Our Old Dog Moss

Farmers always seem to 'collect' dogs, and we certainly have an assortment. This is a picture of our old sheep dog Moss.He is in his 15th year, and I have had him since a puppy. Philip trained him when he was Two and a half and ever since then he has been with Philip a faithful companion. he has had some hard times having ate something poisonous several years ago and having to have a major operation, where he died on the table and they resuscitated him, and more recently, well only four weeks ago having a large growth removed from just behind his right ear. When he had had enough of being a sheepdog,(well he still sometimes liked to potter) he was fortunate enough to retire as a butchers dog! and sat on the doorstep of our butchers shop at Nantleach where Philip worked a lot of the time. After his operation he was demoted to Kitchen dog and spends all of his time again with me. he is totally deaf, but responds well to sign language however this sometimes means running up the road to get in front of him so he can actually see you!

Then there is Pip. Daughter of Moss and born on Philip's birthday hence the name Pip. a totally useless sheepdog. Oh she can do it but she clocks on and off, she will only work if she feels like it.

Lady our rescue Spaniel about 12. Very happy - aren't all Spaniels loves hunting and putting things up but is totally gun shy, much to Philips disappointment. But she is a happy dog her tail wagging all the time, is still frightened of any strangers, but just happy to be with any of us.

Saffy Layton, our lovable hound dog is back from the hunt season. and it's like she never left. She is just like a naughty child. After a visit from a consultant last week he started in his car up the hill, then half way up began to reverse back down. he got out and said to Philip " I think i have something of yours here" and in the back Saffy Layton had jumped in and was sitting in the middle back seat looking around as if to say Ok where are we going, this looks like a good adventure. If he hadn't looked in his rear view mirror she could have gone all the way to Builth Wells with him!

Then there is our new sheep dog Turk 2 1/2 and Philip is now training him seeing as Moss is retired, he very rough around the edge but a big dog and hopefully he will come on to be a good sheep dog.

So a menagerie of dogs but great fun and what makes country life all worth it - apart from the dog food bill at the end of the month!

Conference in Wales

I have had a phone call asking me to speak at a conference in Aberystwyth on April 24th. This is a conference aimed at Women in Farming, organised by Farming Connect,and they hope I can be an 'inspirational speaker', also adding that no doubt I will speak off the cuff! ( I don't know what they mean......).
I can only say I will do my best

Kitchen Infirmary!

This is Basil, who currently resides in my kitchen. One of a pair of twins, who appeared Ok with his mum and left the lambing sheds after 24 hours. Philip picked him up off the field on Thursday, cold wet and shivering, we didn't think he would make it. His breathing was very laboured, and he was wheezing. However he drank a bottle of milk as soon as he came in so he was a survivor. four days on he is still alive, after some antibiotics his breathing is a lot better, and he can now drink 1/2 pint of made up milk in one go, he is still unable to stand on his own, but he can turn himself over and we hold him up on his legs and he can then almost take his weight hopefully if he continues to gain strength he will be alright.

Finger crossed........

Sir Bryner Jones Award

Sorry to say that we did not make it through to representing the county for this award. Our Colleagues Elan Valley Mutton will represent Powys.
The judges thought that their business met more of the criteria, specifically that they were producing and marketing Mutton, which they thought was a more specific commodity and quite new which meant discovering new ways of selling this product.
Well done to Tony and Angela

FACE - Farming and Countryside Education

We have been used as a resource on FACE's website.

Go to the home page as directed above, then click on to RESOURCES on the green band across the top, then GO TO FARM PROFILES in the blue box on the left hand side, then on to UK FARM PROFILES in the blue box on the left hand side.

There is lots of information about us and about other farms in the Uk.

Welsh Black Cattle Society Beef Promotions Committee

The Welsh Black Cattle Society Beef Promotions Committee will work to promote Welsh Black Beef produced from Pedigree Welsh Black herds. By doing this the general public will be able to buy welsh black beef with confidence knowing that its origin is truly from welsh black cattle.
The background is that many people have contacted the Society with their concerns regarding the selling of beef as Welsh Black beef!
The Society believes that these people are exploiting and undermining the good name and reputation that Welsh Black beef has reached in recent years.
Therefore in response to this matter the Welsh Black Cattle Society has set up a Beef Promotions Committee to address these concerns.
The Committee is made up of Society Council Members that are involved in marketing Welsh Black beef themselves i.e. Box scheme, Farm Shops, Butchers etc. These people are passionate about their product and believe that the system needs strengthening to ensure that what the general public believes is genuine Welsh Black beef is what they are purchasing.
It is to award premises such as farm shops, butchers, hotels, restaurants, box schemes etc that sell 100% Pedigree Welsh Black Beef from accredited Pedigree herds.
We feel this is a step in the right direction to weed out unscrupulous businesses that exploit our good name.
Premises who sell 100% Welsh Black beef will receive certificates to register their business. The Society would appreciate enquiries from businesses who abide by these criteria who sell 100% Welsh Black Beef produced from pedigree Welsh Black Cattle.
For further information please contact Dafydd James on 01982 551111

Dolithon Meats is pleased to announce we have been awarded with the very prestigious certificate which means that we sell 100% pure pedigree Welsh Black Beef.

Brilliant!

Sir Bryner Jones

We are having a visit today form two of the committee form the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show to see if they will put us forward for Powys for the Sir Bryner Jones Award 2009. We are in selection process along with our farmers market colleagues Elan Valley Mutton Company, who produce mutton organically in the hills surrounding the Elan Valley in Rhayader (www.elanvalleymutton.co.uk)
This year the award will be for the farm which has diversified into selling their produce direct to the end consumer.
Fingers Crossed..............

Future of Farming Week - 16th - 21st March

I went into Treffonen Primary school on Monday 2nd of March with an incubator in which we put 12 eggs, Black Rock x's which should hatch out on Monday 23rd.

The children were really eggs-ited! they got into groups of three and each group adopted an egg. they made a chart so everyone had a turn at turning the eggs three times a day until day 18 when they should be left alone.

This morning at 8.45am there were signs of one chick hatching out so i am now like an expectant parent waiting for a phone call.

The whole school has been talking about the eggs which will hatch into chicks, children, teachers, parents, NTA's there has been a real buzz. It really is so easy to take a little of your farming experience into the classroom, or get them out onto your farm, they care about their future which is in our hands - so feed the children with information - they love it.