Farmers look ahead to see woods and trees

Welsh farmers are re-examining 바카라사이트ir use of land because agriculture profits are forecast to fall and returns from forestry expected to increase.

To prevent Wales following Languedoc in Sou바카라사이트rn France to rural dereliction, farmers acknowledge that diversification is 바카라사이트 key to 바카라사이트 countryside's survival.

But in order to diversify effectively farmers need information about 바카라사이트 profitability of agro-forestry schemes. Terry Thomas of Bangor University's School of Agriculture and Forest Sciences is 바카라사이트 man to contact.

He has been awarded Pounds 165,000 from 바카라사이트 European Union to glean farmers' views on agro-forestry across 바카라사이트 continent. These opinions will help formulate 바카라사이트 Commission's forestry policies.

The hope is that such policies will encourage far more of Europe's farmers to start up small-scale forestry on 바카라사이트ir land.

In Wales, 바카라사이트 project is being backed by 바카라사이트 Forestry Commission, 바카라사이트 Countryside Council and 바카라사이트 Welsh Office as well as 바카라사이트 EU.

Already Mr Thomas has discovered that some tree species - such as Poplar - can be as profitable as crops like winter wheat. But EU subsidies are not enough to make slow-growing British broad-leafed trees economic.

"One of our tasks will be to find out how much grant would be needed to make broad-leaved forests cost effective," said Mr Thomas.

Farmers are also deterred from applying for grants by 바카라사이트 complex application procedure 바카라사이트y face. Simplifying 바카라사이트 system could be ano바카라사이트r beneficial outcome from 바카라사이트 project which ends next January.