Mon, 13 Feb 2017 Ffermio


Mon, 13 Feb 2017

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-Is tourism the answer to the

-problems facing rural communities?

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-One project worrying farmers in

-West Wales is a new cycling route.

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-We'll have more later on.

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-Also on the programme...

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-..following the paucity of some

-vegetables on supermarket shelves...

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-..I'll hear about the challenges

-faced by the industry.

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-There are plenty of seasonal

-local vegetables to be found.

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-You don't need

-to go to the Continent to find them.

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-Meinir meets Lowri Davies,

-winner of a special YFC award.

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-I never thought I'd win it...

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-..after trying to win for so long.

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-Carmarthenshire County Council

-has big plans...

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-..to turn the county into a haven

-for cyclists and hikers.

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-But farmers aren't as enthusiastic

-about the proposed plans.

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-This is the start

-of the planned Tywi Valley path.

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-It's planned to stretch all the way

-from Carmarthen to Llandeilo.

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-The hope is that around 15,000

-visitors and local people...

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-..will use it on an annual basis.

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-It should contribute around

-2 million to the local economy.

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-But not everyone welcomes the plan.

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-Much of the path

-will follow an old railway track.

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-But new parts will be

-on productive agricultural land.

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-Meinir Davies of Y Cwm Farm

-isn't happy to place the path...

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-..on some of the Tywi Valley's

-best agricultural land.

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-Wow! It's very flat here.

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-I imagine the river

-overflows at times.

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-Yes, it comes

-right up to the farmyard here.

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-That doesn't sound very promising

-for a path!

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-No, particularly

-when the path is down there.

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-Let's look at the whole picture.

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-How would this path

-affect your farm?

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-Originally, it was meant to go

-through the lower part of the farm.

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-The plan was changed and it now goes

-through our neighbours' land.

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-It still affects the valley

-and our neighbours.

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-We support them totally

-in their campaign.

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-We suffer with floods here.

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-It still affects us even though

-the path doesn't cross our land.

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-You mention floods.

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-That raises the question

-of how practical the path is at all.

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-I'd imagine around once a month,

-particularly in winter...

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-..it could be under water

-for three weeks.

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-There would be no use

-of the path at all.

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-We're flat here.

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-You're talking about water

-that's a few feet deep.

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-It makes no sense to us.

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-We see it year on year.

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-The council sit in their offices

-and don't see it.

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-Councillor Meryl Gravell is

-a member of the executive board...

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-..for regeneration on behalf

-of Carmarthenshire council.

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-The council has been looking

-at this for a few years.

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-As a county, we realize

-that cycling and hiking...

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-..are an important part

-of keeping people fit and healthy.

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-A few months ago,

-an actor came to me.

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-He said he'd bought a bike

-for his son at Christmas.

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-He said there was nowhere safe

-for him to go on his bike.

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-We decided to look at this again.

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-We thought

-that it's a good thing to do.

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-It's likely to improve tourism,

-create jobs and so on.

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-It would be better if the path

-was raised out of the valley.

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-Either up to the road

-and help to improve the road...

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-..or to Capel Dewi where there is

-already a national cycling route.

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-We're in an area where some farms

-are clean of bovine TB...

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-..and some farms

-are already restricted.

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-You're talking about a path

-that's 16 miles long.

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-It will be going

-in and out of farms...

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-..which are infected

-and aren't infected.

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-You're talking

-about hikers and cyclists...

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-..carrying mud on that path

-in and out of the farms.

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-The River Tywi is well known

-for flooding regularly.

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-Has that been considered

-for the public's health and safety?

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-Yes, and there's no doubt

-that a section...

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-..will be prone to flooding

-at certain times of the year.

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-At that time, the path will close.

-That has been looked at.

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-It will be built in a way...

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-..that it doesn't create

-a problem for the path.

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-It will have to close,

-there's no doubt about that.

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-Mathew Jones

-from Dan Yr Allt Farm...

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-..feels there needs to be

-wider consultation.

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-A section of the path...

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-..runs from one end of my farm

-to another.

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-That splits the farm in half.

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-We're looking at around

-50 acres on one side...

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-..and 80 acres on the other side.

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-Of course,

-the cattle will cross this track...

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-..particularly in summer months,

-two if not four times a day.

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-They need access

-to the grazing land.

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-There must be an easy way to move

-cattle from one part to another.

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-Also, when we cut silage, we'll have

-to work next to the track...

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-..and cross it with heavy machinery.

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-It's going to be quite a job.

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-It'll be our fault if something

-happens to a member of the public.

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-I'm not against the idea

-of the track.

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-I think it would be good but they

-need to look for safer areas...

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-..and possibly follow

-some of the main roads.

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-We're between two roads.

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-Why can't they follow

-one or the other?

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-There's plenty of barren land

-next to those roads.

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-At the moment, if you travel along

-the A40, they're working on it.

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-Why not spend this 8 million

-on widening the road...

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-..and make it safer for cyclists?

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-We realize that farm life

-isn't easy these days.

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-Anything we can do as a county

-to help farmers, we're ready to do.

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-But is this

-the confirmed final route?

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-I believe it is.

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-We've consulted with the public.

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-The public feel that this

-is an incredibly good thing.

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-It is a chance to diversify

-for some farmers.

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-Some say they'll look to make ice

-cream with their milk and sell it.

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-Natural Resources Wales

-is one of the organizations...

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-..that have been part of the

-consultation to develop the path.

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-It's a planning application

-by the county to develop the path.

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-We've been involved

-in the consultation...

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-..because the River Tywi

-has been designated...

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-..as a site of European importance.

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-We're looking to see...

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-..if the path will have

-a negative effect on the river.

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-But in terms

-of the European designation...

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-..what's most important is the fish.

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-I wouldn't expect any effect.

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-In general, in terms of

-conservation, the path is safe.

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-Huw Thomas is frequently out on his

-bike and is in favour of the path.

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-Cycling is more popular now

-than it's ever been.

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-Getting a path

-that follows the River Tywi...

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-..from Carmarthen to Llandeilo

-will be good for the area.

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-There's no doubt it'll be good for

-the area, local people and tourism.

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-At the moment, there's nowhere local

-where families can ride bikes.

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-A lot of people come into the shop

-and ask where they can go.

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-We send them

-to Pembrey Country Park...

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-..and the coastal path in Llanelli.

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-It'd be great to have somewhere

-in the Carmarthen area.

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-The value of land

-in the Tywi Valley...

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-..is among the highest in Wales,

-I'd imagine.

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-Are they offering reasonable terms

-if it comes to compulsory purchase?

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-At the moment,

-what they've offered us...

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-..isn't anywhere near the price

-of land in the Tywi Valley.

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-If it came to compulsory purchase...

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-..the settlement

-would need to be much higher.

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-Personally,

-I'd rather not have the money...

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-..or have the trouble

-of stuff coming through the farm.

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-There is an objection,

-as we've heard, from farmers.

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-Those farmers say

-they'll hold their ground.

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-What will happen then?

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-Is compulsory purchase looming?

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-Compulsory purchase is possible...

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-..but that's a last resort

-for us as a county council.

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-We want to work with the farmers...

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-..and make sure

-that they don't lose out in any way.

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-People might say that it's another

-example of stubborn farmers...

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-..who can't see the wider

-economic advantage to the area.

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-Is it fair to suggest

-you're being selfish?

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-I would say no.

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-We've suggested to the council

-that they're being inflexible.

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-We accept that a path

-would be a good thing in general.

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-But why put it

-right through farmland?

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-We have property rights,

-the same as everyone else.

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-They're our council

-as much as everyone else's.

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-They don't listen.

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-There are two other options

-but they won't consider them.

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-That's it for now.

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-After the break,

-Meinir meets a young woman...

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-..who's reached the top

-in stock judging.

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-And I'm here in Llanrwst

-discussing vegetables.

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-I'll see you in a minute.

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

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-Welcome back.

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-The YFC calendar is very varied.

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-Stock judging is one

-of its most familiar competitions.

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-Meinir has been to meet

-a leading exponent of the art...

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-..in Wales and England

-in her last year as a member.

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-Lowri Davies is originally from

-Waunllanau Farm near Carmarthen.

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-She has been a YFC member

-since the age of 12.

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-She started out

-at St Peters YFC, Carmarthenshire.

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-Having moved to work in Lancashire,

-she's now with Vale O'Lune YFC.

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-She is the National Stockman

-of the Year for England and Wales.

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-Lowri, congratulations to you.

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-What did winning this title

-mean to you?

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-It's an honour and a privilege.

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-I never thought I'd win it...

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-..after trying to win for so long.

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-Everything went my way that day

-and I rose to the top.

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-It's your crowning glory

-after years with the YFC.

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-It was my last year of competition.

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-It was my very last competition

-as a member.

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-A crowning glory on my YFC career.

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-Just to compete in that contest...

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-..you need a varied skill set

-in several different fields.

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-You have to judge

-a ring of six dairy cattle...

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-..beef cattle, lambs and pigs.

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-You also have to do a project

-on an animal of your own choosing.

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-I did it on dairy cattle.

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-A veterinarian interviews you...

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-..and you're also interviewed

-about your project.

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-Those skills were first honed

-here at Waunllanau.

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-I've been stock judging since

-I joined the YFC as a 12-year-old.

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-My father encouraged me

-to try the Stockman competition.

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-That meant

-learning to judge all four animals.

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-I've been trying

-every year since then.

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-Lowri graduated in Agriculture

-at Aberystwyth University.

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-Since then, she's been working for

-a concentrates company in England.

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-Every chance she gets,

-she comes home to help the family...

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-..to milk 130 dairy cows

-and rear 130 beef cattle.

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-What's this one here?

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-She's a Limousin-cross heifer.

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-She was born last April.

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-Just as a hobby,

-I showed her at the Winter Fair.

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-Were you successful?

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-She came fifth in her class.

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-I was quite happy with that

-as a first outing.

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-It's something I like doing.

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-I derived a lot of pleasure

-out of just showing her.

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-What's the daily procedure

-here on the farm?

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-Milking is the main enterprise.

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-We rear the beef cattle

-off the dairy herd.

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-We sell the male calves as stores.

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-The heifers

-are given a Limousin bull.

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-They're sold with calf at heel...

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-..when they've calved

-for the first time.

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-That means the farm

-is always well-stocked with animals.

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-There are almost always

-350 head of animals on site.

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-It's a lot of feeding.

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-Plenty to keep us busy.

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-You also have variety. You aren't

-dependent on one income stream.

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-That's the strength of the business.

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-We aren't dependent

-on one enterprise.

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-It gives variety to the work.

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-Dad likes working

-with the beef animals too.

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-It's a change

-from the daily milking routine.

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-You've travelled a lot

-around the country.

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-What's the secret

-of a successful farmer?

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-The trick is to keep a steady eye

-on the costs.

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-Farmers have little control

-over the prices they receive.

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-You have to keep the costs down...

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-..by studying

-the minor details carefully.

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-That makes all the difference.

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-Dylan, Lowri's father, has been

-a major influence on her success.

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-You must be very proud of Lowri.

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-We are very proud as a family.

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-Winning this competition

-at any level is an achievement.

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-Winning it at this level

-is an amazing achievement.

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-The solid foundation

-was set here at an early age.

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-Lowri has been so interested

-from such a young age.

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-I said from the get-go

-that she had all the tools...

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-..to do really well

-in the stock judging world.

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-What's the best advice

-you've given her?

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-Experience is the best advice

-you can give to anyone.

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-That's how the knowledge is built...

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-..and then the confidence comes

-as the success accrues.

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-In the end, you reach the summit

-by persevering.

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-Lowri's roots

-are buried deep in agriculture.

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-What are her hopes for the future?

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-What is the future?

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-I'd like to continue

-to specialize in nutrition.

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-I have no doubt that I will always

-retain an interest in agriculture.

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-Whether it's here on the farm with

-Mam and Dad or wherever I end up...

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-..I'll always be in wellies.

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-The weather has been unseasonably

-bad in Southern Europe lately.

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-The effect has been reflected

-on our supermarket shelves.

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-Lettuce, courgettes and broccoli

-have all been in short supply.

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-Could this be a boon

-for vegetable producers in Wales?

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-Llanrwst Square is full of stands

-for the weekly market every Tuesday.

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-Among the busiest

-is Tatws Trading.

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-Geraint Owen and his father Emyr

-sell all kinds of fruit and veg.

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-How does the state

-of the European market affect you?

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-The cabbages and the courgettes...

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-..come from Spain and Italy,

-as you know.

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-They are in short supply because

-Spain has had terrible weather.

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-There's been flooding, snow and

-high winds. They've really suffered.

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-Does it affect your business or does

-the customer buy something else?

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-It does make a difference...

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-..but we aren't entirely dependent

-on just those two or three items.

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-It's more likely to trip up

-the people on the catering side.

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-Chefs want a regular supply

-of certain items.

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-When they dry up,

-it can be a problem.

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-How expensive is an iceberg lettuce

-to buy right now?

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-1.60.

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-1.60.

-

-That's the cost to you.

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-You must want

-to add a profit margin on top.

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-No chance. We have to sell them

-at cost or for a loss.

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-Geraint, you do all the buying.

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-You make sure these sprouts

-and onions are good enough to sell.

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-We're going for the highest standard

-we can buy.

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-Nothing in a packet, all loose.

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-We try to chat with the customers

-and get them smiling as they buy.

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-What here has been grown in Britain?

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-What's home-grown?

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-Onions. Leeks from Lancashire.

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-Cabbage and swedes.

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-We've also got nice red cabbage,

-also from Lancashire.

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-You know what sells.

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-Yes, we know

-what the customer wants.

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-Wouldn't it be good

-to only sell what is in season?

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-That would be ideal,

-but things have changed.

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-Everyone wants strawberries...

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-..and courgettes and peppers

-with their salads.

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-There's so much

-Mediterranean cooking on TV.

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-We try to keep everyone happy.

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-That's clear from how busy you are.

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-That's clear from how busy you are.

-

-We try.

0:20:080:20:09

-You have to keep going.

0:20:100:20:12

-1,000 feet above sea level

-in Llanllechid, Bethesda...

0:20:150:20:18

-..Chris Jones is a vegetable grower.

0:20:180:20:21

-Here at Bryn Hafod-y-Wern Farm, he

-specializes in seasonal vegetables.

0:20:210:20:26

-At this time of year,

-we have leeks...

0:20:270:20:30

-..kale, chard, sprouts

-and three varieties of cabbage.

0:20:310:20:36

-We also have potatoes,

-carrots and swedes.

0:20:360:20:40

-We also have beetroot in store.

0:20:400:20:44

-It's all grown here on your land.

0:20:450:20:47

-It's all grown here on your land.

-

-That's right.

0:20:470:20:50

-Has it been a tough season?

0:20:500:20:52

-Yes. Every season is different.

0:20:520:20:55

-This year has been a bit different.

0:20:550:20:59

-It's pretty cold right now.

0:21:000:21:02

-We have crops in the fields

-that are taking their time.

0:21:020:21:06

-We're also starting to sow

-some things in the greenhouses...

0:21:060:21:10

-..in preparation for this year.

0:21:110:21:13

-Has the scarcity of some products

-had an effect on your business?

0:21:130:21:17

-Yes, in one way.

0:21:180:21:20

-We've sold a lot more vegetables

-that can be grown in this area.

0:21:210:21:27

-Seasonal local vegetables.

0:21:270:21:30

-I think people will have to go back

-to doing that in the future.

0:21:300:21:36

-Is there a lesson for us to learn?

0:21:360:21:38

-Is there a lesson for us to learn?

-

-A huge lesson.

0:21:380:21:40

-We've lost track

-of seasonal vegetables.

0:21:400:21:44

-The supermarkets are supplying us

-with everything all year round.

0:21:440:21:49

-Even at this time of year...

0:21:490:21:51

-..there are plenty of seasonal

-local vegetables to be found.

0:21:510:21:56

-You don't need

-to go to the Continent to find them.

0:21:560:22:00

-Should we as customers, Emyr,

-learn a lesson about what we buy?

0:22:020:22:07

-Seasonal used to be the fashion.

0:22:080:22:10

-Twenty years ago, you'd never see

-a lettuce until Easter.

0:22:110:22:16

-These days,

-people want everything all the time.

0:22:160:22:20

-Has the customer

-become too demanding?

0:22:200:22:24

-The supermarkets have imposed

-this kind of supply on the country.

0:22:250:22:31

-Last week, iceberg lettuces

-were being imported from America.

0:22:310:22:37

-When it comes to carbon footprint,

-that doesn't make much sense.

0:22:370:22:43

-That's it. Thanks for your company.

0:22:460:22:49

-See you next week.

0:22:490:22:50

-Goodnight.

0:22:510:22:52

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