Pennod 1 Ffermio

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-Hello and welcome to Ffermio.

-I'm in Oxford for the annual

-Oxford Farming Conference.

-It's a chance to discuss the future

-direction of the industry.

-Where better to find inspiration

-in the new year...

-..than in this city of learning?

-There are guest speakers

-from all over the world.

-We'll get the impressions

-of delegates and speakers...

-..including Neil Perkins

-and Aled Jones from Wales.

-Later, Meinir is in Llangyndeyrn...

-..meeting Mary Richards,

-the recipient of a special award.

-Before we start debating,

-Daloni looks at a topic...

-..which starts almost

-every conversation between farmers.

-It's also very appropriate

-at the start of this year.

-Yes, you've guessed it. The weather.

-The world has witnessed

-some extreme weather recently.

-Fires in Australia, droughts

-in Africa, a tornado in Texas...

-..and Storms Desmond, Eva

-and Frank here in Britain.

-December 2015 was the wettest

-and the warmest since records began.

-So, what effect does this

-severe weather have on farming...

-..and more specifically,

-farm animals?

-In Llanrwst in early December,

-the community spirit was evident.

-A local vet, members of the RSPCA...

-..the Ogwen mountain rescue team

-and local residents joined forces...

-..to help Paul Williams

-of Cae Haidd Farm, Nebo...

-..as he tried to save 170 sheep

-that were at risk of drowning.

-I received a flood watch phone call

-at 12.50am.

-I went down

-to round them up with the dogs.

-By the time

-I got to the gates into the shed...

-..the gates

-were in three feet of water.

-All I could do

-at that time of the morning...

-..was to move them

-to the highest point...

-..leave them and hope for the best.

-I returned at ten the next morning

-and they were all there.

-They were standing together.

-I then turned for home,

-but as I left...

-..I heard the most terrible sound

-of water coming from somewhere.

-I turned around,

-and within seconds...

-..there were 170 sheep

-swimming in water.

-What had happened?

-I found out later

-that what probably happened...

-..was that as the tide

-came up the river...

-..the river came over the embankment

-higher up the valley.

-This caused

-what's called a bow wave.

-A river was flowing

-on the other side of the embankment.

-It all came down as one river

-and swept them off their feet.

-What did you do?

-I ran back and went to tell

-the local vet what had happened...

-..and to ask if they knew of anyone

-with a boat who could help.

-I returned within the hour.

-By then, Trading Standards

-and the RSPCA had arrived.

-I could still see the sheep

-drowning one by one.

-I decided to swim to them

-and see what I could do.

-Luckily, the local vet,

-Eilidh, swam across.

-She was able to tend

-to the ones I had pulled out.

-By then,

-they were in a wretched state.

-We were there for a long time.

-I think we were at it

-from 1.00pm until 7.00pm...

-..dragging the sheep from the water

-and trying to keep them alive.

-We managed to save 106 of them.

-Did you consider moving them from

-the fields before the floods hit?

-I think we moved them a dozen times

-over a period of two weeks...

-..to the safety of the shed.

-But as it happens,

-this time I was unlucky...

-..and couldn't reach them in time.

-With the ground so wet,

-the sheep are suffering...

-..during a crucial period

-in the run-up to lambing.

-Robert Ellis is an animal feed

-expert for Bibby Agriculture.

-What does he think farmers should do

-to help their flocks?

-The problem is that the grass

-in the fields is so wet.

-The water in the pasture

-isn't enough to sustain them.

-They need some concentrated feed...

-..to give them energy

-to produce colostrum.

-Over the next eight to ten weeks...

-..it's vital that they get

-nutrition and vitamins.

-In the period

-when they start to get silage...

-..instead of putting them indoors,

-you can give them blocks.

-They contain

-all the necessary elements.

-When you get closer to lambing...

-..the sheep's stomach is squashed

-as the lamb grows.

-You have to give them

-concentrated feed.

-You can ease the burden

-with these blocks.

-They can then sustain

-their lambs properly.

-Naturalist and historian Twm Elias

-closely monitors weather patterns.

-The trouble is that we have to cope

-with the effects of El Nino.

-I'm sure you've heard of El Nino.

-It's an incredible weather pattern

-that occurs in the southern Pacific.

-What has been happening recently...

-..is that the jet stream has,

-more or less, been stuck in a rut.

-It flows at high speed

-from a southwesterly direction...

-..bringing with it

-storm after storm after storm.

-It has been incessant

-since early November.

-Events in the Pacific...

-..are the big engine

-driving all these currents.

-Over the next 50-100 years,

-that will gradually increase.

-This is the problem

-with global warming.

-It creates these effects...

-..and more or less destroys

-the natural balance and pattern...

-..of the climate

-upon which we are so reliant.

-So, this is where you were...

-..on the fields

-near Gower Bridge, Llanrwst...

-..on that horrendous night.

-Do you worry

-that such a loss could occur again?

-It could certainly occur again.

-It's nature.

-You can't prevent it

-and you can't change it.

-Rainwater flows into this valley...

-..from Capel Curig, Dolwyddelan,

-Pentrefoelas and Hiraethog.

-You certainly can't stop

-that much water.

-Nature's in control.

-Nature's in control.

-

-Yes, without any doubt.

-Unfortunately, nature wins too.

-The theme of this year's conference

-in Oxford is Bold Agriculture.

-Given that 2015 was a critical year

-for the industry...

-..what will be the message

-of today's speakers?

-One honorary speaker

-here this year...

-..is sheep farmer Neil Perkins

-from Dinas Island, Pembrokeshire.

-He spoke about unlocking performance

-with data collection.

-This information is all linked

-to the grazing paddocks...

-..through our grazing diary.

-This gives us performance figures...

-..of not just the animals

-but the fields as well.

-Neil, how much of an honour is it

-to address the Oxford Farming Union?

-It's one of the biggest things

-I've had to do in my life, really.

-Presenting is not something I do

-on a day-to-day basis.

-My message, basically...

-..is that yes, times are hard

-with farming at the moment...

-..but there are things you can do

-to try to keep on top of the game.

-Demonstrating that by collecting

-data and analysing what you do...

-..you can get rid

-of the underperformers...

-..and exploit the best things

-on your farm.

-Have you had some response

-to what you said?

-Did it go down well?

-I've had quite a few people

-coming up and collaring me.

-This was my ten minutes of fame!

-A lot of people have tried

-to milk some more information.

-I hope I've given an insight

-into our farm system.

-Thank you for listening.

-After the break,

-some fervent debating in Oxford...

-..and Meinir meets a lecturer

-at Gelli Aur College...

-..who has won an award for her work.

-Don't go far.

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-Welcome back to Oxford.

-Since the Oxford Farming Conference

-was founded in 1938...

-..hundreds of famous names

-have spoken here at the Union.

-This year, a Welshman's name

-is added to the list...

-..Aled Jones from Llandeilo.

-Mr President,

-my lords, ladies and gentlemen.

-The Scots opened the batting

-tonight, followed by the Welsh...

-..with the English last,

-as they were in the rugby.

-Aled, a farmer's son

-from Tyllwyd, Cwrtycadno...

-..is the Royal Welsh Agricultural

-Society's assistant chief executive.

-At the end of the first day,

-a debate is held...

-..with Aled seconding the motion...

-..that agriculture

-is an equal opportunities industry.

-I concur with his view

-that opportunity is not given.

-Opportunity is missed

-by most people...

-..when it is dressed up in overalls

-and looks too much like work.

-Opportunity

-requires effort and graft.

-As highlighted in this afternoon's

-paper, they are not given away.

-Therefore, what is equal?

-You'd be wrong to think that

-equal is a set of circumstances...

-..where everyone should have access

-to the same material wealth, land...

-..assets and resources in an

-ideology of achieving equal results.

-We are not arguing

-about equality of outcome.

-Tonight's motion

-is about equality of opportunity.

-I argued that the industry

-does offer equal opportunities.

-I wanted to emphasize that you

-must work for those opportunities.

-For the person

-with the right talents and skills...

-..the industry

-can offer equal opportunities.

-With confidence, ability

-and fire in your belly...

-..then anything is possible.

-That's what I was trying

-to reinforce tonight.

-You were seconding the motion

-put forward by Michael Blanche.

-Had you met him before?

-I hadn't met him until

-a couple of weeks ago in Edinburgh.

-We'd had a few chats on the phone

-as to what we might say today.

-We got on well

-and it was a team effort in the end.

-I think it went quite well.

-You have a choice

-between optimism and pessimism...

-..between confidence and doubt...

-..between being bold

-and being fearful.

-I hope you make the right choice.

-We've just heard that you did win

-the debate and the vote tonight.

-How does that feel?

-It's great. It was amazing to debate

-an issue in such a famous venue.

-To win the day

-and get the motion passed...

-..at this ancient,

-respected venue is awesome.

-Do you know what I heard?

-"The Welshman won it."

-I'm not sure about that...

-..but I enjoyed it after getting

-over some serious early nerves.

-Having the opportunity

-was a huge thrill.

-We've just heard about

-equal opportunities in agriculture.

-This week, Meinir met a woman...

-..who has influenced

-several generations of farmers.

-Farming isn't easy.

-Doing it while holding down

-another full-time job...

-..demands

-a very special kind of person.

-Today, I'm meeting someone

-who does just that.

-If that wasn't enough,

-she's also won an award this year...

-..the CollegesWales

-Teacher of the Year award.

-Mary Richards

-runs Llandre Farm in Llangyndeyrn.

-She has played a leading role

-in agriculture from an early age.

-She's now assistant head

-of Landbased Studies...

-..at the Gelli Aur campus

-of Coleg Sir Gar.

-Well, Mary,

-CollegesWales Teacher of the Year.

-How much of an honour

-was winning that title?

-It was beyond an honour.

-I couldn't believe

-that I'd been nominated.

-I've taught at Gelli Aur

-for over 17 years...

-..and at Ystalyfera

-for seven years prior to that.

-I couldn't believe it.

-They came to interview me

-and that kind of thing.

-When I went to Llandudno,

-it was like the Oscars!

-I didn't have a clue

-until they read my name out.

-There are so many

-good teachers in Wales...

-..and it recognized the work

-we do at Gelli Aur College.

-The day and the evening

-were beyond fantastic.

-You live and breathe your job,

-and you enjoy it.

-Yes. Yes, I do.

-I'm one of those lucky people whose

-interests and line of work overlaps.

-I love animals, I love farming

-and I love teaching.

-That's what I do at Gelli Aur.

-I've started a new management job.

-Every day...

-..I feel silly saying this, but it's

-an honour to go to work every day.

-I live my work, and I love it.

-It's also a responsibility.

-You and the college are nurturing

-the next generation of farmers.

-Definitely, and I never forget that.

-They come to us aged 16,

-or some come when they're 14.

-They are the future.

-They're full of enthusiasm

-and full of ideas.

-It's a happy place,

-full of mischief at times...

-..but it's also a place to learn,

-and we all love farming.

-That sums up Gelli Aur.

-Have you seen a change

-in the young people's enthusiasm?

-They've always been enthusiastic.

-From the first year I started,

-the passion has been there.

-I'll tell you what has changed.

-They've become more serious.

-They've seen that it's a business.

-That has changed.

-I'd say that, 20 years ago...

-..the pressure to make money

-wasn't there.

-It probably was,

-but youngsters weren't aware of it.

-Now, you have 17 and 18-year-olds

-discussing margins per kilo.

-That has crept into their language.

-The reality of the business world...

-..hits them earlier

-than it did 20 years ago.

-That's the biggest change I've seen.

-They're enthusiastic and active,

-passionate about what they do...

-..they love the job,

-they work hard and get up early.

-Some are up at five to milk, then

-go home at four to milk again...

-..at the same time as doing

-foundation courses or degrees here.

-Mary was raised on a busy farm.

-Her passion for farming

-is very evident...

-..especially

-when she tends the animals.

-What happens on the farm nowadays?

-Well, I've been trying

-to cut down a little...

-..so Dad rents land out in summer.

-This winter, for the first time,

-we've got tack sheep and cattle.

-He takes care of the sheep

-and checks on them every day.

-He's 86 and full of beans!

-There's plenty to do here every day.

-I've cut back on the sheep.

-Your responsibilities in the college

-have increased.

-Don't! I'm in work for 8.00am

-and I leave about 5.30pm.

-That's my focus at the moment.

-I love the farm but I can't

-see myself making a living here.

-It's a 100-acre farm.

-It's not enough.

-I also love teaching.

-You do have a couple of sheep.

-You do have a couple of sheep.

-

-Yes. Not as many as I used to have.

-At one point, we had about 250.

-But now, we've downsized

-and we have a variety of types.

-We have some Balwen sheep,

-some Black Welsh Mountains.

-The sheep are smaller! I'm weaker

-and they're smaller in size.

-So there's enough here.

-I'll still be lambing.

-How important do you think it is...

-..for you to be working

-in agriculture as a teacher?

-Very important.

-You have credibility. Your students

-know you understand the job.

-You talk about current issues.

-You know about prices.

-I receive prices by text

-from Meat Promotion Wales.

-I sell, I buy, I rear,

-I dose animals.

-I live in that world.

-Because of that, you can understand

-problems facing farmers.

-It's not a matter

-of talking from a textbook.

-It's learning by living.

-I think that comes across.

-Having a balance

-between college work and the farm...

-..sounds like an ideal life.

-It is.

-Combining both is great for me.

-I wouldn't want one without

-the other. They both balance out.

-My brain has to work

-but I also do physical work.

-I go to bed and I'm tired

-mentally and physically.

-I really appreciate it.

-It gives me stability and a focus.

-Within 15 minutes of arriving home,

-I'm in a different world.

-The dogs are here. I have to care

-for them. A sheep may be lame.

-Dad might have noticed

-something wrong with the sheep.

-It gives me real enjoyment.

-I am so lucky. My life is fantastic.

-I have a job I love.

-I work with fantastic people.

-I know that someone somewhere

-must be looking after me.

-Congratulations to her.

-Transferring information

-is the main aim of this conference.

-With wide-ranging themes such as

-the future of Britain in Europe...

-..and food as medicine...

-..I wonder what those present

-made of the lectures.

-I'm very grateful

-to the Royal Welsh Show...

-..for sponsoring me

-to come here for three days.

-It's been very interesting meeting

-so many farmers, students...

-..young farmers

-and technology companies.

-Everyone is here

-to discuss the industry.

-We've had a difficult year

-and we're looking to the future now.

-That's what this is all about...

-..especially with the theme

-of Bold Agriculture.

-There was talk about the future

-of food production and medicine.

-We'll see what comes of that.

-Are we aware of the value

-of our produce to people's health?

-I don't think we are. Not everyone

-takes care of their diet.

-It was interesting

-to hear them talking about it.

-We must look at the fats

-we consume...

-..but we must also pay attention

-to the food we give animals.

-As usual,

-it's been a high-quality conference.

-We have had a good cross-section

-of speakers...

-..from politicians to farmers.

-We also had the debate last night

-in which Aled Tyllwyd spoke.

-You mentioned politics there.

-The hot topic of the moment

-is Brexit.

-Have these discussions shed

-some light on where Wales should go?

-This morning, Owen Paterson

-had a debate with Phil Hogan.

-It is clear to me

-that Wales should remain in Europe.

-As farmers, we are very reliant on

-European payments to keep us going.

-Owen Paterson said nothing this

-morning that would change my mind.

-Phil Hogan was very good and he

-conveyed the importance of Europe.

-I would be quite concerned

-if we were to leave Europe.

-What is the main message...

-..you will take home

-from this conference?

-It was encouraging to see

-such amazing young people here.

-Also, there were two representatives

-from Wales.

-Neil Perkins from Pembrokeshire

-spoke about his flock...

-..and his use of technology.

-As I've mentioned, Aled Tyllwyd

-took part in the debate last night.

-I have been to about 15

-of these debates over the years.

-For me, he was certainly

-one of the best speakers I've seen.

-That's it for another week.

-It's been great

-hearing so many speakers...

-..talking about agriculture

-with such enthusiasm.

-I'm now going back to Rhydymain,

-to the rain and mud...

-..to try and make the ideas

-I've heard in Oxford work for me...

-..and others like me in Meirionnydd.

-But for now, from me

-and the rest of the crew, goodbye.

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