Centre for Alternative Land Use
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Press Releases
December 2008
| 12/08 | The value of firewood Firewood - our original and, arguably, best renewable fuel - is back in vogue. But how do you know how to set the price of firewood? How can firewood be compared to other fuel types? |
November 2008
| 11/08 | Adding Value at Christmas The winter season can be difficult for nurseries and garden centres. However, there are many ways that extra footfall, and sales, can be generated through careful value added activity and point of sale management. |
October 2008
| 10/08 | It is a good time for farmers to consider planting more orchards The area of orchards in Wales is creeping up. From an all time low of just 100ha (247 acres) in1981 the area has increased to about 400ha (988 acres). Now is a good time for farmers to consider planting more orchards. Consumers are looking for more seasonal and local produce and apples remain one of Wales’ favourite home produced fruits. |
September 2008
| 09/08 | Energy crops under the spotlight The popular press has been quick to dismiss energy crops as being unsustainable and an inefficient way of solving the world’s energy issues. But there is far more to energy crops than just biofuels and work at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) Aberystwyth focuses on crops that offer an energy source with genuine reductions in carbon emissions and can be integrated into Welsh agriculture to boost farming incomes without damaging the environment. |
August 2008
| 08/08 | Quality and seasonality - key factors in brassica prices To maximise profit, producers need to have good knowledge of the markets into which they sell. They need to know what buyers and consumers want, and when they want it. Awareness of market trends – both seasonal and longer term – is a great advantage in planning production. |
July 2008
| 07/08 | Blackcurrants offer great financial potential for growers July traditionally sees the start of blackcurrant harvesting. Blackcurrants are an underrepresented crop with great potential in Wales as a traditional crop and although there has been a recent increase in blueberry production here, surprisingly this hasn’t been matched with an increase in blackcurrant production. |
| 07/08 | Soils and Cereals Cereal production is increasing. Whether the crops are being grown for feed, food or processing, their value is high. However, to achieve optimal and sustainable cropping, cereals have to be matched to the site and soils they will be grown on and in. |
| 07/08 | Growing seed potatoes in Wales |
June 2008
| 06/08 | Managing woodlands to suit game birds Many farmers and landowners in Wales have patches of unmanaged woodland. A recent CALU workshop looked at how these areas could be managed to create ideal habitat for game birds, particularly pheasants. |
May 2008
| 05/08 | What chickens want Free range and organic broiler production are currently experiencing something of a boom. Increasingly, consumers are looking for what they believe are animals reared with high welfare standards and more “natural” husbandry methods. |
April 2008
| 04/08 | Help and advice from herb-grower pioneers CALU aims to help prospective producers with a herb production workshop on 28th April. The workshop will take place at “Herbs from Wales”, a family business near Llanerchymedd on Anglesey. |
| 04/08 | Hydroponic horticulture Hydroponic production isn’t really a new idea, it dates back to at least the 17th century. However, it is one that has never really taken off in the UK. Maybe it is time to look at its potentials. |
March 2008
| 03/08 | Carbon footprinting for food and farming |
February 2008
| 02/08 | Final orders in the era of cheap and abundant food Chinese, Italian or Indian? The choice is made across Wales most nights of the year. Everyone under 50 has lived in a world where food has been more available and much cheaper than ever. |
| 02/08 | Horticulture in Wales There are several reasons why more and more farmers consider diversifying into horticulture. |
| 02/08 | The food vs. fuel debate |
| 02/08 | Time to think about propagating vegetables With spring on the doorstep it is time for growers and farmers to plan and arrange their vegetable beds. |
November 2007
| 11/07 | Bees mean business Honey bees are integral to many agricultural production systems, as well as being an interesting diversification option in their own right. |
October 2007
| 10/07 | Old fuels and new fashions With energy from biomass very much in the news, this article takes a look at wood - the original biomass energy source |
September 2007
| 09/07 | CALU Welsh Herbs Project continues to grow |
August 2007
| 08/07 | Disappointment as FMD restrictions lead to cancellation of potato event The potato event planned to take place on 8th August had to be cancelled due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in England. |
| 08/07 | Alder - a tree with a history and a future David Jenkins, CALU Woodlands expert and Director of Coed Cymru, discusses the virtues of alder, an under-rated native tree. |
July 2007
| 07/07 | Bangor's blight beaters In the worst year for late blight in potatoes that many people can remember, CALU and the Sarvari Research Trust's open day demonstrates the virtues of the naturally blight resistant Sarpo varieties of potatoes |
| 07/07 | Growing Potatoes on Marginal Land in Wales an update on two of CALU's potato projects |
March 2007
| 03/07 | Success of Welsh Herbs Project Grows at Local College Update on the CALU herb project |
| 03/07 | Cider Production Brief article about Cider production |
February 2007
| 02/07 | Building structures from homegrown spruce |
January 2007
| 01/07 | Alpacas for fibre production An introductory article on the management of alpacas |
| 01/07 | Venison production An introductory article on the management of deer for venison production |
| 01/07 | CALU ANNUAL REPORT - 2006 A summary of CALU's activities and achievements during 2006 (format: pdf, size: 2MB) |
December 2006
| 12/06 | CALU Factsheet 01/06 - Planting Apple Trees Timely tips on best practice for establishing apple tree |
| 12/06 | CALU Factsheet 02/06 - Selection of raspberry varieties Advice on some of the most popular raspberry varieties for early, mid and late cropping |
| 12/06 | CALU Gwlad article - Forest residues as biomass fuel Reporting on new machinery for bundlng post harvest forest residues to use in biomass boilers. Also covering aspects of the utilisation of the ash produced by burning biomass. |
November 2006
| 11/06 | Energy information at your fingertips |
October 2006
| 10/06 | Green manure usage in horticultural systems A quick overview of the benefits to be had from using green manures |
| 10/06 | Biomass overview - an overview of the environmental considerations associated with Miscanthus and Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) Article written for Natur Cymru magazine |
September 2006
| 25/09/06 | Alternative crops and their protection Is the limited availability of crop protection products for novel crops a problem? |
August 2006
| 23/08/06 | WI Join Energy Debate CALU invited to speak to Forden WI about energy matters |
| 24/08/06 | CALU Blight Resistant Potatoes and Caliente Mustard Demonstrations and Trials Update on CALU's 2006 demonstrations and trials |
July 2006
| 15/07/06 | CALU Herb Project Introducing CALU's Welsh Organic Herb project for potted culinary herb production |
June 2006
| 30/06/06 | Henfaes Open Day |
| 23/06/06 | CALU survey of Welsh Horticulture |
May 2006
| 31/05/06 | All fired up in north Wales |
April 2006
| 04/2006 | Horticulture Wales |
March 2006
| 03/2006 | Demonstrating alternatives for Welsh farmers |
| 03/2006 | CALU low input potato trials 2006 |
| 03/2006 | Farm woodlands and the Single Payment Scheme |
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February 2006
| 02/2006 | Parasites in goats |
January 2006
| 01/2006 | Enhancing the experience on pick-your-own farms |
| 01/2006 | Energy saving in protected horticulture |
| 01/2006 | Irish - Welsh partnership blooms |
| 01/2006 | CALU ANNUAL REPORT - 2005 A summary of CALU's activities during 2005 |
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November 2005
| 11/2005 | Woodfuel - find out how the Europeans are making it work |
| 11/2005 | Novel plastic structures for growing plants for added profit |
October 2005
| 10/2005 | Alternative crops and horticulture |
| 10/2005 | Gwlad article - Utilising Welsh Farm Woodlands |
September 2005
| 09/2005 | Biomass Open Day - Glynllifon |
| 09/2005 | Shelterbelts and hedgerows event |
| 09/2005 | Gwlad article -markets for biomass |
August 2005
| 08/2005 | Gwlad article - Carwyn Jones launches CALU |
| 08/2005 | Gwlad article - shelterbelts |
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July 2005
| 07/2005 | Gwlad article - low cost protected cropping systems |
| 11/07/05 | WCoH / CALU Open Evening |
| 13/07/2005 | CALU launched by Carwyn Jones |
| 14/07/2005 | Biomass event |
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June 2005
| 06/2005 | Gwlad article - Small fruit crops |
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May 2005
| 05/2005 | Gwlad article - Novel crop demonstration plots |
| 23/05/2005 | Planting CALU's biomass trial sites |
April 2005
| 04/2005 | Gwlad article - Biomass production |
March 2005
| 03/2005 | Gwlad article - Field scale vegetable growing |
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February 2005
| 01/02/2005 | General press release introducing CALU |
| 05/02/2005 | General press release introducing CALU - Western Mail |
January 2005
| 01/01/05 | Gwlad article - introducing CALU |
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Henfaes Research Centre,
Bangor University,
Abergwyngregyn,
LL33 0LB
tel: 01248 680450 | email: calu@bangor.ac.uk
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