Wales Farmer September 2013


Helping to cut risk of flooding


THE Welsh uplandscould helpreduce the flooding risk to thousands of


homes in Wales. According to areport by the Cambrian Mountains Initiative, the uplands have huge potential to regulate and control water flow into rivers during flood and drought. The report, which investigated


what services farmers in the region could provide aside from food production, believesthereis potential to deliverecosystem services such as locking in car- bon and storing floodwater. Nearly 180 farmers,environ-


mental and agriculturespecial- ists and local people were sur- veyedonthe wider services that the mountains could provide. The survey also asked about


payments forfarmers to provide these kinds of services and wherethis money could come from.


farms in


Rhodri Lloyd Williams,who the Cambrian


Mountains,believedtherewas a clear role forbeef and sheep pro- ducers likehim to deliverecosys- tem services. Marshybogsinthe uplands


storelarge amounts of carbon and arevital to the continued aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The uplands also have huge potential to regulate and control water flow.Specific land man-


By Debbie James


agement techniques could there- fore bring significant benefits in terms of reducing the risk of flooding


in Aberystwyth,


Shrewsbury and Monmouth. Other land management tech-


niques could not onlyhavean impact on water quantity,but water quality too,providing ben- efits to salmon and sea trout and also to the supplyofdrinking water to communities. Alun Davies,Wales’ Natural


Resources and Food Minister, said thereport highlighted the value thatthe Cambrians pro- vide to the rural economy. “It also underlines the impor-


tance of the steps we aretaking to ensurethatWales has the abil- ity to takeadvantage of the opportunity


our natural


resources give us to delivergreen growth and aresilient, prosper- ous futurefor our communities,” he said. Emyr Roberts,chief executive


of Natural Resources Wales, said the work of the Cambrian Mountain Initiative provided a useful indication of the true value


of Wales’ natural


resources. “Webelieve thatthe Welsh


environment can provide awide range of benefits,but we need to provide the right management and incentivesinorder to main- tain and enhance this precious resource,” he said.


Thousandsof rural homes in digitallimbo


THOUSANDS of homes in Wales arebeing denied broad- band services and mobile phone coverage,according to anew report.


Ofcom, the regulator forthe


communications industry,says morethan 5,000 homes are affected. Ofcom’sDirector forWales,


Rhodri Williams,said rural loca- tions in Wales aremorethan 13 times less likelytohavesuperfast broadband than urban regions. But Mr Williams told mem-


bers of the Farmers’ Union of Wales during aRoyal Welsh Showbriefing thatheisconfi- dent thatthe situation is likelyto improveinthe near future through developments such as 4G.


Ofcom estimates thataround


100,000 homes in Wales are unabletoreceive actual down- load speeds of 2Mbit/s and 800,000 homes in Wales can’t receive superfast broadband. Formobile services,even


whereoutdoor coverage deliv- ered to households is good, there can be challenges associated


By Debbie James


with providing coverage inside buildings,onroads and on rail. Ofcom estimates that10,000 homes in Wales areunableto receive a2Gmobile service and 30,000 homes areunableto receive a3Gservice. The lowlevels of 3G availabil-


ity in Wales is associated with the size, density and composi- tion of the local population and the topography of the landscape. Wheremarkets cannot deliver


coverage to those whoneed it, public bodies aretaking action such as the Welsh Government whose Broadband Support Scheme supports the provision of accessible and affordable broadband services to ‘not spots’ and ‘slowspots’. Public and commercial invest-


ment totalling £425m is also delivering fibrebroadband to parts of Wales not coveredby the Superfast Cymru project. By 2016, 96% of homes and busi- nesses areexpected to have access to speeds of at least 24 Mbit/s.


Squeezeout every last drop rumen specific liveyeast reducesacidloadingand


increasesfibredigestibility, which improves forage intake ensuringmoremilk from forage.


Whynot ask BIOTAL howmuchextra moneyyou can make through improved feed efficiency?


Contactyourlocal Biotal distributor or Biotal Regional BusinessManager


GarethJones 07866 315684


delivering forageand nutrition technologies BiotalLtd tel: (029) 20547050www.biotal.co.uk


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk NEWS 7


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