The Caernarfonshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has (Friday October 10) welcomed visitors including Conwy MP Guto Bebb at Llechwedd Hafod farm, Cwm Penmachno to discuss the current price crisis for lamb sales and to see various elements of the Glastir scheme.
The day was hosted by FUW Caernarfonshire chairman Dafydd Gwyndaf and his wife Anwen and delegates enjoyed the opportunity to see the land and stock.
The current low prices for agricultural produce were discussed with Conwy MP Guto Bebb and Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Industry Information Executive John Richards.
“We’ve had a very useful discussion with Guto Bebb and John Richards with regard to the prices we’re getting for our lambs. There is no doubt that Westminster could do much more to assist the industry.
“We’ve asked our local MP to lobby harder for a better share of our levys to be given to HCC. If HCC were given the levy for all lambs produced in Wales, including those slaughtered in abbatoirs elsewhere in the UK, they would have much more money to spend on promoting our produce which should result in getting higher prices for us,”said Mr Gwyndaf.
“It was also good to discuss the rules of the Glastir Scheme and its record keeping requirements with Emyr Wyn Davies from FWAG Wales. Emyr highlighted many important issues with regard to the complexity of the scheme, and the most common pitfalls that lead to so many farmers being penalised,” said FUW Caernarfonshire county executive officer Gwynedd Watkin.
Llechwedd Hafod is situated approximately seven miles south of Betws y Coed. The family farm extends to just over 550 hectares of which approximately 440 hectares of mountain land and 20 hectares are kept annually for silage making.
Dafydd is the third generation farming at Llechwedd Hafod which he owns, and Blaen Cwm is rented in from a private owner. A further 25 acres are rented in annually at Bryn Elian at the bottom of the Conwy Valley, and 100 ewes are away wintered in Whitford, Flintshire due to having to remove livestock from the uplands over the winter months as a condition of the agri-environment scheme.
“We breed our own stock here on farm and keep 950 ewes in two separate flocks. 400 at Llechwedd Hafod and 550 at Blaen Cwm, with 125 and 150 ewe lambs respectively kept annually. Most of our ewes are put to Welsh Mountain rams with around 200 put to a Cheviot ram and another 200 cross Cheviot ewes put to a Blue Faced Leicester Ram,” said Mr Gwyndaf.
“Lambing starts around the 20th of March for us and we sell lambs fat off the holding at Llanrwst livestock Market. The Mules are sold as breeding animals either at six months old or as shearlings. Older ewes are sold off as draft ewes at around five years old. The prices we currently get don’t even cover the cost of producing fat lambs, and that is why it’s so important that HCC is given all the levy paid on lambs produced in Wales,” added Mr Gwyndaf.
The family also keep a herd of 17 Welsh Black Pedigree Cattle which they will be increasing to over 30 within the next two years, all being put to Welsh Black bulls. All steers are sold privately at around 18 months as stores and are eventually sold to Pointons, a local butcher in Colwyn Bay. Most heifers are either kept or sold as breeding animals. Any heifers that are unsuitable for breeding are sold in Llanrwst livestock market as finished animals with other local butchers being the usual buyers.
“Llechwedd Hafod has been able to take advantage of agri-environment schemes over the years, and the family see farming and conservation going hand in hand. The farm was part of the Tir Gofal Scheme until the end of last year, and then joined the Glastir Scheme from January 1, 2014,” said Mr Watkin.
“The farm has been fortunate in being chosen for the Glastir Advanced Scheme which will run from January 1 next year. The family have also taken advantage of other agri-environment schemes including those run by the Snowdonia National Park with capital grants secured for rebuilding many metres of stone walls and slate pillar boundaries,” added Mr Watkin.
Dafydd is a member of the Welsh Black Cattle Society and has a keen interest in the traditional Welsh Working Sheep Dog breed, and is the current chairman of the society.
Mr Gwyndaf is very active within the local community. The local sheep dog trials are held on the land annually, he is the current chairman of the local Community Council and has been for many years, and is also the chairman of the editorial committee of the local paper ‘Yr Odyn’.
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FUW Caernarfonshire chairman Dafydd Gwyndaf welcoming visitors to Llechwedd Hafod.[/caption]
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Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Industry Information Executive John Richards giving an update on the current prices for lamb and beef.[/caption]
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FWAG Cymru’s Emyr Wyn Davies pointing out various features entered into the Glastir Scheme[/caption]