Mon, 27 Feb 2017 Ffermio

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-I'm sure we're all assessing

-our businesses...

-..trying to find

-sustainable income for the future.

-In tonight's programme, we meet

-two families who've done so...

-..in very different ways.

-Also tonight, we visit one farm...

-..where some buildings

-are used as a children's nursery.

-I've wanted to open a nursery

-since I was a young girl.

-We looked at what we could change on

-the farm to incorporate a nursery.

-We'll also report from the annual

-NFU conference in Birmingham.

-The O'Neill report,

-published last year...

-..covered the over-reliance

-on antibiotic drugs...

-..in the NHS and in agriculture.

-The government has taken steps

-to lower the use in agriculture.

-This week,

-Alun spoke to one farmer...

-..who's implementing

-the changes right now.

-Plas Llandegfan, Anglesey,

-is the home of Arwyn Jones.

-He farms 900 acres

-in partnership with his mother.

-They keep over 1,000 cross Suffolk

-ewes and 300 mule ewes.

-They are currently

-in the middle of lambing.

-Most have them have come in...

-..since the end of November

-and December.

-We get them in early

-to let the grass grow for them.

-That saves us

-buying feed for them.

-You see yourself

-as a pasture farmer.

-Oh, yes, yes.

-There's no doubt about that.

-Last year, we left the sheep out

-a little bit longer...

-..only a fortnight longer...

-..and I wouldn't say

-it was a bad season...

-..but we turned out a tonne and

-a half of feed daily in the fields.

-This year,

-it's no more than two bags a day.

-It's ultimately a huge saving.

-It shows how the weather

-influences any season.

-Oh, yes. This year,

-the weather's been fantastic.

-There's only been a handful

-of rainy days in the past month.

-It's been a great help.

-The sheep and lambs are out and

-there's no need to worry about them.

-This year, Arwyn is working closely

-with Farming Connect...

-..to reduce

-the use of antibiotics...

-..and encourage

-more responsible use of medication.

-Blood samples are taken to test

-the level of immunoglobulin...

-..which gives an indication

-of the quality of colostrum.

-Sheep are weighed,

-from birth to the abattoir...

-..to monitor the rate of growth.

-Farming Connect have visited

-the farm for the past year.

-They went through everything

-with us.

-We assessed the business...

-..and realised we were spending

-a lot on doses.

-We looked at the antibiotics...

-..and I know I spend a lot more

-per sheep than the average.

-We checked to see

-where the money was being spent.

-Have you received the results?

-Oh, yes.

-We always test silage -

-we took a ration off the silage.

-We use 19% nuggets.

-We test the silage to check

-how much nuggets we use.

-That's what we've done every year.

-This year, we metabolically profiled

-the sheep...

-..by testing their blood

-for energy levels.

-I thought everything was fine.

-The first results showed

-we were deficient by three joules.

-We increased the feed 125 grams...

-Per sheep?

-Per sheep?

-

-Per sheep.

-Having done so,

-we tested again after lambing...

-..and tested the colostrum and

-found that it had made a difference.

-This project

-is something I can do every year.

-I can take a sample

-from every batch.

-You're already seeing

-positive results.

-Definitely.

-We had one batch

-right at the beginning...

-..and we didn't

-give them antibiotics.

-We tested those lambs and

-the colostrum level was very high...

-..and the antibody levels were high.

-That gives me confidence

-in the system.

-Working side by side with that

-system, on the technical side...

-..hygiene is very important for you

-and you adhere to it fully.

-I'm thinking of taking

-someone on part time.

-We clean out every single pen...

-..and lime the empty pens.

-Paying a wage to that person,

-I know it's a cost...

-..but if we can make savings

-on the lambs and the antibiotics...

-..it pays for itself.

-This year, we started cleaning out

-the sheep sheds every fortnight.

-One batch lasts for a fortnight.

-When one batch has been lambed,

-we clean out before the next.

-Today, vet Kate Hovers

-continues to test the herd...

-..and Gethin Davies from

-Farming Connect is also visiting...

-..with an update on the project.

-We're all aware of the risks

-of antibiotic resistance.

-I'm not in general practice anymore.

-I do some consultancy work.

-I work in the lab in Aberystwyth,

-the Wales Veterinary Science Centre.

-From that side, we see

-when animals have died of disease...

-..and we'll send samples away

-to find out what bacteria.

-We'll see resistance

-to antibiotics there...

-..as well as in the human medicine.

-We need to control

-antibiotic use for animals.

-Antibiotics are very useful

-to treat disease when we need to...

-..but the right antibiotic at

-the right amount at the right time.

-So Gethin,

-what inspired this project?

-Did it come from the farmers

-or was it something you suggested?

-Arwyn was concerned they were

-using too much antibiotics.

-It's a timely subject, there's been

-a lot of speculation about it.

-There are reports

-in the newspapers almost daily...

-..about antibiotic use

-in agriculture.

-At the moment,

-I think the sheep sector...

-..is being reflected

-rather favourably.

-It's not been given the same

-attention as other sectors...

-..but it's encouraging

-to see Welsh farmers showing...

-..that they are at the forefront

-and being proactive....

-..in dealing with the problem.

-They are actively trying

-to decrease the use.

-It seems that the colostrum

-is doing the work of the antibiotic.

-At times, there's no need

-to use the antibiotic.

-It's important to look after

-the welfare of the lamb initially...

-..with enough

-high quality colostrum.

-Hopefully, that decreases

-the need to use antibiotics.

-Is this process expensive?

-Would it deter some farmers

-from using it?

-I wouldn't say it was expensive.

-We test the metabolic profile

-of the sheep.

-That costs 120 for 20 sheep.

-We choose a cross-section

-of sheep...

-..single lambs, single sheep, twins

-and sheep carrying three lambs.

-I'm sure anyone would agree,

-with the number of sheep he has...

-..it makes perfect economic sense.

-Ultimately, we're trying to improve

-the efficiency of Arwyn's business.

-We're reducing his vet bills...

-..and improving the efficiency

-of his herd at the same time.

-A win-win situation.

-Farming Connect have organised

-many events.

-For more information, visit their

-website or contact them by phone.

-That's all for now.

-In Part 2, Meinir meets a family

-of farmers from Carmarthenshire...

-..who've adapted old farm buildings

-in a rather unusual way.

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-Welcome back.

-Many farms have been forced

-to diversify...

-..to increase the farm's income.

-Meinir has visited one successful

-venture in the Tywi valley.

-Here's the story.

-Gareth and Ann Davies keep sheep

-and 120 Holstein dairy cows...

-..at the family farm

-in Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire.

-They've adapted an old barn

-into a nursery for young children.

-Daughter Gwenllian

-has the responsibility...

-..of looking after the children.

-I've wanted to open a nursery

-since I was a young girl.

-I'd looked at different locations

-in the area.

-We looked at what

-we could adapt on the farm...

-..to allow us to have

-a nursery close to home.

-We wanted to make the farm

-part of the nursery.

-Where do the children come from?

-They come from across

-the whole area.

-Some come from Cross Hands

-and the Gwendraeth valley.

-Some come from Llandeilo,

-we have one family from Ammanford.

-Most choose us

-because of the farm...

-..and the option

-of spending time outside.

-If that means an extra 10 minutes

-on the daily commute, they'll do it.

-What outdoor activities

-do you organise for the children?

-We're outside at least twice a day.

-In the morning,

-we go for a walk down the lane.

-We're here, out the back,

-every afternoon.

-We have bikes,

-a mud kitchen, sand...

-..vegetables, fruit and trees.

-It all depends on the seasons

-and the weather conditions.

-The activities change

-from week to week.

-We visit the farm buildings

-during lambing and to see the cows.

-Dad also brings the animals

-up to the nursery...

-..and also leaves them

-in the nearby fields...

-..so that the children can see them.

-Most of the staff are local.

-How many do you employ?

-We have a team of 10 staff.

-We all speak Welsh and that helps

-the children learn Welsh.

-Gwenllian's sisters have left home.

-Cerys works as a dentist

-and Sian is a psychologist.

-This unique development has allowed

-Gwenllian to stay close to home...

-..on the family farm.

-How great was the decision

-to do something like this?

-It's a big decision

-and a major investment.

-From our point of view,

-for the farm's business...

-..and also for Gareth's mother.

-If she hadn't been happy

-with all the cars arriving daily...

-..and all this new life on the farm,

-we would have stopped it then.

-She was more than happy

-to allow us to adapt the building...

-..and give Gwenllian the opportunity

-to establish a business...

-..and help her develop her business

-within the community.

-One of Gwenllian's strengths

-is her experience in this field.

-She's only 23 years old...

-..and we started the business

-when she was 20 years old.

-She did her A Levels

-with this in mind.

-She completed her business plan

-as part of her business course.

-She worked in nurseries in Cardiff,

-St Clears and Trinity College.

-She also worked as an au pair

-in Italy for three months.

-For you, it meant restructuring

-the business, Gareth.

-We didn't have any plans

-for that building...

-..so that worked out for us.

-She also wanted some of the field

-as a children's playground.

-You had to find another field

-for lambing though!

-Yes, but we wanted to help her

-start the business.

-It's worked out for us.

-This field pays more raising

-children than it does rearing sheep!

-Oh, yes, it does. A lot more.

-You have to try new things.

-Yes, with farming as it is,

-and the milk price as it is.

-It's starting to rise right now

-but it might start dropping again.

-We just keep going.

-How difficult is it for Gwenllian to

-develop a business in rural Wales?

-There are grants -

-we received a grant.

-For us, the grant wasn't

-a job creation grant...

-..it was

-a building redevelopment grant.

-That was a lot of help for us.

-It covered one-third of the cost

-of renovating the building.

-In terms of business creation...

-..you must do what you enjoy doing.

-For Gwenllian, it was childcare.

-You just have to go for it.

-I've always told my daughters

-there's no shame in failing.

-The only shame is in not trying.

-The nursery is popular with families

-from the locality and beyond.

-I looked at the location

-and decided right away.

-That fact that it's on farmland...

-..it was something

-I wanted Mared to experience.

-I had to return to full-time work.

-I was eager for her to have

-experience of being on a farm.

-The staff were eager for her

-to have experiences on the farm.

-I was happy for her to come here.

-I didn't think twice

-about sending her to this nursery.

-You're full at the moment.

-Are there any plans to expand?

-Yes, we're full at the moment.

-Parents are reserving places

-for September and next January.

-There are no immediate plans

-to expand the business.

-We're glad it's successful

-and booked up.

-We know all the children

-and their families.

-That's important to me.

-I'm worried if we expand,

-we might lose that strong bond...

-..with the parents.

-As a young woman, what's been

-the biggest challenge for you...

-..starting a new business?

-To be honest, probably

-the financial side of the business.

-I'm very fortunate

-to have Mam and Dad.

-They helped me

-establish the business...

-..and invested money

-to renovate the building.

-I think we were fortunate

-to receive the grant.

-The grant to help start a business

-in a rural area was important to us.

-Without it, I don't think we could

-have started in the first place.

-It's helped keep me in Llanarthney.

-I'm glad Mam and Dad

-allowed me to do this.

-I think the children

-should have the final word.

-What do you think of Cwtsh y Clos?

-Enjoy!

-Last week, the NFU's annual

-conference was held in Birmingham.

-Here's what happened.

-Over 1,000 members

-visited the two-day conference.

-It was a chance

-to listen to industry leaders.

-The theme was

-Brexit: Ingredients For Success.

-A strong representation

-travelled from Wales.

-We have many members here today.

-We have what we call

-the next generation group here...

-..a group of young farmers.

-We enjoy showing them

-what we do as an union.

-It's important for us, as Welsh

-farmers, to discuss Welsh topics.

-We're devolved in Cardiff.

-To be fair, the Assembly Minister,

-Lesley Griffiths, was here with us.

-The three most important people

-in government for farmers...

-..were also present.

-Brexit will be a challenge for us,

-especially for the market.

-The market is important for us

-in Wales, for red meat especially.

-We need some guarantees

-in terms of where we should invest.

-We're moving on,

-there's no time to hang around.

-A lot of farmers want to invest.

-It's important to have assurances

-to help them decide their future.

-There were sessions

-on every aspect of agriculture.

-Sian Davies spoke about the future

-of the dairy industry.

-She's the NFU's chief dairy advisor.

-It's been an interesting year.

-The last two years have been

-challenging for dairy farmers...

-..in Wales and England.

-The milk price

-was the major talking point.

-I asked the audience

-if they would be content...

-..to accept a contract that would

-give a fixed price for a year...

-..for a level of milk production

-for that year.

-We debated

-what that price should be.

-I think everyone wants as high

-a price as they can possibly get...

-..but the industry

-is part of a global industry...

-..and the price must be competitive.

-Ultimately,

-we need to improve the contract.

-Farmers must understand what's fair

-and not fair about the contract.

-Today, we launched a new service,

-the NFU Contract Checking Service.

-Some milk companies have a good

-relationship with their farmers...

-..but there are problems

-in some areas.

-We must improve the dairy contract

-for everyone.

-We're calling on the government

-to create a level...

-..where every farmer

-has a fair contract.

-If you want to improve the contract,

-that's fine...

-..but there should be no reduction

-in that contract.

-With Brexit negotiations

-on everyone's mind...

-..George Eustice, the government's

-agriculture minister...

-..and Lesley Griffiths, the

-Assembly's rural affairs minister...

-..discussed a future

-outside the European Union.

-We made it clear, as a government...

-..that we need free and unfettered

-access to the single market.

-Theresa May has said that the

-chances of that are pretty remote.

-It's of great concern to us.

-It's a battle we will keep fighting.

-It's a massive issue and really

-important we have that market.

-Andrea Leadsom was questioned

-about transitional arrangements.

-She said the deal would be so good

-we wouldn't need those.

-We will need those arrangements.

-Trade agreements take many years

-to put together.

-It's vital that we protect farming

-in that way.

-Welsh agriculture

-is a vital industry.

-The message I've given

-Andrea Leadsom and George Eustice...

-..is that we need to support

-our agriculture sector.

-One of the main issues is finance.

-After 2020, there's a black hole.

-We have a guarantee up to 2020.

-After 2020, we don't know

-what that funding will look like.

-I cannot envisage a time

-when agriculture won't need support.

-It's vital

-we get clarity around finance.

-What did the members think about

-the conference and the debates?

-I think Lesley has concerns about

-free entry into the single market.

-I don't think, in her mind,

-we'll have what we want there.

-George Eustice, on the other hand...

-..believes we'll get it

-and he's positive...

-..that at the end of the 18-month

-or two-year period...

-..we'll have a good agreement.

-I can't see that somehow.

-There are more questions

-than answers.

-To some extent,

-that's understandable.

-For an industry like this...

-..which must plan

-for the long term...

-..and in our sector, where we

-lend money to the industry...

-..over long periods,

-guarantees are very important.

-We're waiting for more answers.

-I came with a lot of questions,

-I'm going away with a lot more.

-There are so many unknowns.

-We've had a few reassurances,

-if you can take them at face value.

-It would appear that our farming

-ministers are ready to back us.

-It is just really about them

-starting to work together.

-I hope they are not going to go into

-committee-style decision making.

-I hope they're going to set out with

-an end goal and achieve something.

-Otherwise,

-we're going to be delayed.

-It was nice to hear Lesley Griffiths

-talking openly to everyone.

-She says we deserve

-the same voice as England.

-Welsh farming

-should be acknowledged...

-..not just the red tractor,

-but the Welsh dragon brand too.

-She said she wanted to see the money

-going directly to Wales.

-One thing that did disappoint me...

-..about the debate between George

-Eustice and Lesley Griffiths...

-..I was adamant that I

-didn't want to see agriculture...

-..used as a bargaining tool.

-It wouldn't be fair.

-I didn't hear enough of a guarantee

-that it wouldn't happen.

-We need that.

-That's all for this week.

-Thanks for joining us.

-I'll see you again next week.

-Goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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