Familys decision to go organic after total farm cull in 2001 pays dividends

The Organic Centre Wales invited would-be converters to one of the largest certified Welsh beef and sheep holdings.

Over the last seven years, the Jones family has completely changed the way they farm Y Ddol, a 1,500-acre upland holding at Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llandrindod Wells, Mid Wales.

In the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak Haydn Jones, son David and daughter-in-law Lynda lost 3,000 ewes (all on the verge of lambing) and 500 head of cattle.

It was one of the biggest single culls in Wales and four massive pyres burned for days. Out of the ashes emerged a leaner, less intensive and more diverse farming structure.