Mon, 23 May 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and a warm welcome to Ffermio.

-Today, I'm at the Bakewell Centre

-near Sheffield for the Beef Expo.

-This show travels around annually.

-This is the first time

-it's returned here in 15 years.

-Coming up, Daloni finds out

-what advantages farmers can gain...

-..from social media

-like Twitter and Facebook.

-Alun will be at a dog sale in Bala.

-Last week, I went to Cilycwm

-near Llandovery...

-..to see these cattle being prepared

-before their big day...

-..with the breeder and experienced

-exhibitor, Eddie Morgan.

-For almost 25 years,

-Eddie Morgan and his family...

-..have been exhibiting

-commercial cattle at shows.

-Here are the four animals

-Eddie is taking to the Beef Expo.

-He's taking two heifers

-and two steers.

-Believe me,

-to get them looking these good...

-..requires hours

-of preparatory work.

-Eddie and Bunty farm

-in the middle of Cilycwm village.

-They used to run the local pub

-while farming...

-..but they're now concentrating

-on the stock...

-..and competing in shows

-across the country.

-We fatten around 150 cattle a year.

-We try to sell around 20

-every month.

-If we sell ten one week,

-we'll be out buying ten next week.

-We try to keep the flow going.

-You get a bit of help

-from local residents.

-We're very lucky to have them.

-There are plenty of young children

-coming here in Cilycwm.

-They come

-to have a look at weekends.

-If I've got time, they come in

-and see what we do with the cattle.

-They ask where

-the cuts come from on the cattle.

-They want to know where the steaks

-their mother brings home comes from.

-I try my best to help them.

-It's amazing the interest

-that the children show.

-How important is it

-that you give youth a chance?

-I think it's incredibly important.

-If the young people

-don't get a chance...

-..the doors will close for them.

-Over the years...

-..Eddie and Bunty have given

-a lot of local youngsters...

-..the experience

-of exhibiting livestock...

-..and the opportunity

-to work with beef cattle.

-Sam Jones from Cilycwm

-is one of those people.

-How different is this

-compared to your day-to-day work?

-It's very different.

-I'm the manager in a nursing home

-for people with dementia.

-It's nice to do something

-totally different to work.

-How hard is it to prepare animals

-for exhibiting?

-There's plenty to do.

-They get pampered more than we do!

-What's the background

-for this heifer?

-I bought her in the

-Show Potentials Sale in February.

-She came from

-Bowen & Bowen from Welshpool.

-She came down from there.

-What caught your eye about her?

-As she walked around the ring,

-I could see she had a good shape.

-I didn't want

-to spend too much money.

-She was enough.

-What are your hopes

-at the beef expo?

-We'll see. I'll enjoy

-taking her there and having fun.

-It'll be nice

-to exhibit my own animal.

-There's something addictive

-about exhibiting.

-Yes, once you start, that's it.

-I haven't looked back.

-What standard of cattle

-do you expect at the beef expo?

-I've been to these beef expos

-for the last two or three years.

-The standards are high.

-I've been quite close to it

-but the standard is very high.

-I've been to the Show Potentials

-in Ruthin and one in Brecon too.

-The quality of cattle this year

-is exceptional.

-What are your hopes?

-What are your hopes?

-

-I'm very happy with them, Meinir.

-We've washed them this morning

-and they look fine.

-They were clipped over the weekend

-and everything's shaping up.

-There's one steer

-I'm not sure about.

-He's not quite right on his feet.

-I don't want to take him

-if he's not OK.

-They have to be fit to travel

-or there's no point taking them.

-It's pleasurable work, then.

-It's pleasurable work, then.

-

-We enjoy it. We really do.

-It's an expensive hobby

-but a good one.

-I've just sent a tweet

-from the Beef Expo...

-..so that people know where

-the Ffermio team are this week.

-We could be doing much more

-with the platform.

-Recently, Daloni went to meet

-a farmer from Llanfairfechan...

-..who has taken advantage

-of social media for his business.

-Social media has changed the world.

-These days, it's easier than ever to

-contact people all over the world...

-..to share news, messages

-and opinions.

-One person who's taken advantage

-of the new media...

-..is Gareth Wyn Jones

-from Llanfairfechan.

-When did your interest

-in social media begin?

-I've been on Twitter and Facebook

-for a few years.

-I thought it was a great way

-to open up my life...

-..and what we do as farmers

-day-to-day to the public.

-As an industry, we're great at

-producing but not great at selling.

-One of the things I do almost

-every morning is my office view.

-People like to reply

-with their office view.

-You see them

-stuck on the M25 in traffic.

-They get to see a part of my life.

-I'm very lucky with where I live

-and what I see every day.

-By sharing that, people come closer

-to farmers and farming.

-They're then more likely

-to buy our produce.

-Gareth has certainly raised the

-profile of farmers on social media.

-On Twitter alone,

-he has over 12,000 followers.

-Do you set out in the morning

-to tweet once that day?

-Or twice or three times?

-Is there a pattern?

-I'll let you into a little secret.

-I get a bit of help

-on the media side of things.

-I couldn't do it all myself

-with thousands of followers.

-I have 12,000 followers on Twitter

-and two full Facebook accounts.

-That's 10,000 more

-without counting Instagram.

-I have an IT wizard called Dewi...

-..who can drip feed

-all kinds of agricultural news...

-..into social media all day.

-So in a way,

-my page has been set up in advance.

-So there is a pattern.

-The stuff from me

-can be a bit different.

-The stuff on the business page

-is very professional.

-What kinds of discussions

-do farmers have on Twitter?

-All kinds of chats, really.

-From predatory foxes to Brexit.

-It's just like the kind of chat

-we'd have in the pub.

-It's a great way of getting

-our message out to everybody.

-I want people to think...

-..the Welsh lamb Mrs Jones

-has cooked tastes great...

-..and that they

-should want to buy some.

-That's why I post a photo

-of my Sunday lunch...

-..not so that people

-know what I'm doing.

-I can't cook it but Rhian can.

-I just hope that showing it off

-like that makes a difference.

-Every week, I send ten lambs

-down to Lidgates in London.

-That's just superb.

-It all started

-after the snow in 2013.

-Danny Lidgate, the owner,

-made contact and asked...

-..if we'd be interested in supplying

-them with lamb via Twitter.

-It was only one tweet.

-That shows the way ahead.

-Do you have chats

-with politicians on Twitter?

-Yes, I do.

-Sometimes, I feel that people

-forget about those working the land.

-When the policy-makers

-are making decisions...

-..they forget the most crucial

-factor of that equation, the farmer.

-Twitter and Facebook may be great

-platforms to spread your message...

-..but the reaction

-isn't always wholly positive.

-Over the last six months, I've had

-lots of vegans and vegetarians...

-..being quite unpleasant to me.

-I do quite a bit of media work so

-it's hard sometimes to keep quiet.

-I try to be honest and respectful.

-But there is a line that they cross

-that I can't abide.

-Some people go to extremes.

-We have to show respect

-to our fellow humans.

-You also shoot videos.

-I do.

-Videos are a good way for people

-to get to know your face and voice.

-It gives them a chance to decide

-whether they like me or not.

-With 12,000 followers, Gareth is

-spreading his message far and wide.

-How many other farmers are

-making the most of the new media?

-It's a great way for me

-to boost my business.

-I get television work,

-somewhere to sell my produce.

-It's a way forward for farmers...

-..if it's used properly.

-It can be a hassle like anything.

-You get out of it what you put in.

-Perhaps the most important question

-is where do you find the time?

-That's a good question.

-As someone told me, if you want

-something done, ask a busy man.

-Finding time

-can be a real problem...

-..especially with a family,

-when this thing pings every minute.

-What's the latest on that phone?

-It's obviously been used -

-it's full of cracks!

-I'm waiting for a new one.

-What the latest tweet?

-What the latest tweet?

-

-Here it is.

-"Gareth Wyn Jones...

-"..great to see you at last week's

-Conwy Business Awards.

-"Keep up the great work."

-If you want to follow Ffermio

-the way Gareth Wyn Jones does...

-..then visit our website

-or Twitter account.

-Here at the show,

-the preparations are in full swing.

-Eddie Morgan

-is about to enter the ring.

-You're here safely, Eddie.

-Are you ready?

-Are you ready?

-

-We are ready, Meinir.

-We washed the cattle yesterday and

-we washed them again this morning.

-We're down to three animals.

-We were unsure about the red steer.

-We are here. There are

-ten animals coming up on the lorry.

-It's started well with several

-red rosettes going back down.

-It'll be a good competition.

-What's the most important thing when

-showing cattle at the Beef Expo?

-It's a couple of rungs higher in

-quality than what we have at home.

-We meet people we haven't seen

-since the Winter Fair.

-It's great to see them.

-It's the first

-show of the year for beef.

-It is the first.

-Our cattle

-are on the small side right now.

-We look to fatten them through the

-summer in preparation for Christmas.

-Today is good practice.

-It's a good start

-for us and the cattle.

-It's going to be a busy day for you.

-Good luck. We'll see you later.

-Good luck. We'll see you later.

-

-Thank you.

-It's time for a break now.

-Join us in a minute or two to see

-how Eddie gets on at the Beef Expo.

-Recently, a sheepdog was sold

-for an incredible price in Skipton.

-Alun's been to see how the prices

-were at the Bala Sheepdog Sales.

-See you in two minutes.

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-Welcome back.

-The standard of competition

-here at the Beef Expo is very high.

-In among all the entries

-are Eddie Morgan and his gang.

-So this is the end-of-day party?

-Eddie, you must be

-extremely tired tonight.

-We are tired, Meinir.

-It's time to go home now!

-You've had a good day of competing.

-You've had a good day of competing.

-

-Very good. Very, very pleased.

-Second with the black steer

-in the babies.

-Very, very pleased.

-It was a very, very strong class.

-Sam, fair play,

-came third in the class.

-Very pleased.

-Very pleased.

-

-Wales are doing excellently.

-The way it's shaping up, it looks

-very, very promising for the Welsh.

-Sam, did you enjoy

-your first experience in the ring?

-I'd be so happy

-just to get any rosette.

-Third is fab.

-Bunty, it looks like you've brought

-the kitchen sink with you!

-I try to please everybody.

-I'm good at putting food

-on the table, as you can tell!

-Eddie, you'll be going back to Wales

-a very happy man.

-Yes, we're going home happy.

-The cattle here at Bakewell

-are at their best.

-Next, Alun's at a sheepdog sale

-on Bala's Rhiwlas estate.

-Hopes are high for good prices.

-Last year,

-Alan Jones from Caernarfon...

-..got 7,600 guineas

-for his bitch, Tess.

-That's the best price

-in the history of this event.

-Earlier this week,

-at the Skipton sale...

-..the world-record price

-for a sheepdog was broken...

-..when 16-month-old Cap, owned

-by Irishman Padraig Doherty...

-..was sold

-for a remarkable 14,100 guineas.

-That's why expectations are high

-here today.

-The annual event is organized

-by the Bala Sheepdog Society.

-This year's chair is Eifion Davies,

-Cynlas, Cefnddwysarn, near Bala.

-I moved to the area

-almost 18 years ago now.

-One of the first things I joined

-was the sheepdog society.

-My mother-in-law spoke to Twm Jim,

-a local Bala character, in town.

-She had told him that I did

-a bit of sheepdog training.

-In no time,

-Twm Jim was on the farmyard...

-..offering me

-a place on the committee!

-We should note that this

-is one of the first events here...

-..since the death of Robin Price.

-Yes, it's odd to think that this

-is the first sale since he left us.

-He was a staunch supporter

-of both the sale and the trials.

-What's the order of the day?

-There are two classes of dogs.

-We always put the emphasis

-on the older dogs first.

-They get the first chance

-to enter the sale.

-I see new developments all the time.

-Social media and videos play

-an important role in selling now.

-A lot of the sellers...

-..have started to film their dogs

-working at home...

-..and putting the videos

-on the Web.

-More and more are doing so

-with every sale...

-..and more and more

-are watching them.

-Sheepdog trials are booming as well.

-People seem to be buying dogs

-to compete as much as to work.

-There is a sense

-that a good farm dog...

-..isn't good enough for someone

-who wants to compete at trials.

-There are all kinds of dogs here...

-..from the very best down.

-Over 60 dogs are being sold today.

-Among those hoping for a good price

-is Crad Williams from Llanrhaeadr.

-Crad, tell me a bit about Bob,

-who's being sold today.

-His lineage includes dogs...

-..that have won at national,

-international and world level.

-His father, which I also owned...

-..was bought

-when he was six months old.

-He was bred by Marilyn McNaught

-of Pandy here in Bala.

-I sold him here, to the Vaughan

-family of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant.

-They bred him

-with a bitch they owned...

-..and gave me this one

-as an eight-week-old puppy.

-I've sold fairly successfully here

-over the years.

-I sold this one's father

-two years ago.

-He made quite a good price.

-I got 2,700 guineas for him.

-I've sold others

-for around the 2,000 mark since.

-The course and sheep

-set a good challenge...

-..as dogs and masters

-showed their talents.

-But how is the sale going?

-Emrys Jones, Sarnfaen,

-a familiar face at the auction.

-How did you get on?

-Very well. I'm happy.

-Everyone's here,

-the weather's nice...

-..and I've got money in my pocket!

-If there are quality dogs...

-..dogs with a bit of style...

-..then they sell themselves.

-After a day selling over 60 dogs

-from all over Wales and beyond...

-..how did Crad Williams

-and Bob get on?

-Disappointing.

-He performed disappointingly today.

-The way he ran,

-I thought it was a fair price.

-I let him go for 900.

-A bit disappointing,

-but there'll be other days.

-One man who has had a good day...

-..having been selling here

-for over 30 years...

-..is Ruthin auctioneer Glyn Owens.

-How did this year's prices

-compare to last year's?

-Very well, to be honest.

-We're very pleased.

-The best dogs sold very well.

-The best bitches sell well

-at every sale, every year.

-They buy them to breed.

-If you wanted

-a quality bitch today...

-..you'd have to pay

-somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000.

-The highest price was 4,800 guineas,

-sold by Doug Lambie.

-He sells here regularly

-and always attracts high prices.

-Generally,

-it's been quite a good day.

-We're happy,

-and people are going home happy.

-The young dogs

-went for up to 950 guineas.

-From 600 to 950 guineas,

-so, on the whole, very successful.

-Back here at the Beef Expo,

-the Welsh are making their mark.

-Many reached the top

-in their classes...

-..and are ready

-to battle for the championships.

-The baby beef

-reserve championship...

-..went to the Elias family,

-Hendre Cennin Isaf, Garndolbenmaen.

-The class championship

-went to Elfed Williams, Sennybridge.

-Massive congratulations, Elfed.

-You must be over the moon.

-You must be over the moon.

-

-I am indeed. Wonderful.

-A good heifer to start with,

-but turned out very well.

-Thanks to Caryl and Neil for

-doing a good job of turning her out.

-I've supported the show

-for a long time.

-It's the first time

-we've come out on top.

-Caryl, you reared this heifer,

-so she's close to your heart.

-Yes, she is.

-I sold her to Elfed in Ruthin.

-Elfed asked if I'd show her today

-and I couldn't say no.

-I'm very proud,

-and very grateful to Elfed.

-There's no doubt

-that it's going to be Wales' day.

-More awards are going back

-over Offa's Dyke...

-..the reserve championship

-to Tecwyn Jones, Ty Newydd, Nebo...

-..and the supreme championship...

-..to the Williams family,

-Tynllyn, Trawsfynydd.

-Glyn, many congratulations.

-Glyn, many congratulations.

-

-Thank you very much.

-The Beef Expo is quite new to you.

-Last year was our first time,

-so this is our second time.

-What will happen to this heifer now?

-What will happen to this heifer now?

-

-The Royal Welsh next, hopefully.

-Congratulations.

-The old head's here too,

-Tecwyn Jones, Nebo.

-You always manage it!

-You always manage it!

-

-It comes from somewhere!

-How many Beef Expo wins is that?

-How many Beef Expo wins is that?

-

-Four, I think, and two reserves.

-A very good show.

-And Wales did well.

-Wales is on the map today.

-Wales is on the map today.

-

-Yes, very good.

-Many congratulations to you both.

-Congratulations

-to the Welsh winners.

-That's it for this week.

-There's no programme next week...

-..but we're back

-in a fortnight, on 6 June.

-Until then, thanks for your company.

-From Bakewell, goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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