Pennod 37 Ffermio

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-A warm welcome to Ffermio.

-This week, I'm in deepest Anglesey,

-in the Llanddeusant area.

-I meet a man

-trying to persuade farmers...

-..to take care

-of their animals' health...

-..and keep an eye on their pockets

-at the same time.

-Meinir will be

-in the Pontsian area...

-..talking to a family who have

-just restarted their dairy herd...

-..after a decades-long break.

-Since I was young, I never wondered

-why I wanted to be a farmer.

-It's what I've always wanted to do.

-I wanted to be a dairy farmer.

-We're going in at a time

-when milk prices are low.

-We've kept running costs down.

-Hopefully,

-when milk prices increase...

-..we'll still be able

-to keep those costs down.

-We'll also have the fifth question

-in our big competition.

-But first, we'll go over

-to Llyndy Isaf farm in Beddgelert.

-Alun went to chat

-to the latest winner...

-..of the National Trust

-and YFC Scholarship.

-Owain Jones from Dyffryn Madog YFC

-is this year's lucky winner.

-He started farming here in September

-with former winner Tudur Parry.

-But since 1 October,

-he's been here on his own.

-Owain, congratulations

-on your new appointment.

-How did you come across

-the opportunity...

-..and what made you go for it?

-I found out about it when I was

-in my final year in Aberystwyth.

-I was studying Agriculture.

-My tutor mentioned the job.

-So I decided to apply.

-I wasn't exactly sure

-of what I wanted to do, career-wise.

-I saw this year

-as a good opportunity...

-..to gain some farming experience,

-especially running your own farm.

-It's also a good opportunity because

-you make the decisions here...

-..and you have

-quite a bit of freedom...

-..to decide what stock to keep,

-when to sell stock...

-..and what to do from day to day.

-Here are the cattle.

-Tell us about this steer.

-He looks like a bit of a character.

-Yes. That steer was born

-when Caryl was here.

-He's nearly ready to be sold.

-He's getting some feed from me

-at the moment.

-It hadn't really struck me

-before...

-..that you're continuing

-with work...

-..started during

-Caryl and Tudur's time here.

-Yes. It's taken three years

-for this steer to be ready for sale.

-That's how long it takes

-to make your money back.

-That's a lesson for people who may

-not know a lot about agriculture.

-You have to think in the long-term.

-Yes, it's not a matter

-of being paid a wage every month.

-You have to think months,

-if not years, ahead.

-The farming conditions here

-are very different...

-..from those at Owain's home,

-Castellmarch farm near Abersoch.

-The farm is at the foot of Snowdon

-and the landscape is challenging.

-Most of the 614 acres is moorland,

-upland and untreated pasture.

-The farm income

-relies quite a bit on Glastir.

-Some fencing work needs to be done

-by the end of the year.

-I've been doing some of that

-this last week.

-Around us at the moment, we can hear

-the sound of helicopters.

-Is there something special going on?

-What's happening at Hafod y Llan?

-Again, it's to do with Glastir.

-They have to put fences up

-high on the mountain.

-They're using the helicopter...

-..to take the necessary equipment

-up to the mountain.

-Or I suppose they'd never be able

-to take them up.

-No, it would be quite hard

-to carry everything!

-One thing concerns me.

-You come from the coast.

-What have people told you

-about winter in Nant Gwynant?

-People scare me when they talk

-about the harsh winter!

-So far, it's been lovely.

-We'll see.

-I can't imagine better weather...

-..to get used

-to difficult land like this.

-No, everyone talks about the rain,

-but it's been dry so far.

-Arwyn Owen is a big help

-to all young farmers in the area.

-He's the manager

-of the farm next door...

-..which is also owned

-by the National Trust, Hafod y Llan.

-When the scholarship started,

-it was very new to us.

-We've been learning

-and as the years go by...

-..we hope to improve

-on what we can offer.

-At the end of the day,

-the scholarship winner lives here...

-..and there is a sense of equality.

-Owain runs Llyndy and I run

-Hafod y Llan. We're neighbours.

-Owain makes his own decisions here.

-That's a big thing.

-The ability to make decisions

-is character-building.

-Having that freedom is a big thing.

-You can make a decision...

-..and analyse why or how

-you want to develop something.

-You can then go out and do it.

-Whatever happens,

-it's a worthwhile experience.

-What we can offer is guidance

-or advice, if they want it.

-They also bring new ideas with them

-and we can benefit from that too.

-Everyone benefits

-from the arrangement.

-Owain, coming up here

-and seeing the spectacular views...

-..raises the spirits straight away.

-Have you had a chance to reflect...

-..on what you'd like to achieve

-during the year?

-I haven't thought

-of specific objectives yet.

-I hope to give it some thought

-over the winter.

-I have 12 acres

-that I'm allowed to treat.

-I need to grow a few different crops

-under the Glastir scheme.

-Otherwise,

-I'll get to know the place...

-..and think about what to do here.

-In these early days, can you offer

-any advice to anyone...

-..considering applying

-for a similar position?

-I wasn't sure I'd be good enough.

-It's a big responsibility.

-I was quite nervous

-when I first arrived.

-But having been here just over

-a month, I'm glad to be here...

-..and I'd tell them to go for it.

-Biosecurity is a very familiar term

-on farms nowadays.

-Usually, it means putting

-your wellies in some chemicals...

-..brushing them a few times

-and that's it.

-Unfortunately, that's not enough.

-Hygiene on farms

-is more important now than ever.

-That's why the Welsh Government

-is turning its attention...

-..to systems that ensure

-that farm hygiene and security...

-..are top priorities

-for all farmers.

-Peredur Hughes farms

-in Llanddeusant on Anglesey.

-He is also Chair

-of the Welsh Government's...

-..Animal Health and Welfare

-Framework Group.

-At the moment, they are trying

-to encourage farmers...

-..to review

-their biosecurity practices.

-The aims of the group are to raise

-awareness of biosecurity...

-..and its importance

-for farms nowadays.

-As a group,

-we've conducted a survey...

-..to find out

-what farmers think of biosecurity.

-What is it

-and what does it mean for them?

-We've had over 400 responses

-to the survey.

-For me, it's the first step

-in ensuring that a farm...

-..does not allow infection

-to come onto its land.

-That's the most important thing

-you can do.

-Once the disease is on the farm,

-it's too late.

-You need to stop it getting there

-in the first place.

-People should be thinking

-about keeping cattle separate...

-..when they buy them in,

-and the same with sheep.

-We hope that quarantine units will

-be introduced in the near future...

-..either in sheds or in fields.

-That would enable farmers to keep

-sheep and cattle separate...

-..and make sure that cattle

-do not share the same air.

-I think farmers

-should be asking questions...

-..about the origins of cattle.

-What is the farm's status,

-their TB status...

-..their BVD status,

-their Johne's disease status.

-That's all extremely important...

-..so that farmers know

-what they're bringing to the farm.

-How will farmers benefit from

-an increased awareness of hygiene?

-That's quite an easy question

-to answer.

-There's more profit

-coming into the farm.

-If you have disease on the farm...

-..you could lose a steer

-that may have cost you 1,000.

-Think of the loss.

-It's not just the loss of a steer.

-It's a financial loss

-for the whole business.

-That's why it's so important.

-It also ensures that the public

-does not contract disease...

-..from the animals we produce.

-What practical steps can farmers

-take to avoid disease on the farm?

-There are a few things they can do.

-They should keep cattle and sheep

-recently arrived on the farm...

-..away from any other animals.

-Do they need a specific building

-for that?

-Yes, when these quarantine units

-are introduced.

-They're likely to be introduced

-within the next year.

-They will have to be approved

-by a vet.

-Hopefully, the same thing

-will be done with sheep.

-They can be kept in a separate field

-bordered by double fencing.

-That will stop the sheep

-getting too close to each other...

-..and will stop

-the spread of sheep scab.

-Tell us about the concept

-of double fencing - two hedges?

-It's one hedge,

-but with a fence either side of it.

-That's the idea.

-The cattle or sheep

-over that side...

-..don't have any contact

-with those this side.

-We've also planted thorns here

-as an additional measure.

-There's a lot of pressure on farmers

-to be cost-efficient these days.

-Can these changes be made

-without breaking the bank?

-Farmers have to take care

-of their own business.

-They have to decide

-what they want to do.

-If the industry itself

-doesn't pay attention...

-..to what it buys in and diseases

-on farms, there isn't much hope.

-The Animal Health and Welfare

-Framework Group...

-..is there to convey a message

-to farmers.

-We can't force them to do this

-but I think it's important...

-..that they research the places

-where they buy stock.

-Luckily, the Government

-is now giving money...

-..to help livestock marts

-buy these screens.

-They'll concentrate on TB at first.

-The information will be

-on the screen at the mart.

-Farmers will know if and when

-a farm has had TB...

-..be it 50 years or six months ago.

-They can then decide whether

-they want to buy the animals or not.

-I think it's important

-for the information to be out there.

-If anyone wants more information...

-..they can visit

-the Welsh Government's website...

-..or they can go

-to the Framework Group website.

-That's it for now.

-After the break,

-Meinir will be in Pontsian...

-..to meet a family

-who have returned to milking.

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-Welcome back.

-It's been a challenging year

-for dairy farmers.

-That hasn't stopped one family

-in the Pontsian area...

-..from venturing back

-to dairy farming...

-..after giving it up

-some years ago.

-Gwynfor and Meinir Jones have

-farmed Rhydowen farm in Pontsian...

-..since they married in 1986.

-Meinir's parents gave up

-dairy farming over 30 years ago...

-..but the family decided to rejoin

-the dairy industry last June...

-..spurred on by the enthusiasm

-and vision of their son, Cennydd.

-I was raised on this farm.

-I have very happy memories

-of being raised on this farm.

-You were originally dairy farmers.

-Yes, my mother and father

-were dairy farmers.

-My father

-was one of the first in this area...

-..to install a milk tank

-and a milking parlour.

-He worked here from day to day,

-with a farmhand helping him too.

-After you married,

-things changed dramatically.

-My intention back then

-was to return to dairy farming.

-But the milk quota

-was expensive at the time.

-It wasn't going to pay.

-We started off with suckler cattle.

-We kept going with those

-for a while.

-Everything went quite well.

-We both kept working

-a few days a week...

-..right up until TB brought things

-to a stop on the farm.

-We stopped buying and selling

-cattle then.

-We saw the farm's income

-go down then.

-We had to do something.

-The number of animals we kept...

-..had gone down

-from around 120 to under 50.

-We had to think of something.

-Cennydd showed an interest.

-I said if he was willing to help,

-we'd go for the dairy cattle.

-How much of a challenge was that?

-It was quite a challenge.

-We'd been thinking about it

-for many years.

-I'd already built a shed

-for the other cattle.

-That meant that we had enough

-buildings to carry the cattle.

-The only cost then was getting

-a parlour and a tank in.

-After that, it was just a case

-of getting things to work better.

-All of the guys who are my age

-have finished with milk.

-I'm just starting with milk

-and I do think why?

-There we go, we'll manage somehow,

-with Cennydd's help.

-Cennydd is in his final year

-at Aberystwyth University.

-He is studying Agriculture

-with Animal Science.

-He's eager to return to the farm...

-..while also getting a job

-in the industry.

-You've made changes during a very

-difficult period for the industry.

-Yes. It would have been hard

-to pick a worse time to go in.

-You have to look

-at the positive side.

-We've got the cattle much cheaper...

-..than we would have

-a year or two ago.

-They've been around 300 per head

-cheaper this year.

-The parlour and the milking tank

-were also cheaper.

-Plenty of people

-are leaving dairy...

-..so we could get them second-hand.

-Because milk prices are low,

-we've kept our costs down.

-Our running costs and so on.

-When milk prices go back up

-in the coming months and years...

-..hopefully,

-we'll be able to keep costs down.

-The margin that we have over

-every litre will open up then.

-You've seen so much from travelling.

-What system did you decide on

-in the end?

-It's quite a traditional system,

-I think.

-We're trying to keep things simple.

-We don't have a wagon feeder

-or anything like that.

-We're trying to lower the amount of

-feed the cattle get in the parlour.

-We're trying to get most of the milk

-they produce from grass.

-That's the cheapest way. We're good

-at growing grass in West Wales.

-We're trying to keep

-the stocking rate low...

-..so we can minimize

-our use of fertilizer.

-We're just trying

-to keep things simple.

-Silage in the winter

-and a little feed in the parlour.

-Something we'd like to do

-in the long term...

-..is establish

-a block or two for calving.

-That would give us more order.

-How much of an investment was it?

-It's a big investment when compared

-to the current number of cattle.

-The way we see it, many farms

-spend more on a tractor...

-..than we've spent

-on our entire investment.

-Everything fell into place nicely.

-It's been a very small investment...

-..compared to many farmers

-who invest in the dairy industry.

-At the moment, the family

-keeps 20 Charolais cattle.

-They're milking 45 Friesian cattle.

-They aim to increase that number

-to 60 by the end of the year.

-These are the future.

-They are the future.

-We have a mixture

-of beef and dairy cattle.

-There's still a future

-for beef on this farm.

-We thought,

-as we have Friesian cattle...

-..if we give them a beef bull...

-..we may get

-something of value by the end.

-For a small dairy farm,

-it's a good portion of our income.

-If we can sell a calf for 300

-or store cattle for 800 each...

-..it's a big part of our income.

-The details are very important.

-Oh, yes, certainly.

-The herd has no future otherwise.

-Restarting the dairy herd

-is a huge change for the family.

-With the venture

-starting in June...

-..is there an intention

-to increase further?

-You've seen big changes

-in the last few years.

-Big changes in one way,

-but it's still a family farm.

-I'm proud of the fact that my father

-lived to see the parlour installed.

-I think he'd be

-very proud of us today.

-We've trialled so many things

-on this farm.

-We've been through the ringer

-many times.

-I think we're finally

-getting some luck...

-..by venturing back

-into the dairy industry.

-This has been a dairy farm...

-..and it's just come back

-into being a dairy farm.

-We've had a hard time

-with bovine TB.

-It's struck us a lot harder

-than people think.

-People pass by

-and assume there's nothing wrong.

-But it has hit us.

-The only choices we had...

-..were to move on with dairy

-farming or renting the place out.

-I'm glad we've had the chance

-to help Cennydd set up.

-It's a chance to ensure

-we keep the farm going.

-Do you see it increasing?

-Do you see it increasing?

-

-Not too much, I don't think.

-Up to about 100, maybe.

-We'll see now. We'll go slowly

-at first and see how it's going.

-We'll make savings as we go.

-Hopefully, milk prices

-will rise a little.

-Patience is a virtue.

-Yes, we mustn't run

-before we can walk.

-After being here today

-on the Rhydowen farm...

-..it's nice to see

-a real family unit.

-It's a breath of fresh air

-to see a young man venture...

-..during a difficult time

-for the industry.

-Do you fancy winning a trailer?

-There are three of them

-in our competition.

-Here's the fifth question.

-Yes, indeed, it's time

-for our competition.

-We're proud to offer three

-great prizes yet again this year...

-..courtesy

-of Ifor Williams Trailers.

-The first prize is the 10-foot TA5G

-trailer worth 4,105.

-The second prize

-is the LM85G trailer worth 1,970.

-The third prize

-is the Q5e trailer worth 1,110.

-To win one of them, you'll need

-to answer seven simple questions...

-..announced on Ffermio

-over the next few weeks.

-The first letter of each answer...

-..will be an anagram

-of a seven-letter word.

-You'll have to send us that word

-by 25 November.

-This week, we announce

-the fifth question.

-Here it is.

-What document do people

-and cattle need before travelling?

-Competition details and rules

-can be found on our website.

-On next week's programme,

-we'll announce the sixth question.

-Good luck to you all.

-That's it for this week.

-We'll be back at the same time

-next week.

-Thanks for your company.

-Until next time, goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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