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Tidytryc[/caption]
Handling big bales around farm yards and fields is set to be made simpler and more economical following the launch by a Meirionnydd young farmer of the "Tidytryc" handling system which will be on display on the Farmers' Union of Wales stand at Merioneth County Show in Bala tomorrow (August 24).
Twenty-eight-year-old Telor Edwards, from Tyddyn Ronnen, near Llanuwchllyn, used knowledge gained during a mechanical engineering degree at Cardiff University in 2004 to come up with the design and has already a launched a website - www.tidytryc.co.uk - where farmers can view images and a video of the Tidytryc in action.
The new design will save money, time and labour by enabling farms and businesses to purchase and handle large square bales.
Mr Edwards has recently taken over the 260-hectare family farm and his new business will be run, from an outbuilding which forms part of Tyddyn Ronnen farm buildings and dwelling, alongside the farming sheep and beef enterprise at Tyddyn Ronnen.
"At this stage of the business development I will be solely responsible for the manufacture, distribution, selling and marketing of the device with the assistance of my wife, Lindsey, who works as a rural regeneration officer with Gwynedd Council at Dolgellau," said Mr Edwards.
"But I hope that the business will grow from strength to strength as people become aware of the advantages of the Tidytryc."
Mr Edwards received support from Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd - Arloesi to formulate a business plan. The business plan states that the competitive advantages of the device is that it would enable individuals to manually handle and move between 5 - 7 wedges (approximately between 50 - 100 kilograms) of hay or straw around confined feeding areas which will need less handling requirements and be less labour intensive.
There is also an option of being able to attach and detach a draw bar on the device to be towed behind an ATV quad bike, which provides a unique selling point, as there is no similar device on the market.
The device provides the ability to carry a significant amount of fodder feed without the need for any ratchet or winch operation and should provide an opportunity for exporting to other EU countries especially with the emergence of Eastern European countries as milk and meat producers.
The purpose of the business would be to provide a diversified income to the current farming business at Tyddyn Ronnen, with the product primarily aimed at agriculture and equine industries
FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones said: "It is most encouraging to see a young FUW member in the county creating such an innovative design which will be of use to the farming industry. We wish the family all the best in this venture."