We felt a bit nosy and wanted to find out what our young farmers are up to at the moment - so recently we caught up with Beca Glyn from Betws y Coed. Find out what she’s been up to in our Spotlight on Young Farmers column!
Who is Beca?
Beca Glyn, 23, graduated from Aberystwyth University in (BSC) Agriculture and Business and now works on the 350 acre National Trust family beef and sheep farm in Snowdonia National Park at Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws y Coed.
Beca started her flock of Hampshire Down Sheep separate to her father, Glyn Roberts, 6 years ago when she had two Hampshire Down ewes for Christmas.
She now runs a flock of 15 pure Hampshire Down sheep, 20 New Zealand Tomney ewes and 20 high EBV Welsh Mountain lambs. As well as sheep, Beca keeps two kune kune sows, which are called Morfydd and Matilda. She also enjoys working with her sheepdog Mona.
Winter:
With the nights drawing in, it was time to bring the cattle in over the winter. On the sheep side it was an early start to the mountain to gather the sheep from Cynefin, which is the sheep's exclusive part of the open mountain.
With rams due to be turned out to the ewes in the next few weeks it's been a busy week - I body condition scored all ewes and rams, sorting them all to different groups, preparing and making all the health checks necessary ready for tupping. At last the ewes and ewe lambs are ready to go to tack over winter.
Over in the cattle shed early one morning we had new arrivals of twin calves. At the end of the week I have been putting my University experiences into action by helping to prepare an application form for a sustainable production grant - hopefully it will be successful.
Social:
It was our YFC county Eisteddfod last Saturday and most evenings in the past 2 weeks I have been in the local Ysbyty Ifan hall rehearsing short drama and of course my part was a farm house wife!
Brexit:
Because I am so passionate about farming I hope the financial aspect of agriculture will sustain a viable future for me. But I am concerned about the seismic change that has happened with Brexit. In my mind it is vital to keep family farms alive because of the valuable contributions they make to animal welfare, landscape management and culture; especially the Welsh language in Wales. One of my biggest challenges will be, given historically we exported 30% of Welsh lambs to Europe, to have a trade deal with EU post-Brexit and a market for our produce.
Another challenge is global warming - I am adamant the agricultural industry is not the problem but it has the answer to the problem. We must focus on opportunities which exist and build on them and I think we should always focus on a half full cup rather than a half empty one.
Future:
My plan for the future is to run the family farm and stay in my area. To be able to do this I may have to think about diversification depending on what the future holds for the agriculture industry. I am determined to live in Cwm Eidda were our culture and language are an important aspect of life.
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Beca's kune kune sows, Morfydd and Matilda[/caption]