Mon, 08 Feb 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and welcome to Ffermio.

-Over the last few weeks, the Basic

-Payments which farmers receive...

-..have dominated the headlines.

-Many have not received a penny,

-and others have been penalized.

-The big questions we'll be asking...

-..are what is the reason

-behind these payments...

-..and how much

-does the rural economy rely on them?

-Also on the programme,

-Daloni will be in the kitchen...

-..visiting a company

-based on a farm.

-They use local produce

-to provide essential services...

-..to residents

-of the Lleyn Peninsula.

-But first, from Lleyn to Penllyn...

-..where Alun meets a group

-of fencers who work in all weathers.

-Traditionally, the winter months...

-..are when we carry out maintenance

-on our farms.

-Despite the wet weather

-we've had recently...

-..it's still possible to do this

-thanks to specialist equipment.

-This is good news to one company

-of contractors from Llanuwchllyn.

-Penllyn Fencing is a partnership

-between father and son...

-..Richard and Gwynant Roberts.

-They're rushed off their feet

-with work from local farmers...

-..whatever the weather.

-Dad started the company 30 years ago

-in an attempt to keep me at home...

-..instead of gallivanting

-around the world.

-He formed business connections

-with a lot of farmers...

-..for whom he worked every year.

-He made the money,

-I became a partner and spent it all.

-You've spent it on fancy gadgets

-to develop the company.

-That's the only way

-I could see a future.

-Either buy new machinery

-or stay as we were.

-We've bought the most

-up-to-date machines available.

-Everything is going well.

-The only thing missing as far as

-I can see is a cab on that machine.

-The weather is horrendous.

-With this weather,

-we need more than a cab.

-How many people do you employ?

-The business has grown, hasn't it?

-The business has grown a lot

-over the past three or four years.

-Dad and I are partners.

-We have two lads who work for us

-full-time and two who are part-time.

-The Glastir Advanced Scheme

-covers fencing...

-..planting trees and bushes

-and restoring hedgerows.

-The intention is to slow the effects

-of climate change...

-..ensure better water management...

-..and to maintain

-and improve biodiversity.

-Farmers know that good boundaries

-make good neighbours...

-..and improve farm management.

-At least 60% of our work

-comes from the Glastir scheme.

-It's a great scheme for us

-and for everybody in the area.

-Everybody gets a slice of the pie,

-not just the farmer.

-The farmer pays us for fencing

-and we pay the boys' salaries...

-..which keeps the money local.

-I think it's extremely important to

-keep the money in the local economy.

-It goes around everybody

-very neatly.

-I'm sure.

-The conditions

-are quite challenging today...

-..and have been

-for the past few months.

-But these days,

-the weather doesn't bother you.

-There's so much work

-with the Glastir Scheme...

-..that you have to finish the work

-on time.

-We have to work

-whatever the weather.

-A lot of that is to do with the fact

-that you have the new track machine.

-With the systems we have now...

-..we only need

-to run along the fence twice.

-It doesn't make much mess.

-The ground pressure

-isn't as heavy as with a tractor.

-It's so much better

-in terms of mess.

-What were you doing to the hedgerow

-at Dol Fach today?

-Robin Post, a local lad,

-is laying the hedging.

-Again,

-that's through the Glastir Scheme.

-We're erecting a fence

-either side of it.

-The hedgerow should then be tidy...

-..and meet Glastir's requirements

-for wildlife.

-It also makes it

-more aesthetically pleasing.

-How many metres do you cover

-in a day when you go full blast?

-I don't know.

-We did 250 metres this morning.

-We've gone up to 600 metres a day

-in some places.

-If we could do that every day,

-it would be great.

-Euros Roberts

-is involved in the Glastir Scheme.

-He farms at Dol Fach

-near Llanuwchllyn.

-If it wasn't for the grants...

-..it's possible

-hedgerows would never get done.

-The grants

-help to protect the hedgerows...

-..which provide shelter

-for man and animal alike.

-If the funding wasn't available,

-you'd have to do the work yourself.

-How much time does a farmer have

-to carry out work like that?

-During winter, most of our time

-is spent feeding and watering.

-Then we come to lambing season,

-which involves more work with sheep.

-It's rare that we get a couple

-of spare hours to do the work.

-Thanks to the funding, it's easier

-to get professionals in to do it.

-They're fast as well.

-They're fast as well.

-

-They have all the tools for the job.

-With the track machine, they don't

-make much of a mess on the land.

-It's been

-an extremely wet three months.

-The fields have been flooded

-more often than not...

-..over the last few weeks.

-These lads don't make much mess.

-What are your plans for the future?

-Are you hoping

-to expand the business?

-We haven't made any plans.

-We never have done.

-Everything just happens.

-If we expand, we expand,

-but I'm happy as we are.

-I'm sure your father is very proud

-of you following in his footsteps.

-I'm sure he is.

-I'm more proud of the fact

-that he's still with us...

-..getting frustrated

-and telling us what to do.

-It's lovely.

-When you live in the countryside...

-..entrepreneurship is a useful

-virtue in order to earn a living.

-This week, Daloni meets a family

-who offer a unique service...

-..providing a home-made

-meals on wheels service.

-Caffi Ni is the new business venture

-of Dylan and Nia Humphreys, Y Wern.

-It's a permanent cafe which offers

-hot drinks and home-made meals.

-However, they also go a step further

-to please their customers.

-They transport hot meals

-directly to your front door.

-This has always been my home.

-We have been farmers over the years.

-We decided to diversify and turn one

-of the fields into a caravan park.

-There's a campsite

-on this side of the lane.

-The cafe is a development of that.

-A year ago,

-we renovated the campsite.

-We built toilets

-and a new shower block.

-We decided to build a little hut...

-..in which to make bacon sandwiches

-for the visitors.

-It developed from there

-as they wanted food in the evening.

-That's how it happened.

-Nia and Dylan work tirelessly

-and understand each other perfectly.

-You are the master chef, Dylan.

-I wouldn't say that.

-Nia is the boss

-and I'm the gopher.

-Nia takes the orders.

-The phone never stops ringing.

-It's very busy.

-It's very busy.

-

-It's always like this.

-Every day.

-Even in the winter

-when it should be quiet?

-It should be quiet, but it isn't.

-Do you enjoy the work?

-Do you enjoy the work?

-

-I love it.

-I used to be a plumber

-but I gave it up to work from home.

-It's the best thing I ever did.

-Do you like experimenting

-with different foods?

-I try. It doesn't always work out,

-but it does most of the time.

-When an order reaches the cafe...

-..it's processed

-and prepared straight away.

-What are we doing?

-Could you chop the leeks

-for me, please?

-OK.

-Into small slices.

-What pies are we making?

-What pies are we making?

-

-Chicken, ham and leek.

-The ham is ready.

-The ham is ready.

-

-The ham was boiled this morning.

-Where do you source your meat?

-Where do you source your meat?

-

-We get it from Povey's in Chwilog.

-That's not far away.

-That's not far away.

-

-No, and it's very good meat.

-We also use Arwyn in Edern.

-One of the reasons for using him...

-..is that he keeps his cattle

-on the fields in Wern.

-Next door to here?

-It's lovely that you can

-honestly say to your customers...

-..that their steak had been grazing

-on the farmland at Wern.

-That's great.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-It's important.

-Yes, we buy everything locally.

-We like to cook

-with fresh, local produce.

-OK, the ham.

-The leek.

-Just waiting for the chicken

-and then we're off.

-Is the chicken ready, Dylan?

-Is the chicken ready, Dylan?

-

-Yes, it's ready, Daloni.

-You have to keep him in order!

-You have to keep him in order!

-

-You have to keep him in order!

-Stir it, Daloni.

-Stir it, Daloni.

-

-OK, Dylan!

-Goodness me, this man can be bossy!

-Yes.

-Is he always like that?

-Is he always like that?

-

-Yes.

-Nobody listens to me though!

-Nobody listens to me though!

-

-More stock, please, chef.

-Excuse me. It's hard work.

-Nia was born and brought up

-here at Wern.

-Her father, Twm, still looks after

-the animals on the farm.

-It's a good place for a cuppa, Twm.

-It's a good place for a cuppa, Twm.

-

-Yes, very good.

-For pastries too.

-Is she good at making pastries?

-Is she good at making pastries?

-

-Too good.

-Do they look after you?

-Do they look after you?

-

-Indeed they do.

-You're busy outside.

-You're busy outside.

-

-Yes, I am.

-I help with the calves.

-What's the story with the calves?

-I raise them every year.

-Then after about eight months...

-..we sell them to Evan Williams

-and John, Coedty Mawr, Talsarnau.

-You raise calves and farm caravans.

-Yes.

-Which is easier?

-I prefer the calves.

-I prefer the calves.

-

-Yes?!

-But there's more profit

-in the caravans.

-There's nothing complicated or grand

-being prepared here.

-Caffi Ni offers honest, tasty food.

-If required,

-it can be delivered to your door.

-When a customer phones, we ask

-if they want the food delivered...

-..or if they want to collect it.

-Eight times out of ten,

-they ask for it to be delivered.

-I put the food in the fridge

-in the back of the car and off I go.

-And you get to have a chat

-with them.

-Yes, then Nia calls and says, "Where

-are you? There's another order."

-You're in your element.

-You're in your element.

-

-It's the best thing I've ever done.

-If the chicken is as good

-as last week, it'll be great.

-Take care now. Ta-ra.

-Well, Daloni, here's your pie.

-I hope you'll enjoy it.

-It looks great and smells great too.

-Thanks for the welcome.

-One more thing before I go.

-Caffi Ni has been galloping along

-for a year...

-..so what's next, Nia?

-We intend to continue

-making fresh, home-made food...

-..using local produce.

-We hope people continue

-to enjoy the food we produce.

-If we continue like this, we'll have

-to employ somebody else to cook.

-I'd be more than happy to help...

-..if it means I get to take a pie

-like this home every night.

-The only thing

-you have to remember is...

-.."From oven to tummy,

-no fuss and it's yummy."

-That's all

-for this part of the programme.

-Come back shortly to Trefaes Fawr

-Farm in Beulah, Newcastle Emlyn...

-..where NFU Cymru

-has organized a unique event...

-..to prove how dependent

-the rural community is on farmers.

-We'll see you in two minutes.

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-Welcome back.

-In addition to producing food,

-looking after the landscape...

-..and conservation, farmers

-support many local businesses.

-Today, at Trefaes Fawr Farm

-in Beulah, Newcastle Emlyn...

-..over 50 businesses

-have come together...

-..to show the positive effects

-of the Basic Payment...

-..on the local economy.

-Huw and Carys Davies have been

-farming here for over 30 years.

-Huw was recently appointed

-chairman of the NFU in Ceredigion.

-He farms 800 acres,

-keeps 1,500 sheep...

-..and finishes 300 cattle

-every year.

-Following a challenging period

-for the industry...

-..and despite being

-a costly time of year for farmers...

-..Huw is still waiting

-for his Basic Payment.

-What message

-do you want to emphasize today?

-We want to show the public

-and the Welsh Government...

-..that the money

-isn't coming to the farms.

-We're still waiting and there are

-workers we need to pay.

-If we don't get paid, then we can't

-pay them for their hard work.

-They also employ 10-12 people and

-their families are also affected.

-It's ongoing.

-The money has to come in to go out.

-We get so little for our produce...

-..that it's difficult to make money.

-How many companies depend on you

-as a farmer here at Trefaes Fawr?

-There are 50 companies here today.

-There are many

-working for those companies.

-However,

-only 30% of Scottish farmers...

-..have received

-part of their payments...

-..compared

-with 80% of Welsh farmers.

-Is that 80% figure true?

-That's hard to believe.

-We've asked people at meetings

-to raise their hands...

-..if they

-haven't received the payment.

-More than 50%

-have raised their hands.

-I spoke to a bank manager...

-..who asked Rebecca Evans...

-..if she'd chosen

-one bank specifically to pay 77%.

-The percentage of farmers who'd been

-accepted who banked at his bank...

-..was nowhere near 50%.

-One who does a lot of contracting

-for Huw and his family...

-..is Gareth James,

-Stepside Farm, Cardigan.

-Along with sons Daniel and Edward,

-he runs a contracting company.

-They rely on the farmer's money

-to earn a living.

-His services range from treating

-the land to slurry and silage.

-He employs seven workers.

-We started contracting back in 1972.

-This is the worst year I've seen...

-..in terms of receiving

-the Basic Payment.

-It hasn't arrived on time.

-It's had a huge effect on cash flow.

-We've invested

-thousands of pounds...

-..on new and second-hand machines.

-They cost a lot of money

-to maintain.

-Money needs to be coming in

-quite regularly.

-I'll give you an example.

-I went to a place last Friday.

-There was a substantial bill.

-It was almost 7,000.

-I went indoors

-and had a cup of tea and a chat.

-The answer I was given was...

-.."When I receive the Basic Payment,

-I'll pay up."

-I know he will pay.

-But it's high time

-that the government helped out.

-Why has there been this delay?

-The knock-on effect

-is unbelievable.

-To be honest,

-I couldn't run the business...

-..without support

-from the finance companies.

-One machine on the farmyard...

-..costs almost 300,000.

-If it wasn't for finance

-being available...

-..I couldn't provide farmers

-with a service.

-You couldn't pay the staff

-who work for you either.

-Yes.

-We pay the lads' wages every month.

-At the end of the month,

-it's a substantial sum.

-You have to pay.

-Once we're unable to pay the staff,

-it's all over for us.

-But if nothing comes any time soon,

-I don't know what'll happen.

-I don't touch a dairy cow

-or a fattened animal...

-..or have anything to do with sheep.

-However, we produce

-what goes in here...

-..and what comes out the other end.

-That's what we do.

-We depend on the farmer

-to make a living.

-As well as contractors...

-..a variety of local businesses

-have come to Trefaes Fawr today...

-..to an NFU Cymru event.

-I used to be a builder.

-I was in the new homes market...

-..before the recession hit.

-I employed around 35 craftsmen.

-After the recession,

-I had to lay off all the workers.

-It's farmers who've kept us going

-since the last recession.

-Without the farmer,

-I'd be out of work.

-Things are tough for farmers

-at the moment.

-We have to look now

-at diversifying.

-Unless the farmers keep going,

-there's no future for us.

-It's an important message

-for the politicians.

-They must realize that the benefit

-goes further than the farmer.

-It's paid to farmers, but it works

-its way through the community.

-The whole rural community

-has come together here today.

-People have had a chance to chat.

-It's underlined

-just how interdependent we all are.

-If you're a hairdresser,

-a solicitor like me...

-..or you run a clothes shop...

-..we all depend on each other

-and on the agricultural industry.

-We hope it goes on from here.

-You have to start somewhere

-and this is it.

-You have to keep looking

-to the future, not back to the past.

-What is your overriding message

-as a farmer to the politicians?

-Do they know

-what is going on in the countryside?

-I hope they realize

-before it's too late.

-Once that point comes

-and there's no-one to take over...

-..what happens then?

-What else is there

-in the countryside?

-They want us

-to care for the countryside...

-..and keep the hedgerows in order.

-We've been doing that for centuries.

-Our ancestors did it.

-It's our back garden.

-You take pride in it.

-Does the government

-get value for money?

-Yes - we look after the countryside

-and the wildlife within it...

-..as well as producing

-high-quality food.

-The public is always looking

-for that high-quality food product.

-It's definitely value for money.

-You can see that...

-..by the high numbers of visitors

-we get in terms of tourism.

-Someone has to look after it and the

-farmers are doing that right now.

-That's all from this programme.

-It's difficult financially

-for many people right now.

-We've seen today that the subsidies

-received by farmers are crucial...

-..to maintain a successful future

-for the entire rural community...

-..not just

-for the agricultural sector.

-Until next time,

-thanks for joining us.

-Goodnight.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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