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ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES BOOKLET
ADAS have published a new booklet providing advice on energy efficiency and on-farm energy generation. The booklet, which has been funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, is aimed at land owners in Wales.
Topics covered include: bioethanol, biodiesel, biomass, small scale wind power, small scale hydro-electric power, solar heating, photovoltaic power and ground source heat pumps.
The booklet also provides useful guidance on energy saving - the first step in any energy efficiency programme.
To download a pdf version of the booklet click here (nb this is a large file 1.6MB)

 

WOODLAND TRAINING DAYS
CALU's next woodland training day will take place at the Wentwood Timber Store on 10th October. The day will be focusing on farm timber: products processes and markets.

Aberbechan Farm plays host to a training day on 26th October looking at how careful management can turn farm woodlands into a valuable resource providing timber products for use on the farm and for sale.
The date and venue for a woodland establishment training event will be available soon.

 

 

BIOMASS OPEN DAYS
CALU is hosting two biomass open days at its demonstration sites in October.
The first will be at Coleg Sirgar's Gelli Aur site on Wednesday 11th October. Catherine Heywood, CALU's biomass expert, will present a talk on energy grasses and growers will then be able to visit the demonstration plots. The energy grass crops being grown at Gelli Aur are Miscanthus, switch grass and reed canary grass.
The second open day takes place on Wednesday 18th October at Coleg Meirion Dwyfor's Glynllifon site. This event is being held in conjunction with IGER's Willows for Wales project.

IN BRIEF
Demand for sheep's milk is up 40% year on year and dairies are seeking new suppliers.

Waitrose is putting all its farms into the LEAF scheme.

Tesco is setting up six new regional purchasing offices, including one for Wales.

The Forestry Commission's new Biomass Energy Centre website is now up and running.

CALU's Energy Crop information website will be launching in the very near future. This website will provide potential growers with a wealth of information to help them make informed decisions about growing crops for the energy market.

 

CALU Trials Officer, Amy Dutton, receiving the gold cup at Mold Food Festival

 

Visitors will be able to listen to talks and obtain advice from experts on both short rotation willow coppice production and energy grass production.

PRIZE FOR CALU PROJECT
CALU partner, the Welsh College of Horticulture, won the prize for best exhibit at the recent Mold Food Festival.
The College's stand featured produce from their organic farm and from the CALU Organic Welsh Herb Project.
Mold Food Festival is an annual event to celebrate and show case the best in local produce.

NT UGLY VEG WINNER
Meanwhile, the winner of the National Trust's competition to identify the ugliest vegetable was a multiple rooted contorted parsnip.

   

NEW TECHNICAL LEAFLETS
Two new technical leaflets have been added to the CALU Library. The first provides an overview of liquid biofuel production - the crops used, the products they are made into and the processing technologies. The second covers the increasingly popular topic of anaerobic digestion. In America, anaerobic digestion is a major contributor to renewable energy programmes. Could it have a similar role to play in Wales.

 

CALU exists to transfer technology to any business in Wales that is interested in horticulture, biomass, alternative crops, alternative livestock and/or farm woodlands.

 

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