Pennod 38 Ffermio

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Welcome to Ffermio...

-..and welcome to the Charolais

-show and sale at Welshpool mart.

-There are buyers and sellers

-from all over the country here.

-But who will get the red ribbon

-and what will the top sale price be?

-We'll find out soon.

-Also on the programme,

-Alun visits nearby Meifod...

-..to meet Catherine Bennett,

-a recent Harper Adams graduate...

-..with a rather unusual job.

-We also announce the sixth question

-in our trailer competition.

-But we start with personal safety...

-..which isn't usually

-a major priority for many farmers.

-But with the increase

-in accidents on Welsh farms...

-..Meinir went to meet someone

-who has suffered.

-She also attended an open day

-discussing farm health and safety.

-Statistically, the building industry

-is the most dangerous to work in.

-But agriculture

-comes a very close second.

-Someone who is still suffering

-after a motorbike accident...

-..is Alun Davies, Bryn-yr-Eglwys,

-Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire.

-It was 20 years ago.

-I was going around the stock...

-..on steep ground.

-I was going a bit too fast.

-The bike reared up and landed on me.

-I broke my back.

-I was down in the valley

-and no-one knew I was there.

-There was a big slope to come up.

-I had to go over the fence,

-the boundary fence...

-..down to the neighbouring farm,

-which was the closest.

-You had to go over a fence?

-You had to go over a fence?

-

-Yes, and it was tough.

-I literally

-had to lean on the wire...

-..tumble over somehow...

-..and go down to the next farm

-to get help.

-I was in hospital for six weeks...

-..and unable to work

-for a further six months.

-There was lots to do,

-but I couldn't do it.

-It had a big effect at the time.

-I was a shearing contractor.

-I had to give it up completely

-because I was in too much pain.

-Was it a big part

-of your income at the time?

-A very big part.

-Working in summer helped

-to keep the farm going over winter.

-How serious was the accident?

-Oh, it was really bad.

-I suffered 49% crush injuries.

-If it was 50%, I'd be paralyzed.

-Very close.

-Very close.

-

-Yes, too close.

-Do you still suffer today?

-Yes, my back hurts

-every day, every morning.

-Have you adapted the way you farm?

-Yes, we've fenced off a lot

-of the slopes and planted trees.

-It isn't worth risking your life

-on the slopes any more.

-NFU Mutual has organized an open day

-at the showground in Pontargothi...

-..to increase awareness

-of the dangers on farms.

-One man who has been busy

-is Peter Williams...

-..a senior agent at NFU Cymru's

-Carmarthenshire branch.

-Statistics show that too many people

-have been killed on farms.

-It's important that we show farmers

-what could happen to them.

-If a farm employs contractors...

-..who's responsible

-if something happens to them?

-Most of the time, the farmer

-will be initially responsible.

-If a contractor comes to the farm,

-the farmer must have confirmed...

-..that the contractor

-has the relevant experience.

-We have one example where a farmer

-was expecting a delivery by lorry...

-..and had told the driver to put the

-load at the bottom of the farmyard.

-The tipper started to operate.

-The farmer hadn't said that there

-were electricity cables overhead.

-Unfortunately,

-the lorry driver was killed...

-..because the farmer

-hadn't told the driver...

-..about the overhead

-electricity cables.

-The farmer was taken to court,

-and it cost him an 80,000 fine.

-Every farmer needs public liability

-and employers' liability insurance.

-Many companies and agencies

-are attending the open day...

-..to offer help

-and advice to farmers.

-When a serious accident

-does happen on a farm...

-..the fire brigade

-is often a key service.

-Unfortunately, 2,000 agricultural

-fires happen in Wales annually.

-We do have a machine

-that can help prevent barn fires.

-When farmers bring in the harvest,

-you can test the grass.

-Yes, we have professional equipment

-that can test grass temperature.

-It's a free service.

-Just call us to make an appointment,

-and we'll come out.

-I had an accident

-on a motorbike back in 2008.

-I was counting sheep

-and not concentrating on driving.

-The next thing, I was on the ground

-with the bike on top of me.

-I broke a C2 bone in the spine.

-An air ambulance was called out,

-and I was airlifted to Morriston.

-I've overturned a tractor twice,

-and a Shogun once.

-Those experiences

-have taught me to think...

-..and not to rush wildly.

-Carwyn Jones of Penlan y Mor,

-Llanarth, Ceredigion...

-..had a tractor accident last June.

-I was trying to finish spreading

-fertilizer on the silage fields.

-Having done that,

-I had some fertilizer left over.

-I thought it would be a good idea...

-..to go on the hillside

-while the load was light.

-I went up the bank a fifth time,

-and went across the top...

-..ready to come back down

-to make a sixth run.

-As I went over the brow...

-..the tractor began

-to pick up speed down the bank.

-I tried braking

-to slow the tractor down.

-As I did that,

-the tractor began to turn.

-Instead of head first,

-it was travelling sideways.

-I decided

-that I couldn't save the tractor...

-..and that I'd have to jump out.

-I don't know how I came out.

-I had deep marks

-on my forehead and nose...

-..that resembled the grips

-on the tractor steps.

-I must have hit my head

-on the way out, but I'm not sure.

-I was extremely lucky.

-I was in hospital for four days.

-I think it took four to six weeks

-to get over the concussion...

-..and the injury to my shoulder.

-You do sometimes consider...

-..if it's worth taking the risks

-that you do in this industry.

-Often, you must weigh it up

-and not do the work.

-Because you only have one life.

-Because you only have one life.

-

-Yes, unfortunately.

-Very rarely do you survive...

-..to tell the tale

-when things go badly.

-What would your advice

-to farmers be?

-Pause and think twice

-before going to these steep places.

-There's always tomorrow to do a job.

-Back here in Welshpool,

-it's very busy.

-The order of the day

-is the preparations...

-..then the show,

-then the judging and then the sale!

-Many Welsh breeders

-are showing and selling...

-..and well-known names

-have come from afar.

-Here he is,

-the champion of the day.

-He's called Sportsmans Juggernaut...

-..owned by Boden & Davies

-from Stockport near Manchester.

-He isn't even 20 months old yet.

-He's incredible.

-It'll be interesting to see

-if he'll go under the hammer today.

-Yes, he's for sale today.

-He's always been a good bull.

-He was reserve champion...

-..at the national show

-in Birmingham.

-This is his second outing today.

-This is his second outing today.

-

-Good luck, and thanks very much.

-The reserve championship

-went to Gareth Jones...

-..Hafodyresgob Uchaf, Cwmtirmynach,

-Bala, for his bull Esgob Jeep.

-The champion heifer went

-to J S Howells, Ty Cam, Llanwenog...

-..for Gwenog Icing.

-The reserve championship

-went to Alwyn and Medwyn Williams...

-..Castell Mawr, Pistyll, Lleyn,

-for Castellmawr Imogen.

-We'll see later how the sale went.

-That's it for now.

-After the break,

-we'll meet Catherine Bennett.

-I now work for Co-operative Food,

-with their agriculture team...

-..which I'm really enjoying.

-I look after poultry for them.

-And we reveal the sixth question

-in Ffermio's grand competition.

-Join me in a few minutes.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Welcome back to Welshpool mart.

-Alun is in Meifod this week

-to meet a young woman...

-..who has two very interesting roles

-in agriculture.

-Catherine Bennett is the daughter

-of Alun and Helen from Upper Hall.

-She loves helping out on the farm

-whenever she has a chance.

-There is plenty of work to be done.

-The family farms four holdings

-in the Meifod area...

-..and keeps a variety of animals.

-We milk on the home farm,

-which is Upper Hall.

-We have 120 cows there.

-Then we have about 700

-pedigree Lleyn sheep.

-We have 25 pedigree Texel sheep.

-We also have 64,000 egg-laying hens.

-What are the eggs?

-Organic? Free range?

-They're free range.

-We produce organic milk from the

-cows but our eggs are free range.

-What strikes me is that,

-as a business...

-..you haven't put

-all your eggs in one basket!

-No, they're not.

-I think that's very important.

-We have a little bit of everything

-which helps the business as a whole.

-When milk prices are down...

-..we can hopefully balance

-everything to help the business.

-My parents started off

-with 200 acres.

-Today, we farm

-just over 1,000 acres.

-It's clear

-that her parents' business sense...

-..has rubbed off on Catherine.

-During her four years in college...

-..she spent a year

-at McDonald's HQ in London.

-She then graduated

-from Harper Adams University.

-To crown it all,

-she won a silver medal...

-..after being named one of Britain's

-best agriculture students...

-..by The Farmers Guardian.

-Tell us a little

-about your year of work experience.

-How did you manage to secure

-work experience in London?

-Everyone at Harper Adams University

-has to do a year's work experience.

-So I knew that my third year would

-be spent doing work experience.

-I'd looked at all sorts of things.

-I'd seen the opportunity

-to work for McDonald's.

-I thought it would be

-a fantastic opportunity.

-I decided to go for it

-and I was very lucky to get it.

-What has the experience in London

-done for you?

-I think it's helped me develop

-to be a more rounded person.

-I think it will be of great help

-to me in future.

-At the end of your studies,

-you were awarded a silver medal.

-Yes.

-I was really pleased

-to get the silver medal...

-..in this year's

-British Farming Awards.

-Joe Parry was the winner

-so it was fantastic for Wales.

-It was a nice end

-to four very good years in college.

-Between you and Joe Parry,

-you've put Wales on the map!

-Definitely.

-I'm good friends with Joe,

-who won the gold medal.

-I'm very pleased he won.

-We had a good night

-at the British Farming Awards!

-After doing

-a year's work experience...

-..Catherine has swapped her

-wellingtons for some luxury shoes.

-She embarked on a career as Junior

-Agricultural Manager - Poultry...

-..for The Co-operative supermarket.

-You've graduated, you did a year in

-London but you've come home to live.

-Yes, I live at home full-time now.

-This is what I always wanted to do -

-before I even went to university.

-The year in London was fantastic

-but this is where I want to be.

-Did you come home to look for work

-or did you already have a job?

-I now work for The Co-operative

-Food, with their agriculture team...

-..which I'm really enjoying.

-I look after poultry for them.

-I never imagined

-I'd be able to do a job like this.

-What exactly is your role?

-Do you liaise between producers

-and the supermarket?

-Yes, I do.

-I do a lot of work

-with farmers and processors.

-I also work with different

-departments in the office...

-..such as new product development,

-marketing and so on.

-I work across the supply chain.

-What do you want

-producers to change?

-Last week, I did a presentation.

-It was an egg update.

-It was about what our consumers

-look for when they're buying eggs.

-I just convey to our suppliers

-any information we have...

-..because we are a big shop.

-I think that's important

-for farmers to know.

-Catherine learnt early on about

-the importance of hard work...

-..from her parents, Alun and Helen.

-They've both been very supportive.

-How was Catherine when she was

-growing up? Was she always busy?

-Yes, she was very busy.

-She was always very fond

-of the young lambs.

-She has always liked animals.

-She always wanted to put

-on her shoes to come out with us.

-Could you see that she would work

-in agriculture in some way?

-Yes, we always thought

-it would be part of her life.

-How much of a surprise

-was this award that she won, Alun?

-It's Britain-wide, fair play.

-It's a great honour to win

-the silver award in that.

-But Catherine is very determined.

-If she enters something,

-she does try her best.

-She's always taking on

-different challenges.

-You have three kids, and they're all

-working in agriculture in some way.

-Is that something

-that you always hoped for?

-Well, that's right.

-I mean, agriculture has been

-put on the back-burner a bit.

-But I think

-it's coming more to the fore now.

-People are realizing

-there's opportunities out there.

-Robert and Hywel

-are working at home.

-Catherine's thoroughly enjoying

-her job with The Co-op.

-It's early days, but are you happy

-with what you've achieved so far?

-Yes. I'm very happy working

-for The Co-op.

-I did a degree in Agri-food

-Marketing with Business Studies.

-I think I'm using all elements

-of my studies in my job.

-That's the end goal for me -

-to use what I learned.

-You also use what you learned

-at home, of course.

-Do you discuss the direction

-of the farm with your parents?

-Yes, I think so,

-we have quite complex discussions...

-..and it's nice to be able to do

-that with my parents and brothers.

-We discuss our options

-for the farm...

-..and what we'll be able to do

-in future.

-Here at Welshpool mart,

-the auction is in full swing.

-It's certainly a market for buyers

-today.

-Quite a few people

-have picked up a bargain.

-Things got off to a slow start...

-..with quite a few bulls not

-reaching The Charolais Society's...

-..minimum price of 2,500 guineas.

-Five bulls

-were sold for over 4,000 gns.

-The most expensive was 4,400 gns.

-Heifer prices

-were considerably more encouraging.

-The highest price was 4,000 gns.

-That was for Esgob Yvonne, owned by

-Gareth Jones, Hafod yr Esgob Uchaf.

-Then a cow and calf, Midas Cath,

-were sold for 6,000 gns...

-..owned by R H Coppinger,

-Wem, Shropshire.

-Gareth, how many

-did you have for sale today?

-Three heifers and one bull.

-And the bull was reserve champion?

-And the bull was reserve champion?

-

-Yes.

-But he still didn't reach

-a good enough price?

-No, it was disappointing.

-No, it was disappointing.

-

-Was it 3,200 gns?

-But the heifer did very well.

-But the heifer did very well.

-

-Yes, the heifer did well.

-All things considered,

-how will you feel...

-..when you drive that lorry home

-later?

-I'll have mixed feelings.

-Gareth and Geraint,

-you bought the day's champion.

-Are you happy with your purchase?

-Yes, very happy.

-We weren't expecting it.

-We wouldn't have thought we'd be

-able to buy anything with a rosette!

-It was a nice surprise.

-Where is this bull going?

-The bull's going back

-to Blaenau Caron, Tregaron.

-AUCTIONEER

-You paid 3,000 gns.

-We didn't think we'd get it

-for anything close to that price.

-I'm sure a lot of sellers

-will be quite disappointed.

-There were a lot of people here

-but not many of them wanted bulls.

-Were you buying or selling?

-Were you buying or selling?

-

-Yes, we bought.

-No wonder you're smiling!

-What did you buy?

-A bull.

-So you got a bargain!

-So you got a bargain!

-

-Well, we paid 4,200 gns.

-The standard of bulls

-has been high on the whole.

-We've sold 27 out of 37.

-That's a 73% clearance.

-They've averaged 3,400 gns.

-Six bulls

-went for 4,000 gns or more.

-The best animals sold well

-and there was competition for them.

-The only other thing I'd say

-about bulls...

-..is that there's more competition

-for bulls in February and April.

-They need looking after

-over the winter...

-..and who wants to do that

-unless they really need them?

-We must congratulate all the sellers

-for the high quality of animals.

-We hope the spring sale goes better.

-We'll be here!

-There may be as much grass

-here in spring as what there is now!

-It's time

-for our trailer competition.

-Here's the sixth question.

-The first prize

-is the 10-foot TA5G trailer.

-The second prize

-is the LM85G trailer.

-The third prize is the Q5e trailer.

-Together, they are worth

-over 7,000...

-..and have been kindly donated

-by Ifor Williams Trailers.

-To win one of them, you'll need

-to answer seven simple questions.

-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.

-Here's the sixth question.

-The first name

-of the Welsh Government's...

-..Deputy Minister

-for Farming and Food.

-Competition details and rules

-can be found on our website.

-On next week's programme, we'll be

-announcing the final question.

-Good luck to you all.

-That's it from Welshpool mart.

-It's been a good day for buyers...

-..but a disappointing day

-for most sellers.

-But that's how it goes in markets

-and that's agriculture for you.

-Don't forget that the

-Expression of Interest window...

-..for Glastir Advanced 2017

-has opened.

-It will end at midnight

-on 4 December.

-Thank you for joining us.

-Until next time, goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.