16/09/2012

It's been a long summer for dairy farmers - still reeling from price cuts on the milk they produce. With vociferous protests behind us there's a new voluntary code of practise agreed by the Dairy coalition to create a fair and functioning market place. Deputy president for NFU Cymru Steve James has been on his farm this week after busy months of campaigning and reflects upon whether there's a future for the dairy industry in Wales

A happy herd of cows is a productive herd - we hear how scientists are conducting a three year study to look into how cows "network." Dr Darren Croft from the University of Exeter's Animal Behaviour Research Group explains how it'll help dairy farmers to improve the health and welfare of their cows

Harnessing the power of falling water in a environmentally sensitive area......Work is underway to develop a new hydro scheme atthe Snowdonia National Park Centre at Plas Tan-y-Bwlch, near Porthmadog.

Looking after our environment - This weekend will see people out in force cleaning up beaches as part of the Marine conservation society's Beachwatch and all next week people will be picking up litter as part of Keep Wales Tidy's week-long cleanup of our towns, villages and countryside.

And how the British Horse Loggers Association are keen to promote horse logging as a viable and sustainable industry for the 21st century to the benefit of our woodlands and our equine friends. On a recent visit to Wales the Patron of the Society - HRH Prince Charles invited horse loggers to work in the woodlands at his home in Llwynywermod, near Llandovery to highlight the tradition ......but more apprentices are needed to maintain the skills involved and more woodland owners to make use of them and provide them with the work.