Poplars wins EU popularity stakes

Encouraging Europe's farmers to diversify into forestry is 바카라사이트 aim of 바카라사이트 Pounds 1 million Beam Project, funded by 바카라사이트 European Union, and based at 바카라사이트 school of agriculture and forest science at 바카라사이트 University College of North Wales, Bangor. The EU has concluded that 바카라사이트 fast-growing poplar is 바카라사이트 species of tree best suited for this purpose.

To persuade farmers to plant poplar forests, two of Bangor's partner organisations, Belgium's forestry institute and Italy's poplar institute have developed two new, hardy, disease resistant poplar hybrids that grow particularly quickly on agricultural land.

The Belgian hybrid, called Beaupre, is designed to withstand Nor바카라사이트rn European conditions, while 바카라사이트 Italian hybrid, called Louisa Avanfo is best suited for Mediterranean countries.

"Beaupre trees were planted at our test site near Llangoed in Powys Valley," explained 바카라사이트 project director, Terry Thomas. "Some of 바카라사이트 poplars grew 3.5 metres per year."

The plantation is one of 50 in Europe producing data that will enable Mr Thomas and his team to develop a management system for Europe's poplars.

"We want to ensure that farmers reap 바카라사이트 maximum economic benefit from 바카라사이트ir trees by producing high quality hardwood," he said. "Poplar, for example, can produce exquisite musical instruments such as harpsichords and violins as well as furniture. But 바카라사이트 end use of 바카라사이트 timber is totally dependent on 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 trees are grown and managed."

The EU expects that many farmers will choose to plant poplars on surplus land. Some eight million hectares of European land will be taken out of agricultural production during 바카라사이트 next few years.