Mon, 23 Jan 2017 Ffermio

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-Hello and a warm welcome to Ffermio.

-On today's programme,

-we take a look at the future.

-First, when you're offered something

-that's too good to be true...

-..most of the time it is.

-We'll hear about

-a group of criminals...

-..who target

-and take advantage of farmers.

-Also on the programme, Daloni

-visits Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog...

-..to see a family who are building

-for the next generation.

-I like a challenge.

-It's worth getting up

-in the morning for a challenge.

-Alun will be at IBERS,

-Aberystwyth University...

-..to hear about the latest research

-into stock efficiency.

-I'm from an agricultural background.

-I understand the need

-for research and improvement.

-I have a warning

-for the rural community.

-Groups of criminals are targeting

-farmers offering good money...

-..to store products

-that look similar to silage bales.

-Having said that, it's not

-animal feed but illegal waste...

-..which could prove costly

-for the farmer and the environment.

-Solicitor Aled Owen has been dealing

-with some of the affected farmers.

-There are people out there

-trying to take advantage of farmers.

-If someone gets this material

-on their land...

-..they could be open to prosecution

-by Natural Resources Wales...

-..and possibly local government

-under planning law.

-What attracts the farmers to this?

-The farmers aren't attracted

-by the nature of the material.

-The material is totally illegal.

-They are attracted by the money.

-They are offered

-a generous contract.

-It guarantees

-a considerable monthly income...

-..especially in these hard times.

-As a result, they are drawn

-into an illegal situation...

-..often without their knowledge.

-There is a possibility

-of hiding this material...

-..within the agricultural community.

-At first glance, the material

-looks like some kind of haystack.

-Actually, it's illegal material

-that can rot, catch fire...

-..or cause liquid

-to seep out into the ground.

-It can cause problems,

-especially during the summer.

-It's wet now, but in the summer

-as the stacks become warmer...

-..they could ignite...

-..which could cause damage

-and affect many people.

-If a farmer is offered this kind of

-deal, what is your advice to them?

-Basically, say no.

-If they've already taken

-the material onto their land...

-..I'd advise them

-to speak with a solicitor...

-..or to their local

-union representative.

-They can even speak

-with the Environment Agency.

-Before Christmas...

-..Farming Connect held an open day

-in the Cothi Valley.

-The theme of the day was finding

-the best way of finishing lambs.

-Aberbranddu is a 850-acre farm

-in Cwrtycadno near Pumsaint.

-Irwel Jones farms here

-with his father, Eirwyn.

-They keep just over 1,000 sheep

-and 50 cattle.

-The land rises to 1,200 feet.

-Since September, in conjunction

-with Farming Connect...

-..they are conducting an experiment

-into five finishing systems...

-..in order to improve efficiency.

-The experiment has gone quite well.

-We have finished some lambs

-and left others.

-We are looking at the old

-traditional pasture that we have...

-..and new reseeded pasture.

-There's also a rape

-and Italian ryegrass mix...

-..and housed lambs

-fed with concentrates.

-Finally, we have lambs being fed

-concentrates out in the fields.

-We wanted to take a good look...

-..and work out the costs

-for each option.

-We could then decide what system

-is the best way of finishing lambs.

-We also sold some as store lambs.

-We wanted to get a base value.

-It could...

-Traditionally, farmers would want

-to finish all their lambs.

-It's something we are used to doing.

-It might be better for us to sell

-them on for someone else to finish.

-We can then use that pasture

-to improve our ewes and lambs.

-It will also save us money.

-We had a problem with the rape -

-it didn't work for us this year.

-We'll try it again next year...

-..because you can't take the results

-from just one year.

-That crop

-didn't fatten many lambs...

-..but on the whole,

-the other results were as expected.

-The new pasture performed best

-and was the cheapest.

-Housed lambs fed with cake

-performed best..

-..but that was

-the most expensive method.

-We came to the conclusion...

-..that using bought-in concentrates

-or cake...

-..is the option of last resort

-and that pasture is best.

-Farming Connect

-organized the event...

-..with the aim

-of helping farmers in the area.

-This is Irwel's first project...

-..as a demonstration farmer

-with Farming Connect.

-It's a new challenge

-for the family...

-..in addition to their

-everyday work on the farm.

-We're grateful to them.

-We'll also be discussing

-different crops today...

-..and the various ways of managing

-those crops for grazing and so on.

-Irwel is part of

-the Pumsaint discussion group.

-One focus for them is ensuring sheep

-have the correct nutrition...

-..at lambing time.

-As lambing season

-will soon be upon us...

-..we'll be discussing

-the importance of giving sheep...

-..the correct feed

-at the correct time...

-..to ensure their lambs

-get the best start in life.

-We have plenty of information today.

-Irwel has worked closely with

-sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings.

-With lambing season on the horizon,

-what is her advice?

-I think the main message for farmers

-is that this last year, 2016...

-..has been a difficult season.

-If we look at analyses for hay and

-silage, they are extremely variable.

-The first thing

-I would say to farmers...

-..is please

-get your forage analysed.

-Find out what your forage is worth.

-Maybe it's not as good

-as you thought.

-At least then

-you can get the right supplement.

-If it's better than you thought,

-you'll save yourself money.

-That's the first point.

-Get a diet based on the forage and

-use the forage as far as you can...

-..and keep the body condition

-on your ewes.

-The day has been comprehensive,

-but what do the farmers think?

-It's been a great day.

-It's a great opportunity

-for students...

-..to learn about various methods

-of finishing lambs.

-We've come to this beautiful area

-to learn about finishing lambs...

-..and how to be aware

-of the different associated costs.

-The clear responses we have been

-given today have been excellent.

-At the end of the day...

-..we discussed feeding the sheep,

-which we'll be doing now.

-That was very good.

-We knew that Irwel was using

-very little concentrate...

-..but that protein levels were high.

-We've been happy

-just to look into it in the past...

-..but now we're ready

-to put it into practice.

-The most important thing

-to take on board...

-..is that farmers should experiment

-on their own farms.

-The results on one farm...

-..won't necessarily be the same

-on another farm.

-Everyone should try and find out the

-best methods to use on their farm.

-It's been a very interesting day.

-The aim was to show the five

-different ways of finishing lambs...

-..selling store lambs

-and four other methods.

-It was very interesting.

-Fair play to Irwel

-for taking on the project.

-He has worked very hard.

-He has done the work and has all

-the information - figures, weights.

-I'm sure everyone

-has benefited from today.

-Farming Connect will hold

-the 2017 Wales Farmers' Forum...

-..on 2 February

-at the Hafod a Hendre building...

-..at the Royal Welsh Showground

-in Llanelwedd.

-For more information

-and to book a place...

-..visit the Farming Connect website.

-That's all for this part.

-After the break, Daloni visits

-cattle and sheep farmers...

-..in the Ceiriog Valley

-who have started a new venture.

-Don't go away!

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-Welcome back.

-A new year means

-a chance to make a fresh start.

-One family in the Ceiriog Valley

-is doing just that.

-Daloni has the story.

-Tuhwntirafon Farm

-near Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog...

-..is owned by Rheinallt

-and Liz Hughes...

-..and their children Caryl and Iwan.

-It's a 660 acre farm with

-1,200 sheep and 20 suckler cattle.

-I was born here and I'm the

-fourth generation to farm here.

-Our suckler cattle

-are Limousin crossed with Friesian.

-They take a Belgian Blue bull...

-..and we sell the calves

-at a year old in Oswestry or Ruthin.

-You have plenty of sheep.

-You have plenty of sheep.

-

-Mostly Welsh Mountain ewes.

-600 of them are exposed

-to Welsh Mountain rams...

-..with the rest given

-a Blue-faced ram.

-Unfortunately, this year...

-..there hasn't been much of a market

-for small Welsh Mountain lambs.

-It's a struggle

-to get even 50 for one.

-But the tourist season

-now lasts the whole year.

-Yes, we've diversified.

-We've turned the two outhouses

-into cottages.

-It's a long-term plan.

-We hope it helps the farm

-in the future.

-Caryl will be helping with that.

-Caryl has decided she wants to come

-home to help her father on the farm.

-Iwan is also 22 years old.

-He works two days a week on a farm

-in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant.

-Otherwise he's at home too.

-It's important

-for the youngsters to go out...

-..and experience

-what else is out there.

-We have to try and open the doors...

-..for these youngsters

-to make their way in the world.

-After studying Agriculture

-at Aberystwyth University...

-..Caryl was the first person

-to win the Llyndy-Isaf Scholarship.

-It's a National Trust Scholarship

-which awards the winner...

-..the chance to run a farm

-in Nant Gwynant for a year.

-Caryl has just agreed to become the

-tenant farmer of a 300 acre farm...

-..near her home

-for the next three years.

-She is looking forward

-to farming at Berllan Helyg.

-You're farming at home

-at the moment, Caryl.

-I've been back for about a year.

-Now I've joined the partnership

-and taking it more serious.

-As a partner, you've been able

-to take on a local tenancy.

-I had come home but, ultimately,

-the farm isn't big enough...

-..to support me,

-my brother and my parents.

-This was a chance for expansion.

-It was a chance to increase

-our land holding and find more work.

-Where are we, exactly?

-This is Berllan Helyg.

-It's four and a half miles

-from Tuhwntirafon...

-..down the Ceiriog Valley

-near Tregeiriog.

-It's a very similar farm

-to Tuhwntirafon.

-It's a 300 acre farm.

-You are the tenant farmer here

-since the new year.

-Yes, my name is on the tenancy

-papers for the next three years.

-What are your plans for the place?

-What are your plans for the place?

-

-I started by buying 500 ewes.

-Older ewes to start with,

-to build a flock at a lower price.

-Welsh Mountain ewes?

-Welsh Mountain ewes?

-

-Yes, purebred ones.

-They've been given

-a Blue-faced ram...

-..and we're looking

-to build a flock of Mules.

-We'll keep a percentage and sell

-the rest along with the ram lambs.

-You have the support

-of your parents.

-Without them, I couldn't do it.

-The start-up costs of buying those

-500 ewes and monthly rent is huge.

-It's a huge outlay

-in the first year...

-..without a great return initially.

-You've been to New Zealand and

-Norway. Where else have you been?

-I spent a year at Llyndy-Isaf,

-Nant Gwynant, of course.

-It was a great experience,

-if quite similar.

-It was really useful learning

-how to run a farm all on my own.

-I started the scholarship unsure

-whether I wanted to be a farmer.

-I was also thinking about

-other options within agriculture.

-After spending a year doing that,

-I decided that full-time farming...

-..was the future for me

-and that I wanted to come home.

-Are these your new sheep?

-Yes, 500 of them.

-We're checking them all out now.

-They are all older ewes.

-We want to give them all a chance.

-Some of the smaller ones are older.

-They get put to one side

-so we can give them a bit more feed.

-We have to make sure they are in

-good condition at this time of year.

-You're getting to know them.

-This is the second time we've

-brought them in since buying them.

-We're taking a look at them

-after a period on some rich pasture.

-We'll be scanning them

-in about a month's time.

-We want to check

-they are in good order...

-..by checking their teeth

-and their feet.

-Does Rheinallt do as he is told?

-He's not bad.

-He does listen.

-Mum has taught him well to listen

-and I've taken her place now.

-She's pleased, Rheinallt.

-With so many changes afoot

-in the agricultural world...

-..are Caryl and Rheinallt

-confident about the future?

-This chance has come

-at a good time for Caryl.

-Yes. You have to grab it

-because such chances are rare.

-Farms of this size in this area

-don't become available very often.

-It's crucial that young people

-like Caryl and Iwan...

-..are given the opportunity

-to farm the land on these hills.

-We want them here to keep

-Wales looking like this...

-..for the foreseeable future.

-Are you ready for the

-challenges of the future, Caryl?

-I like to wake up in the morning

-with a challenge ahead of me.

-This is quite a challenge to start

-with. I hope I cope with it.

-I'm sure I will, with some support.

-It is a challenge, but a good one,

-and a great opportunity.

-Research has always been

-a crucial part of agriculture.

-It's crucial for moving

-your business forward...

-..helping to streamline and improve

-farming techniques effectively.

-Alun has been

-to Aberystwyth University...

-..to see the recent developments.

-Here at the Institute of Biological,

-Environmental and Rural Sciences...

-..research is being done

-in partnership with YFC Wales...

-..to learn more about rumen fluke.

-It's a parasite

-that affects cattle and sheep.

-The man leading the study

-is Rhys Jones...

-..a postgraduate student

-at the university.

-I've been in Aberystwyth since 2010.

-I did my degree

-in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.

-I then did my masters degree.

-As part of those courses,

-I'd always enjoyed research.

-As I was finishing my masters...

-..the chance came

-to study this new field.

-Rumen fluke was becoming noteworthy.

-It was a project I thought I'd enjoy

-that might benefit Welsh farmers.

-Tell us about your research process.

-Firstly, the important element

-in rumen fluke's life cycle...

-..and in the life cycle

-of liver fluke is the mud snail.

-This is the fluke's vector

-on the field.

-They're found in wet areas.

-That's why these parasites

-are connected to wet areas and rain.

-They're very small snails.

-They are less than one centimetre

-in length.

-The eggs hatch

-and infect the snails.

-Within six weeks...

-..one fluke can increase its numbers

-by 500 times in the snail.

-That's what makes this parasite

-such a problem.

-It's very effective for developing

-and increasing their numbers.

-These are the adult parasites.

-The pink ones are rumen fluke.

-These infect the rumen,

-as the name suggests.

-They can pupate

-thousands of larvae every day.

-Again, they're very good

-at reproducing.

-You've got an example here of what

-the farmer adds to the process.

-Yes, these parasites lay eggs.

-They are spread on the fields

-by faeces.

-This is the only way to test

-for rumen fluke in animals.

-According to Rhys Jones...

-..of the farmers

-who contributed to the study...

-..only half

-had even heard of the disease.

-When the veterinary results

-were returned...

-..61% of the stock tested

-were infected.

-Rhys' tutor is Dr Hefin Williams.

-The story of this parasite

-is one of movement.

-It's been around in France

-for around 20 years.

-They are aware of it in both the

-Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.

-They are increasing their efforts

-into research of the parasite.

-In a way, this project is a part

-of increasing awareness...

-..and the need, in terms of the

-results, to move on in Wales...

-..and the rest of the UK.

-Is there any information

-coming out...

-..about the possible economic

-effects on animals for the farmer?

-Yes, a study has been published

-in the last year.

-It shows that there's an effect

-on the growth of bullocks...

-..in terms of the final weight

-the bullocks reach...

-..and the fat they put on.

-In terms of a comparison to control

-groups clear of rumen fluke...

-..there was a significant

-difference between them.

-Research is at its best

-when it has a practical purpose.

-Dafydd Besent from Penmaen Isa Farm

-in Pennal near Machynlleth...

-..has contributed information

-to this research.

-I'm heading to see him next.

-Were you aware

-of this particular disease already?

-No, not really.

-I'd heard mention of it in passing.

-I didn't think it was a problem.

-What did you have to do practically

-in terms of offering information?

-I had to take faecal samples

-from the cattle.

-I don't remember exactly how many,

-but I think it was about 12 cattle.

-Only cattle or did you do sheep too?

-Only cattle or did you do sheep too?

-

-I did both, yes.

-Did the result surprise you?

-Yes.

-There was a bit of rumen fluke

-in all of them.

-I'm not sure

-if it was a problem or not.

-It didn't show on the animals.

-Well, as far as you know.

-What instructions did you get then?

-What could you do, practically?

-Because we have dairy cattle...

-.oxyclozanide

-is the easiest to use.

-The withdrawal is less.

-I used that

-because it treats it well.

-I'm from an agricultural background.

-I understand the need for research

-and the need for us to improve.

-As a scientist at IBERS, I have a

-chance to help and do the research.

-I hope that a lot of farmers will be

-glad to see the results we've found.

-That's it for this week.

-We'll be back

-at the same time next week.

-Until then, thanks for your company.

-Goodbye.

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