Mon, 29 Feb 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and a warm welcome to Ffermio.

-A milkman used to be

-a familiar sight in our villages.

-Over the years,

-they've all but disappeared...

-..but this week I'm visiting

-a family that is...

-..determined to carry on the

-tradition in the Carmarthen area.

-Daloni will be surrounded by poultry

-of all shapes and sizes...

-..native Welsh breeds

-of ducks, hens and geese.

-Alun visits Alan Jones,

-an expert in training sheepdogs...

-..who sells his dogs

-for good prices.

-We also hear farmers' responses

-to the European referendum.

-This pint of milk was still in the

-cow's udders at 4.00am yesterday.

-Since then,

-the cow has been milked...

-..and the milk processed

-and delivered to the customers.

-There are only a small number

-of farms providing this service.

-One of them is Cwm Farm,

-Cwmffrwd, Carmarthenshire.

-John Phillips founded the company

-almost fifty years ago.

-His sons Dorian and Michael

-also now work for the business.

-I bought a small round

-in the Llancwm area...

-..from a local man selling

-about seventeen gallons per day.

-That was 45 years ago.

-The clock keeps turning.

-How difficult was it back then

-to sell milk?

-Everyone was fighting over business

-well not fighting...

-..but the competition was keen.

-Doorstep delivery was strong

-back then but things have changed.

-You've done this for almost 50

-years. Do you feel tied to the job?

-You are tied...

-..but if you left tomorrow's

-delivery until the next day...

-..you'd lose your customers.

-Hard work never killed anyone.

-Hard work never killed anyone.

-

-I'm still here!

-The family milk 90 Holstein cows

-twice per day.

-The milk is processed in the

-dairy facing the milking parlour.

-It was refurbished in 2008.

-How have you profited from selling

-directly to your customers?

-It has helped to a certain extent...

-..with the industry being

-in its current situation...

-..but there are additional costs

-which we are having to bear.

-How does the current situation

-in the milk industry affect you?

-We're competing with Wisemans

-and the other big boys...

-..the processors.

-The more milk there is on the

-market, the lower the price will be.

-Because we haven't gone down that

-route, we won't lose our customers.

-Money talks.

-The service you provide

-is unique these days.

-That's right.

-I understand there are only

-two businesses like this in Wales.

-Sadly this service had died out.

-I read an article in one of

-the papers a little while ago...

-..that said there were only 900

-milkmen in the whole of Britain.

-It's dying out.

-This is a real family business.

-That's right. Some days I'll only

-see my father for 30 minutes.

-Some days

-I might not see Michael at all...

-..but we all know the score.

-We all understand our role.

-Everyone knuckles down and gets on

-with the jobs that need to be done.

-Most milk crosses

-the border to be processed...

-..before returning to be sold

-in our local supermarkets.

-Here on Cwm Farm,

-once the milk has been bottled...

-..it goes straight

-to the customer.

-When we started

-we only sold bottles...

-..but with supermarkets

-selling four pints for 1.00...

-..we had to change and bring in

-cartons to compete with them.

-It's lucky that we did that.

-We lost a lot of customers at the

-beginning but some have come back...

-..because our milk is totally

-different to supermarket milk.

-Our milk reaches the customers'

-doorstep within 24-36 hours.

-It's fresh.

-That's the difference between

-our milk and supermarket milk.

-It has a better taste

-and hasn't travelled far.

-There has been a huge drop...

-..in the number of farmers that

-provide this service - why is that?

-Big companies have taken over.

-They squeeze the farmers

-whenever they can.

-Farmers can't compete any more.

-Our business has been going

-for 46 years..

-..but the last year has been hard.

-Do you have fun on your round?

-We have fun.

-We make a lot of friends.

-Our round covers a big area.

-I keep an eye on things

-if people are away on holiday.

-I help them if they want to move

-furniture or put the rubbish out.

-If they support me,

-I'll support them.

-You have good cream. It's special.

-It's not too bad, it'll fill a coat!

-I couldn't ask for more. Everything

-I need is brought to my door.

-He brings my newspaper every day.

-He spoils you.

-That's right. He gets cake from me.

-Perks of the job.

-Oh, I see.

-This is the best milk

-in the world...

-..from his very own cows.

-This milk is better than beer.

-The family have worked hard

-over the years...

-..to earn the respect

-and loyalty of their customers.

-This fresh, local milk

-certainly hits the spot.

-Over the years we've expanded.

-We started with 40 cows.

-Now we milk 90 cows

-and we have over 500 customers.

-What has been

-your biggest challenge?

-Supermarkets really hit us.

-They started selling four pints of

-milk for 1.00. We had to change.

-We moved into cartons.

-That's what most people buy.

-Some prefer the taste of bottled

-milk but it's more expensive.

-Is there a future

-for the small family farm?

-We hope so.

-The farm is here,

-the herd is over there...

-..we don't take milk

-from anywhere else...

-..so Cwm Farm milk

-comes from here.

-It's from the cattle in there

-and nowhere else.

-We could expand and buy in milk

-but it wouldn't taste the same.

-We want to keep it fresh

-with milk from this valley.

-Last week the NFU held their

-annual conference in Birmingham.

-Topics discussed included

-TB and the Basic Payments Scheme.

-Another obvious talking point

-was the European referendum.

-1,400 farmers gathered together

-in Birmingham's ICC.

-Some 100 of those

-were Welsh farmers.

-A question and answer session

-had been arranged by NFU Cymru.

-Three senior Welsh Government

-civil servants were on the panel.

-The referendum date

-had just been announced...

-..and a full hall listened

-to arguments between...

-..Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan

-who supports leaving the EU...

-..and George Lyons, a member of the

-Britain Stronger in Europe group.

-What did Welsh farmers think

-after listening to both sides?

-I enjoyed listening to

-the arguments.

-They were quite skilful in the way

-they put their views across.

-I'm not going to make

-a decision yet.

-I want to see the arguments

-developing and hear the true facts.

-I'm still sitting on the fence

-at the moment.

-I'm not sure how we would profit

-by leaving.

-Would more of us benefit

-by staying in?

-The YFC is going to present the

-facts to young people to consider.

-Hopefully this will make them aware

-of both sides of the issue...

-..and then they can make

-their own decision.

-I thought both sides

-presented their argument well.

-It was an interesting session.

-Before today I would have said

-I would vote to stay in...

-..but now I'm less certain.

-Daniel Hannan can promise the world

-to us if we vote to leave Europe.

-He was talking about farmers

-receiving grants of 90 per acre.

-They can say what they like. We'll

-never see payments of 90 per acre.

-We can forget that.

-He's just trying to tempt us.

-Unfortunately

-we have to stay in Europe...

-..because that's where the trade is.

-90% of our red meat exports

-go to Europe.

-We can't afford uncertainty in the

-industry, especially at this time.

-The unfortunate thing

-about our industry...

-..is that we have the least say

-but we are affected the most.

-We all know there are advantages and

-disadvantages to being in Europe.

-We pay in more than we receive

-but it is a market for our produce.

-Our food is secured by set rules

-and there is traceability.

-It gives our produce its quality.

-I think everyone is uncertain

-about the future of agriculture...

-..if we do leave Europe.

-We need to be given clear facts

-about what will happen.

-We're stepping into the unknown.

-If we don't know

-what we're voting for...

-..there's no point

-in voting at all.

-The NFU and the FUW will hold...

-..a number of events...

-..over the coming weeks...

-..to give farmers...

-..as much information as possible...

-..before they vote on June 23rd.

-That's all for part one.

-Join us after the break

-to see Alun in his seventh heaven...

-..when he meets the breeder of

-Wales' most expensive sheepdog.

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-We are all used to hearing...

-..about native Welsh breeds

-of sheep and cattle.

-A breeder in North Wales...

-..is enthusiastic over protecting

-breeds of birds.

-From the Welsh Harlequin ducks

-to the Brecon Buff geese.

-Rhys Llewelyn is a teacher

-at a Bangor primary school.

-On evenings and weekends...

-..his world is all about the ducks,

-hens and geese in Rhoshirwaun.

-He's had national success

-with his breeding and competing.

-I've been to a lot of shows

-over the last year.

-I got a first place

-with my Welsh Harlequin duck...

-..at the National Poultry Show

-in Telford in November.

-That was a first in Britain.

-That was a first in Britain.

-

-In that breed, yes.

-I competed in Haverfordwest

-in January.

-I competed with

-a trio of Harlequins.

-I won the Trio Championship

-which I wasn't expecting.

-What is the history

-of the Harlequin breed?

-The breed originates

-from Criccieth.

-In 1949, a man named Bonnet created

-the breed from Khaki Campbells.

-People are familiar

-with Khaki Campbells.

-They are a rare breed.

-By now, a lot of people keep them.

-They're very striking.

-Their colours stand out.

-I keep them because I'm from Lleyn.

-Who's this, Rhys?

-As you can see, this one

-is a Harlequin cockerel.

-He won for me in Haverfordwest

-in January.

-As you can see,

-his beak is a yellowish green.

-The hen's beak

-is the colour of slate.

-The male's feet are orange.

-The female's feet are again

-a darker, slate colour.

-It's important when you look at it

-for the lacing to be perfect...

-..and for the feathers to match.

-Can we see the hen?

-Yes, of course.

-Oh, she's pretty.

-Hello.

-This duck won

-in two big shows last year.

-How old is she?

-She's two years old,

-she'll be three this year.

-He has another breed of ducks here.

-They're called Magpies.

-They are a Welsh breed.

-They come from South Wales.

-There isn't as much information

-available about them...

-..as there is about the Harlequin.

-I went down to Devon

-two years ago to buy some.

-I got some more

-elsewhere last year.

-There are birds

-in every corner here.

-The most noisy and possibly the most

-graceful are the geese.

-These are the Brecon Buffs.

-They are another Welsh breed

-from South Wales.

-A man who shares my name...

-A man who shares my name...

-

-Really?

-An utter coincidence!

-Rhys Llewellyn

-created the breed in 1929.

-I think it was down near Swansea.

-So they're from Swansea

-but they're named for Brecon.

-I think there's a connection

-with the two areas.

-I'm not sure

-what the exact details were.

-There's a nest here with two eggs.

-I have a chick

-that hatched yesterday.

-What will you do with these?

-I may stick them under

-the gold tops next door.

-They have a few eggs.

-It's too early for the geese

-to sit on the eggs.

-There's not much hay outside.

-It's easier to have the chickens

-to sit on them.

-Rhys breeds for exhibitions.

-Hours of preparation go into

-preening and pampering the birds...

-..to make sure

-they're at their best.

-You clearly enjoy breeding

-Welsh poultry.

-Yes, I've been very enthusiastic for

-the Welsh language over the years.

-I think that's

-an important part of me.

-Once I found out these

-breeds were Welsh...

-..I was dying

-to get my hands on them.

-That's why I keep them.

-That's why I keep them.

-

-Talk about the society you started.

-Around two and a half years ago, I

-and two ladies from South Wales...

-..who also keep Harlequins

-came together to form a society.

-It isn't an official society

-where people pay to be members.

-They join through the website.

-By now, there are over 100 of us.

-I think it's around 110 members

-from all across the world.

-There are members in the USA, New

-Zealand and a host of other places.

-I think there are members

-in Italy who keep Harlequins.

-It's clear that Rhys gets great

-pleasure breeding Welsh poultry.

-What next for you, Rhys?

-I'm not sure.

-I'll raise the birds.

-Hopefully, they'll turn out

-to be what I want them to be.

-I've got a lot of work to do

-with the Brecon Buffs and Magpies.

-They are more recent breeds.

-I enjoy going around Britain and

-meeting people. It's fun for me.

-I don't take it too seriously,

-it's just a social thing.

-I meet people

-from all walks of life.

-It's just a nice social community.

-We're used to hearing about rams

-and bulls selling for good prices.

-In a recent sale near Bala...

-..a female sheepdog sold

-for a record price in Wales.

-Alun has been to Nasareth

-in Caernarfon to meet the breeder...

-..to discover

-the secret behind raising good dogs.

-Alan Jones is well known

-in sheepdog circles.

-He's sold dogs in the Netherlands,

-Scotland and the USA.

-Despite taking a seven-year break

-from sales...

-..he made his mark recently...

-..when he sold his bitch, Tess,

-for 7,560 last November.

-First off, Alan, congratulations.

-You broke the Welsh record. Did you

-expect that on the day in Bala?

-No, it didn't cross my mind.

-I knew Tess was a good dog

-and was worth a good price.

-I never thought she'd fetch

-that much money.

-Tess has an interesting character.

-Yes, absolutely.

-That was her strength, really.

-She was a bitch with a good nature.

-She had a natural aptitude

-for dealing with sheep.

-She was a strong bitch,

-always a step ahead of the sheep.

-That type of dog frequently

-struggles to listen or stop.

-She had a good ear

-and listened well.

-She's obedient.

-What's Tess' lineage?

-She was raised here.

-She's part of a breed

-I've had now for over 20 years.

-They suit me,

-I've been lucky in a way.

-I've been able to breed

-the type of dogs people look for.

-Hardy dogs with fire in their belly.

-Dogs who give as good as they get.

-I like that type of dog.

-That's the foundation.

-They need the right training then.

-The first few weeks are critical.

-There's hope after that.

-Who was the Mr Procter who was brave

-enough to buy her for such a price?

-He's from Cumbria,

-near Kirkby Stephen.

-He's a mountain farmer

-and a sheep farmer.

-He has an interest in breeding dogs.

-He wanted to run a few trials

-but mostly, she's for work.

-I hear you'd been selling at home

-for a few years.

-There was something

-special about Tess.

-I didn't really know

-what her value was.

-That is why I decided

-to take her to market.

-As we all know,

-a market is good for two things.

-It's a good shop window

-and it can produce fair prices.

-That's why I took Tess to Bala.

-Alan keeps 650

-Welsh Mountain Sheep on 320 acres.

-Half his flock

-is crossed with Texels.

-He also keeps suckler cows,

-most of which are Limousin crosses.

-The sheepdogs are Alan's delight.

-Here they are.

-You keep them in a tidy shed.

-I try to look after them

-as much as I can.

-I try to make sure

-they have clean saw dust.

-What is your favourite kind of dog?

-You have two types of dog here.

-You have two types of dog here.

-

-Yes, I do.

-I like a short, smart dog.

-I think the word

-I'd use is athletic.

-That's the kind of dog I like.

-Sharp, quick dogs.

-This is Bob. He is Tess' father.

-He was a tough dog to train.

-It took a lot of work.

-I could see a bit of light

-at the end of the tunnel.

-He was good enough

-that I was willing to wait.

-It's important with harder dogs

-to give them time to learn.

-It's also important not to take

-their spark away from them.

-Now we come to what is essentially

-the queen, Tess's mother.

-What's her name?

-What's her name?

-

-She's called Lily.

-What's her situation? Are you going

-to breed more from her?

-Absolutely.

-I'm hoping she's got a litter,

-it's a bit early to say at present.

-She's done a month, hopefully,

-she'll have a litter in March.

-I'm hoping to get more dogs

-out of her in the long run.

-From time to time,

-Alan buys a young bitch.

-He uses Roxy for everyday work.

-The blue-eyed dog works well.

-Yes, she's a handy bitch.

-She'll work for a few more years

-hopefully.

-Did you buy her at a young age?

-She was about

-five or six months old.

-So you've taught her.

-So you've taught her.

-

-Yes, I taught her.

-Training dogs is an

-early morning or evening job...

-..when farm work keeps you busy

-from day to day.

-There's a busy period ahead

-with lambing coming up soon.

-These all have one lamb in them.

-Do you bring them in to a shed?

-No, we lamb outdoors.

-With cross-texels?

-No, the texels are hardy enough.

-They're Welsh cross too

-so they're hardy.

-When do you start lambing?

-When do you start lambing?

-

-We start in mid-March.

-When did you start training dogs?

-Where did you learn to do it?

-I've been interested in it

-since I was at school.

-After I finished school...

-..my interest grew and I bought a

-dog from a sale at Llanerch-y-medd.

-The dog was half taught

-by the late Huw Davies.

-I didn't know much about dogs

-to be honest.

-I just had an interest in them.

-I learned a lot from that.

-I learned as I went on,

-you can't beat experience.

-That's it for today.

-It's nice to see signs of spring

-filling the world.

-We'll be back

-at the same time next week.

-Until then, thanks for your company

-and goodnight.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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