkins...

-..who went in search of water

-for his cattle...

-..led to the foundation of the

-soft drinks company, Radnor Hills.

-The company now has an annual

-turnover of more than 26 million.

-Despite the success of the business,

-agriculture is still important here.

-There are 800 acres of arable land

-and there are also 1,200 mule sheep.

-Looking after this side of the

-venture is the farm manger...

-..Edward Jones, originally

-from Llangristiolus, Anglesey.

-I started at Harper Adams

-and got a placement here for a year.

-After finishing my year, I was

-offered work after Harper Adams.

-I went back to Harper for a year...

-..and came straight back here

-to Heartsease.

-What are your responsibilities?

-What are your responsibilities?

-

-The sheep and the arable land.

-How does it work with the sheep?

-There are 1,200 Welsh mules.

-All white-faced.

-We try and cross with a Texel

-or Texel cross ram...

-..to get lambs that look good

-to go to the live market.

-We try and move the lambs on

-before Christmas.

-Before Christmas?

-We try to do it before Christmas.

-When do you lamb?

-When do you lamb?

-

-All through March.

-Do you expect them

-to reach a certain weight?

-We're quite tough on the weight.

-We don't want anything

-under 42 kilos.

-This year, most of them

-have been 45 kilos on leaving.

-How many of you farm here?

-There are two full-time

-but we get a lot of help in.

-The old manager has been working

-here for 48 years.

-He's worked very hard here.

-He still helps us out

-about four days a week.

-The son of the late John Watkins,

-William Watkins...

-..is now the managing director

-of the drinks company.

-He employs Edward.

-The farming came first here.

-I arrived back in 1988

-from Newcastle University.

-I'd done Agriculture

-and Food Marketing there.

-My dad was farming here and I

-got involved in the business.

-About twelve months

-after I started farming...

-..I decided, and Dad did as well,

-we wanted to diversify the business.

-A few years before that, he'd put in

-a bore hole for the livestock.

-We thought, it was at that time...

-..when water was starting

-to suddenly appear everywhere.

-And we thought we'd have a go at it.

-It all happens here on the farm.

-It all happens here on the farm.

-

-Everything happens here.

-We make the bottles,

-we make the syrups.

-The entire product is made here.

-And you still farm here.

-And you still farm here.

-

-Very much so.

-It's a really important part of it.

-The soft drinks business is

-absolutely wedded to the farming.

-We farm it in a way that we

-don't jeopardise our water source.

-All kinds of crops are grown here

-on 800 acres.

-Wheat, oats, rapeseed and barley.

-That's the rotation we have.

-How does the balance work between

-the animals and the crops...

-..and what the water is used for?

-It works well with the crops.

-We mix all of our own feed.

-We feed the sheep all our own crops.

-We buy a little concentrate

-to go with it.

-We have to look after the land

-more than anything.

-It's all organic, the grass. The

-part where the water comes from.

-Edward spends most of his time

-with the sheep.

-He usually sells the lambs

-at the local market in Knighton.

-This market is on your doorstep,

-Edward.

-Yes, it's only about four miles

-from the farm. It's very handy.

-Do you only sell here?

-Do you only sell here?

-

-No, we take a few to Ludlow.

-How have your prices been?

-We've had 74 for the old sheep.

-We've had 76 for 46-kilo lambs.

-That's not bad.

-That's not bad.

-

-It's pretty good.

-Is it complicated

-being on the border?

-The single payment

-can be a bit difficult.

-It's a bit slow sometimes.

-We do straddle the border.

-So you have some land

-the other side of Offa's Dyke.

-Yes, land in both countries.

-It can be very complicated.

-I've heard it said,

-Welsh but from England. Weird.

-Yes, it is.

-A lot of farms

-are only just in England.

-They're Welsh Farm Assured

-so we call them Welsh from England!

-McCartneys are responsible

-for the market in Knighton.

-Katie Morris

-is one of their auctioneers.

-This market is right on the border,

-Katie.

-Yes, the town is on the border.

-Half of the farmers here are from

-Wales and the other half, England.

-There are Welsh rules and English

-rules and you can't mix them.

-TB, tags, movement and BPS.

-What about current prices?

-It's pretty good at the moment.

-It's better than last year.

-In the short term, Brexit is OK

-because of the exchange rate.

-In the long term, it's important to

-get a good trade deal with Europe.

-You clearly love your job, Katie.

-Yes, I love my work.

-If prices are alright,

-everyone's happy.

-With an expected turnover

-of 28.5 million next year...

-..the Radnor Hills produce

-on Heartsease Farm...

-..has been a real success.

-The agricultural side

-is also succeeding.

-I want to make sure that we've got

-a well-balanced business...

-..and that everyone working here

-knows we're not subject...

-..to the whims of one supermarket

-buyer chucking us out.

-Having our own brand out there

-in the market...

-..competing and selling well

-is really important.

-It gives us all a sense of security.

-Everyone working in the business.

-I want a secure future

-for all of us.

-How do you see things going now?

-Well, we're continuing to grow.

-We need to get a bit more land.

-We may get someone else to help us

-with a few more sheep.

-Do you get the freedom

-to do as you will here?

-Yes, I have a certain amount of

-autonomy. I run it how I want to.

-I hope I do the job right

-and make some money for them.

-That is one venture...

-..where the farmer has responded

-to the requirements of the customer.

-Next, we visit the FUW's Open Day

-at Wolf's Castle.

-This time,

-the farmer is the customer.

-Meurig Harries and his family

-live at Eithin Man farm...

-..where he keeps 100 dairy cattle

-and 150 young stock on 200 acres.

-They've invited local businesses

-to the farm today...

-..to highlight the relationship...

-..between agriculture

-and rural businesses.

-When a farmer has some money

-in the bank...

-..the first thing he does is

-buy a new pick-up or a tractor.

-It takes quite a lot to run a farm.

-The farm itself has a turnover

-of about 350,000.

-About 110,000 of that goes towards

-sustaining the dairy side.

-There are a lot of costs.

-If we don't get a fair price

-for our products...

-..we can't produce anything.

-It's very important

-to local businesses...

-..that we're able to support them.

-They have come here today to

-support us, so it works both ways.

-Two years ago, the price of milk...

-..was up at almost 30p a litre.

-This year, it's been as low as 13p.

-That's quite a big difference.

-Two years ago, we changed

-our hedge cutter and mower.

-We bought some 40,000-worth

-of machinery.

-We only did it because we had it

-and we needed to revamp everything.

-This year, we've tightened our belt

-and haven't spent anything.

-We may have changed the wheelbarrow.

-Other than that,

-we haven't spent much.

-According to the FUW...

-..for every 1 produced on the farm,

-6 is spent in the local economy.

-Why is it so important for them

-to hold a day like this one?

-The purpose is to show the public...

-..how important agriculture is

-to our country...

-..and how important it is

-to the countryside...

-..and also how important agriculture

-is to local businesses and jobs.

-So many people rely on our industry

-in rural areas.

-If there's some disaster...

-..or we don't get the price

-we should for our produce...

-..then there's a knock-on effect

-on the industry.

-Not only jobs,

-but the local community structure...

-..schools, churches,

-Young Farmers Clubs.

-That's all essential and relies

-on agriculture in rural areas.

-If there isn't a profit in farming,

-all of that is under threat.

-There are a variety of businesses

-here today.

-From feed suppliers

-to machinery salesmen...

-..and those who care for

-animal health.

-What do they think of the event?

-It's raising awareness of the

-current situation in the industry.

-We're in a pretty big pickle

-at present.

-We're a farming co-operative.

-We rely on farmers

-as much as farmers rely on us.

-More than that, we employ people

-within our business...

-..from a farming background.

-It's very important that we ensure

-local jobs for those people.

-We are Meurig's vet here.

-95% of our work is dairy farming.

-Without farmers, dairy farmers,

-we haven't got a business.

-If you speak with people in the

-business, we have the same problems.

-Things have slowed down a little.

-I think we're facing a hard winter.

-It's important for us

-that people see...

-..how hard it's been

-over the last two years...

-..in the area we sell in to.

-Once farmers get a few pennies,

-they tend to reinvest them.

-The drop in the last two years

-has been dramatic.

-It's nice to come out today

-and speak to people...

-..and say that something has

-to be done to help farmers out...

-..to keep them going as they did

-before everything fell back.

-A lot of the small companies

-who came today are one-man bands.

-The time is precious for them.

-They've taken time off

-from their work.

-A lot will have to work late tonight

-to catch up with their work.

-I'm quite glad

-that they turned up today.

-That's it for this part.

-It's time for a break now.

-Join us after the break to hear

-our first competition question.

-Meinir also visits two brothers

-who returned to their home county.

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-Welcome back.

-Meinir has been to the area

-that was home to Waldo Williams.

-She's met two brothers who, after

-glittering big city careers...

-..have returned

-to their home county.

-There is a tendency these days to

-long for a better quality of life...

-..by moving from the city

-to the country.

-That is exactly

-what Arwyn and Meirion Rees...

-..from Pontyglasier

-near Eglwyswrw have done.

-They've turned their backs

-on the city...

-..and returned

-to the beauty of Pembrokeshire.

-Meirion is the younger brother

-who trained as a civil engineer.

-He worked in the middle of Cardiff.

-He has now returned to

-the family farm in Pontyglasier...

-..with his wife Catrin

-and their children, Lili and Tomi.

-Along with his father, Meirion keeps

-over 2,000 Welsh Mountain sheep.

-They graze mostly

-on the Preseli mountains.

-I wanted the Cardiff life

-as a young man.

-I wanted to see the city

-and enjoy myself somewhat.

-Has farming

-always been in the blood?

-I've had an interest in the farm

-and the sheep since I was young.

-When I went away for ten years,

-I wasn't sure if I would return.

-If you leave a farm,

-you lose the connection.

-Sheep have always been

-a passion of mine.

-How has the farm benefited

-from your experience in the city?

-One of the things

-I learned in the city...

-..was the importance

-of keeping records...

-..and identifying

-your strengths and weaknesses.

-The first year, I recorded

-everything about the sheep...

-..how many scanned -

-the key statistics if you like.

-I've always got a benchmark

-which shows how Dad farmed.

-Whatever we change in future,

-we can always compare to that year.

-I've tried to improve the land

-and the flock slowly.

-We've got a better performance

-while keeping the costs down.

-We keep Welsh Mountain sheep.

-Our system keeps costs down.

-What we get out of the sheep

-is quite low too.

-That's the balance really.

-It's important

-to keep the costs down.

-While we farm

-on the Preseli mountains...

-..we won't get many lambs,

-big lambs...

-..or a lot of money from the sheep.

-The only way to do it

-is to keep the costs down...

-..and get one lamb

-out of each sheep.

-Since returning, has it been

-difficult to work with your father?

-No, not at all. It's been very easy.

-Dad has let me get on with the sheep

-and do what I want to.

-He's had his chance and he's had

-enough of working with the sheep.

-It's a young man's game.

-I'm very lucky.

-After graduating from Cardiff

-University in Law and Japanese...

-..the older brother, Arwyn...

-..moved to London

-to start a career as a solicitor.

-After a period of working in the

-city, he decided to return home...

-..along with his wife, Michelle,

-from Southampton...

-..and their children, Manon and Nia.

-He still works as a solicitor...

-..but has also started a cottage

-business at home on the farm.

-The project has taken

-quite a bit of time up to now.

-I enjoy designing them and

-putting that design into practice.

-We have Storws and Cartws

-and the next one is the stable.

-It was an old farm.

-It was empty for over 40 years.

-I had a dream of doing it up one day

-and coming to live here.

-That dream has now been realised.

-How hard is it to run a business

-in the countryside?

-We've been very lucky. We've got

-a space that attracts people.

-It's in a good place

-with a view of the mountains.

-Visitors are happy when they come

-here. We get very good feedback.

-We've found it's been easier

-than we'd imagined, really.

-It's a real family enterprise.

-Michelle, my wife, runs the

-cottages. She does the bookings.

-She greets the guests.

-I try to keep the grass down!

-This work is totally different

-to what you do as a solicitor.

-Yes. It's nice to have a balance

-between this work and the office.

-That's only ten minutes away in

-Cardigan with Morgan & Richardson.

-The balance is nice.

-Over the years, Meurig and Val

-sustained the farm...

-..to give their sons

-the best possible chance.

-I'm proud

-that they've both come home.

-We're all here together and can help

-each other as we want.

-Arwyn has his own business.

-Meirion is on the farm.

-Everyone's very happy

-at the moment.

-You must be glad

-to have some help on the farm.

-Yes, I'm very happy!

-If Meirion hadn't returned home...

-..I would have had to sell the sheep

-and the farm.

-I'm very glad

-that Meirion came home to take over.

-He has taken over.

-To be honest, I didn't think

-I'd live to see the day...

-..they'd both decide

-to leave their jobs.

-They've both travelled the world.

-They've seen for themselves

-that there's nowhere like home.

-It wasn't just their choice.

-They brought two wives home

-with them.

-We've now got four grandchildren.

-You could say

-that my dreams had come true.

-You certainly seem

-very proud of them.

-I really am.

-I would say that it's important

-when you're young...

-..to leave home, live another life

-and see how other people do things.

-You need to go around the world

-and work for a company...

-..to see how the world works.

-You return home as a better person

-when you do come back.

-Do you agree with that?

-Yes, once you've been away, you

-appreciate how you were raised...

-..and want your children

-to be raised in the same way.

-It's an eye-opener.

-From what I've seen today,

-you're all very close.

-We live close by.

-Mam and Dad are there, Arwyn is here

-and I'm two fields over.

-It's hard to believe that

-we live so close to each other...

-..after moving away.

-You must be glad of the support

-you've had from your parents.

-Absolutely. We appreciate the chance

-they've given us.

-I've been able to live here

-and run the cottages.

-Meirion's had the chance

-to run the farm.

-Without their years of hard work,

-we'd never have had that chance.

-Next, here are the details

-of our competition.

-Trailer Competition

-Once again this year,

-we have three excellent prizes.

-They've all been donated

-by Ifor Williams Trailers.

-The first prize

-is the HB506 horsebox trailer...

-..worth 4,180 + VAT.

-The second prize is the P8G trailer

-worth 1,945 + VAT.

-The third prize

-is the P7e trailer worth 950 + VAT.

-To win one of them, you will have

-to answer five simple questions.

-The first letter of each answer will

-be an anagram of a five-letter word.

-You'll need to send us that word

-by 23 November.

-Here is the first question.

-Heart, lung and kidney.

-What are they?

-The details and rules of the

-competition are on our website.

-Don't forget to watch next week's

-programme for the next question.

-That's it for another week.

-Looking to the future, we'll have

-to live more on the market.

-The market has no conscience.

-That belongs to people and society.

-I'll leave you with the final words

-of Preseli by Waldo Williams.

-"To the wall! We must keep our well

-clear of this beast's dirt."

-We'll see you next week.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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