Pennod 4 Ffermio

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-Hello and welcome to Ffermio...

-..from the livestock market

-here in Builth Wells.

-Today sees

-the first show and sale...

-..for Beulah Speckled-Face

-and Bluefaced Leicester sheep.

-Local auctioneers

-have arranged the event...

-..to give another stage

-to the area's popular breeds.

-Later, Alun visits Rhidian Glyn

-in Tal-y-wern near Machynlleth.

-Daloni is among the machinery...

-..and Deputy Minister Rebecca Evans

-has a Basic Payment Scheme update.

-Here in Builth Wells,

-they are breaking new ground.

-This sale is for some

-of the most influential breeds...

-..in the Welsh sheep industry.

-Over 60,000 Welsh Mule sheep

-are sold every year in Wales.

-Among them

-are Beulah Speckled-Face sheep...

-..crossed with

-Bluefaced Leicester rams.

-Eirwyn Richards, Cwmcelynen,

-Pumsaint is a devotee of Beulahs.

-He's had success

-with his flock over the past year...

-..winning the breed championship

-at the Royal Welsh Show.

-This is the first sale

-for the Beulah breed.

-The sheep are being sold

-individually for the first time.

-They've been scanned

-and are carrying lambs.

-We're trying to expand the market

-for the breed...

-..and to add value

-to what we produce.

-What exactly is being sold here?

-What exactly is being sold here?

-

-There are Beulah sheep being sold.

-We also have Bluefaced Leicester

-sheep and ewe lambs...

-..and mules that are a cross

-between the two breeds.

-The mule is the most popular sheep,

-and the best sheep, in the world...

-..for producing two lambs

-for slaughter.

-The important message

-for the sheep industry...

-..and possibly

-for the Assembly to remember...

-..is that we must keep

-this upland breed, the Beulah...

-..a Welsh sheep, our native breed.

-Without it, there will be no mules.

-Traditionally,

-the Beulah comes from this area.

-It's traditionally from the area

-between Llandovery, Builth Wells...

-..and of course Beulah.

-Over the years, their numbers

-have decreased dramatically.

-The Beulah has seen an increase

-in numbers over the last two years.

-Much of that is due to Glastir.

-We are grateful to the Assembly...

-..for their support for the breed

-through Glastir.

-It's important to keep these sheep.

-If they disappear,

-they're gone for good.

-It's a native breed.

-It lives on our land.

-It's simple enough

-to keep a few sheep...

-..that have been brought in

-from the Continent.

-But to keep sheep

-on our uplands and mountains...

-..we need the sheep

-that have been bred here.

-One man who arrived early

-for the show and the sale...

-..is Gareth Jones, Pencae Farm,

-Felingwm, Carmarthenshire.

-I've brought two three-year-old

-sheep with me today...

-..just to see how it goes.

-What is so different

-about today's sale?

-It's a chance for someone

-to get the best blood.

-We keep the best sheep

-to produce the best rams.

-This is a chance to get

-the best blood and best sheep.

-How do you think it'll go?

-I think it will be a risk.

-It's the first sale

-and nobody knows what will happen.

-I hope the risk pays off

-and that they'll sell well today.

-After strong classes in the show...

-..Gareth took fourth and fifth

-with his Beulah Speckled-Face sheep.

-It was that breed's day.

-Judges Hywel and Ben Powell

-chose a Beulah Speckled-Face ewe...

-..belonging to Davies, Llwyncadwgan,

-Beulah, as supreme champion.

-She's a home-bred ewe,

-by a Corrin tup.

-She's a very pretty ewe.

-I've been showing her in the summer.

-You've had a very successful

-couple of years as well.

-You took the record price

-in autumn sales.

-This time, on the yearling ram,

-we had the champion on the day.

-He made 11,400.

-We were very surprised

-to see the second one go in.

-He made 10,000 as well.

-We've had a very good year.

-It's been a special week all around.

-I had a baby girl

-on Saturday morning.

-Lots of sleepless nights ahead.

-Lots of sleepless nights ahead.

-

-Yes, we've had a few already.

-It's a special time.

-It's a special time.

-

-Yes, it is.

-We'll be back

-with the breeders later.

-Once again, Farming Connect

-is launching its Agri Academy.

-Three years since its inception...

-..some 24 members

-have taken advantage of this scheme.

-This week,

-Alun has been to meet one of them...

-..to discover how beneficial

-the scheme has been to him.

-The Academy was launched

-on Tuesday 26 January...

-..at the FUW breakfast in the Senedd

-by Deputy Minister Rebecca Evans.

-There are three elements

-to this year's Academy.

-The Business and Innovation

-programme to support and inspire...

-..the next generation

-of farming entrepreneurs...

-..the Rural Leadership programme...

-..to develop the next generation

-of leaders in rural Wales...

-..and the Junior Academy,

-tailored to 16-19-year-olds...

-..who are keen to follow a career

-in agriculture, forestry or food.

-Someone who has benefited from the

-Business and Innovation programme...

-..is Rhidian Glyn,

-who farms near Machynlleth.

-He now has the tenancy

-of Rhiwgriafol Farm in Tal-y-wern.

-I was a member

-of the Agri Academy in 2013.

-That was before I took over

-the tenancy of this farm.

-I think it helped me in the process

-of applying for the tenancy.

-I had to do a case study

-as part of the Agri Academy.

-It looked at ways of improving

-that particular business.

-I was able to use the same elements

-of the business plan...

-..when applying for the farm.

-How useful has the Agri Academy

-been to you in your day-to-day work?

-We've remained together

-as a group.

-We meet a few times during the year

-in the usual events...

-..the Royal Welsh Show

-and the Winter Fair.

-We've also been going around

-each other's farms.

-It's good to have people

-from outside your own farm...

-..to take a look around.

-Other people notice things

-that you don't see.

-It's also useful

-to have people you can talk to.

-It's good to be able to pick up

-the phone and get advice...

-..from someone who knows more

-about a particular subject.

-In the end, cooperation will lead

-to success in farming, generally.

-Yes, and sharing knowledge.

-Rhidian is now responsible

-for 530 acres...

-..some 290 acres of which

-is mountainous...

-..rising to almost 1,500 feet

-above sea level.

-I keep 900 Tregaron Welsh sheep.

-The ones with white faces.

-They seem to suit the place.

-The farm has 280 acres

-of unimproved mountain land.

-The sheep have to be quite hardy

-to thrive up there in the summer...

-..after being weaned,

-and into the winter as well.

-600 of the sheep...

-..will go to a Welsh ram

-to keep the flock going.

-I try to keep

-some ram lambs to sell.

-I also put 300 sheep to a cross ram,

-a New Zealand Suffolk...

-..to sell fat lambs at the markets

-in Machynlleth and Welshpool.

-I've done quite a bit of grazing

-using an electric fence.

-I've done that

-in the early winter, mostly.

-Welsh sheep go to the Welsh ram

-on the mountain.

-The rest of the sheep are put

-to the cross ram on the lowlands.

-We move them around

-because 300 of them is a lot.

-A nine-acre field

-will last around five days...

-..and then they're moved on.

-..and then they're moved on.

-

-You also have a day job.

-What happens during lambing?

-You must be very busy.

-I have a full-time job

-with ForFarmers.

-I have to take my holidays

-at lambing time.

-This year,

-I have a student to help me.

-It's busy, but I manage.

-A new venture for Rhidian this year

-is rearing Welsh rams.

-For the first time, he's keeping

-twelve as an experiment...

-..in the hope

-of boosting the farm's income.

-You mentioned your new venture

-of rearing rams.

-Where will your market be for them?

-I'll take them to Tregaron,

-or more likely to Rhayader.

-As I see it,

-if I can sell a few yearling rams...

-..I can afford to pay

-for better rams for the flock.

-That way, I can improve the flock

-without spending too much money.

-Through his experience

-with Agri Academy...

-..Rhidian

-has had many opportunities.

-The Business

-and Innovation programme's aim...

-..is to inspire the next generation

-of Welsh farm entrepreneurs.

-Does he think

-the Academy achieves this?

-It's been a great help.

-The networking has been so useful.

-It's good to meet and mix

-with new people...

-..within the Agri Academy.

-It's a great way

-to meet like-minded people...

-..and make friends...

-..in addition to everything

-you learn on the course.

-If you are interested in applying

-for a place in the Academy...

-..the closing date is 1 April.

-For details of overseas visits and

-a downloadable application form...

-..go to the Farming Connect website.

-Details are on the screen.

-We'll take a short break now.

-The sale is in full swing

-so join us in two minutes...

-..to discover the prices

-being achieved in Builth Wells.

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-How would you react if the money

-you used for your keep...

-..was three months late in arriving?

-It's a situation currently facing

-a number of Welsh farmers.

-They have not yet received

-their Basic Payment.

-We have a seven-month window to make

-payments to farmers in Wales.

-I was pleased to pay more

-than half of Welsh farmers...

-..within the first week

-of the window opening.

-We've now reached 77% of farmers

-and continue to make payments.

-The reason we informed farmers

-in July 2014...

-..not to expect the same amount of

-money on the same day this year...

-..was because we're moving

-to a new CAP perform period.

-This is a new period of CAP

-so new payments will be made.

-Mapping work must be undertaken.

-You say farmers are resilient...

-..but it is difficult when payments

-are delayed by three months.

-Could you be resilient if money owed

-to you was delayed by three months?

-Part of being resilient

-is planning ahead.

-We've given advice to farmers about

-speaking to banks and suppliers...

-..and planning for not receiving

-the same money at the same time...

-..as in previous years.

-When farmers make mistakes

-they are penalized financially.

-This year, Welsh Government staff

-made mapping mistakes...

-..and farmers have been underpaid

-as a result.

-How are you dealing with this?

-It's important to Welsh Government

-to get payments right.

-Europe requires us to do so.

-This is why I introduced

-a simplified appeals process.

-Farmers can contact Rural Payments

-Wales by email or letter...

-..to tell us if they think

-there's been an error.

-We will certainly look into it.

-At this time of year...

-..farmers generally rely on

-the Basic Payment...

-..to keep their business going.

-Because it's been

-a difficult year...

-..problems have been building up

-since the summer.

-Without the Basic Payment, farmers

-are really suffering financially.

-If you consider

-the wider rural economy...

-..if the money from the

-Welsh Assembly wasn't forthcoming...

-..money would not be available

-for farmers to pay their debts...

-..to their feed and fertilizer

-suppliers and so on.

-It's hard to get money

-circulating in the rural economy.

-In a way, that demonstrates

-the value of farming...

-..and the system of farm payments...

-..not just to farmers

-but to the wider rural economy.

-To be fair

-to the Welsh Government...

-..they did warn that payments

-would be later this year.

-That is true.

-The new deal

-talks about simplification.

-But it isn't simple.

-We do understand...

-..but it's no help to us this year

-when the market is so bad.

-We've had problems with coding...

-..where farmers

-have animals grazing under trees.

-The Welsh Government

-have removed that code...

-..telling us Europe says grazing

-under trees shouldn't happen.

-Trees are important

-in the countryside...

-..to stop land slippage.

-They also provide shelter

-for animals.

-The message that Europe is sending

-to Cardiff doesn't quite add up.

-We're speaking to people in Europe

-such as Phil Hogan.

-They say it shouldn't be too bad

-for us this year...

-..even after

-withholding some of the payment.

-The Welsh Government

-are going too far.

-They're scared that Brussels

-are looking over their shoulder.

-Europe can see

-that it has an effect on farmers.

-They're trying to make it easier

-for the Welsh Government.

-We have to survive this.

-We need help from the government,

-banks and everybody out there...

-..to help keep farmers farming.

-It's so important for business

-and the Welsh economy.

-The message I want to express

-is that we must survive this.

-It's going to be a difficult year

-for rural businesses.

-It's important we all keep going

-through this tough period.

-It's time now for a break

-from the sheep in Builth Wells.

-Over to Daloni.

-Despite the lack of money

-in the rural economy...

-..Daloni has been to meet a family

-investing in their future.

-This week, I'm amongst machinery

-visiting Mona Tractors Company.

-The company continues to grow.

-The third generation

-has now joined the business.

-Their latest site is at the

-agriculture park in Llanystumdwy.

-The business

-was established in 1981.

-Over the years, the owner,

-John Jones has seen big changes...

-..as technology, fashion

-and the value of machines develop.

-We set up the company,

-Mona Tractors, on Anglesey in 1981.

-I had help from my father.

-He was retired at the time

-and didn't have a lot to do.

-We saw an opportunity...

-..to expand the business

-and move to Anglesey.

-We started a completely new business

-under the name Mona Tractors.

-He helped me over a period

-of ten years to set it up.

-We have three sites in Llangefni,

-Ruthin and now Llanystumdwy.

-Where are we now, John?

-Where are we now, John?

-

-We're in the workshop.

-The workshop is at the heart

-of the business.

-It's at the heart of every depot.

-It's where most of the boys work.

-This is where

-we work on the machines.

-It's where we provide a service

-for our customers.

-As you can see, the place is full

-of things waiting for a service...

-..and waiting to be fixed.

-Have you seen the business change

-over the years?

-Yes.

-Farms are getting bigger

-but there are fewer of them.

-Farmers are farming

-bigger areas of land.

-That means they need bigger machines

-in order to save time.

-There's more pressure on them.

-But on the whole,

-this business remains unchanged.

-Is it a good time

-for a tractor business?

-It has been very good.

-We've seen it slow a little

-over the winter.

-We've worried a little bit, but

-we've seen things slow down before.

-It's important for us

-to look outside farming...

-..to get more customers.

-That's why this depot

-is so important to us.

-We're able to offer services

-to other companies.

-John's son, Huw,

-has just joined the company...

-..after graduating

-from Harper Adams University.

-I work in sales.

-We're trying to do as much as we can

-to help the farmer.

-We offer a complete service.

-If there's something wrong

-with the tractor, we can fix it.

-Parts are extremely important to us.

-If something breaks down,

-we can get hold of parts quickly.

-When building this new place,

-it was very important...

-..to keep the same standard

-of service as in the other depots...

-..in Ruthin and Llangefni.

-What's it like

-to work with your parents?

-I enjoy it.

-I'm on the phone to Dad a lot

-if I need advice on something.

-I enjoy it.

-I work here and Dad splits

-his time between the three sites.

-I don't see him a great deal.

-It's great. I enjoy it.

-It's fantastic to be honest.

-It's a pleasure to come to work,

-especially in the new place.

-It's a real family business.

-John's wife, Susan, Huw's mother,

-is responsible for the admin work.

-I try to split my time

-between the three sites.

-I'll spend a day in Llanystumdwy

-and a day in Ruthin.

-I spend most of my time

-in Llangefni.

-How do you hope

-to develop the business?

-It's quite exciting

-now that Huw has joined the team.

-He's young,

-with a young, fresh attitude.

-I'm amazed at the difference

-between the way he thinks...

-..and the way John thinks.

-There's a good group here.

-They're all young and all local.

-We've doubled the amount of staff

-since opening the new site.

-I hope

-there are exciting times ahead.

-I'm hoping

-a lot more will happen here.

-The intention is

-to double what we've done before...

-..now we have

-a very nice brand-new site.

-Technology is vital to this company

-in order to develop for the future.

-Huw and John are ahead of the game,

-investing in the next generation.

-It's important we continue to grow.

-It's also important to focus on what

-is essentially our bread and butter.

-That is the tractors and farmers.

-Really, we have to keep them

-as happy as we can.

-It would be exciting to develop the

-business and sell different things.

-Here in Builth Wells, despite this

-being the first event...

-..it's clear from the number

-who've turned up...

-..there's a lot of interest

-in the new venture.

-The Beulah ewes have averaged 450.

-The Bluefaced Leicester ewe lambs

-have averaged 360.

-Fantastic.

-Fantastic.

-

-Very pleased.

-You had a good top price as well.

-You had a good top price as well.

-

-We sold the top price ewe.

-We sold her for 920 guineas.

-She was bred by Davies Llwynpiod

-and sold to Trevor Davies and Co.

-We've pencilled

-in the corresponding date next year.

-Hopefully, we'll have

-a few more ewes entered.

-That's all for this programme

-from Builth Wells.

-It's great to see such high prices,

-but also to see a good average.

-Thanks for your company.

-Until next time, goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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