Hefin Jones works as a Welsh language translator, and his voice is probably familiar to many. Back at home, he has taken the reins at Y Wern farm. Barry Alston reports.
Ever been to an agricultural event in Wales with the proceedings, or some of the speakers, delivering their message in Welsh?
For English-speaking participants, the only option is to make use of the translation facilities - and there is a good chance the voice on the other end of the earphones will be fourth generation Carmarthenshire farmer, Hefin Jones.
Such is the demand for his professional services that his role as a translator and facilitator can take him off-farm for up to three days a week.
But he is just as busy at home, moulding together a quality beef producing unit on what once was a dairy holding.
He was born and bred at Y Wern, the family farm on the periphery of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, near Llanarthne, and farms in partnership with his father, Vernon, and his mother, Elsbeth, a retired secondary school deputy head teacher.
His father had been farming the 32-hectare (80-acre) holding with his uncle, but when that partnership ended a new agreement was formed between Hefin and his parents.
They now farm 40ha (100 acres) of owned and rented ground.
Hefin, 37, says: "When I was considering my career options in my teens, it was obvious that the farm was not big enough to support three incomes.
"So my parents told me to go off and see what I could do, but that if I wanted to come back to farm one day, I could.
"I respect them for sticking to that promise."
Choice
After leaving school he went on to study Welsh and history at Swansea University, before working as a translator for the local authority and an EU-funded project.
That led to him becoming a development officer for a community organisation, alongside working on farms and for agricultural contractors until 10 years ago.
Finding there were opportunities as a freelance translator, he took the plunge to become self-employed and with it the flexibility needed for returning to the family farm.
While his ambition had always been to farm, Hefin was very clear in his mind that it would not be as a dairy farmer. When his father's health declined, it meant the 80-cow British Friesian herd was sold, along with the beef cattle that had been kept to manage grazing.
"Realistically the farm had gone through a period of stagnation due to my father's health and the process of winding up the previous partnership," Hefin says.
"The remaining acreage also meant it was not large enough to support two families as a dairy holding without huge investment."
Milking cows twice a day would have also meant giving up his off-farm activities and losing a vital source of additional income.
With the help of a Young Entrants Support Scheme grant and a Welsh Government-funded Farming Connect business plan, it was decided to establish a suckler beef system.
Starting again
"My route into farming was not a simple matter of coming home to take over from a retiring older generation," he says.
"I did not see myself as a newcomer to farming because I wasn't, but neither was I taking on a going concern. It was a skeleton farm.
"It meant starting from a position of heavy borrowing to secure a home and half the poorly fenced land.
"The basic infrastructure needed much repair. There was no inherited livestock and no inherited machinery or equipment.
"But as an aspiring young farmer I counted my blessings for having access to a farm and I have nothing but respect and admiration for those people who have built up their farming enterprises from the bottom and reached the heights.
They certainly are out there for us to learn from."
Hefin's first purchase was a tractor and a loader. Then he cashed in an ISA and bought 11 Welsh Black yearlings from Glamorgan breeder Sue Williams, along with a Welsh Black bull from a neighbour.
"I had always had it in mind that I would keep a herd of native breed cattle but there was one major problem - the fields needed fencing and reseeding" he says.
"It was largely a case of fencing one field and while that was being grazed, fencing the next one.
"But I was grateful to have a farm. A lot of my friends would have given their right hand for that opportunity."
Breeding
Making use of the Wales-based Glastir farm development scheme provided further opportunities for carrying out fencing and hedging work, and by improving the grassland, Hefin increased the stocking rate with less reliance on bought-in feed.
"We are concentrating on producing everything off grass, and spending money on lime, seed and the plough rather than a bag of feed," he says.
Care is being taken to protect grass leys from poaching by not extending the grazing season beyond what is reasonable for the farm's mix of silty, clay and loam soils. Not reaching the prices expected for the pure Welsh Black cattle when sold as stores in the local market and listening to the advice of buyers has led to a partial switch in breeding policy.
"Finishers want faster growing cattle in this part of the world, but because we sell in groups of three or four, it is cost prohibitive for us to transport them further afield," says Hefin.
To that end, a Charolais bull was purchased and the crossbred calves have been commanding good returns as 10 to 15-month-old stores, although he continues to use a Welsh Black bull on heifers for the first two calvings.
Looking at the possibilities for post-Brexit farming, a pair of Charolais cross heifers from the milkiest cow lines have been retained and put to a Hereford bull as a trial.
"I am conscious we may find beef coming into this country from all over the place. When that happens, the race to get cattle growing very quickly is not one I want to enter," he says.
After talking with local butchers, he is aiming to provide grass-fed bullocks for finishing at 26 months.
One avenue he is not considering is a flock of sheep, although tack sheep do graze the ground during winter months.
The past couple of years has also seen him taking part in another off-farm activity as a member of NFU Cymru's Next Generation Group, which he believes can help make a difference within the industry.
"Made up of young people from different farm types and systems across Wales, with many having careers and interests outside agriculture, we have the opportunity to take expert advice, cascade the information down and meet people who occupy the corridors of power," he says.
"The current average age of farmers is going up and there are the increasing attacks on the industry by environmentalists and vegans we have to contend with.
"When I applied to join the group, I asked myself whether I was going to be one of those farmers who regularly complained in the mart about the state of the industry but not prepared to put a shoulder to the wheel to do something about it?
"At 37, I am one of the group's oldest members, but I have never been shy with my opinions, as my friends tell me.
"I only hope the Welsh Government and other policymakers acknowledge the expertise and information we can provide, as it is the younger generation that will have to deal with the consequences of their decisions on a
day-to-day basis."
As for his own farming system, there are no plans to expand in the short term.
Together with his hairdresser and beauty therapist wife, Rhian, he says they are happy with their lot.
"The farm is making a positive contribution to our income and I do not see the need to grab land here, there and everywhere," he says.
"I would rather improve what we are doing to increase productivity rather than expand."
He readily acknowledges that getting the farm to where it is now has partly been down to the support of family, friends and neighbours.
"In my role as a translator, I attend functions ranging from public conferences and private business meetings to
YFC events, but first and foremost I am a farmer, and proud to be one," he says.
Farm facts
- Works as a Welsh language translator
- Y Wern farm extends to 40ha (100 acres) running about 30 cows and calves, all Welsh Black, Charolais and Hereford crosses
- Sells to local butchers
- Member of NFU Cymru's Next Generation Group
