23/09/2012

Farmers are being warned that unless they have already sprayed their bracken this year it's too late to do so if they are to stay within the law. From January 1st next year it will be illegal to hold stocks of Asulam - the active ingredient of a product called Asulox. Bracken is an increasing problem taking over potentially productive farmland and creating a monoculture that swamps out other plantlife. But with the European Union ban on the chemical looming what is the future of bracken control in the uplands?

The news that inflation has fallen again maybe welcome news to us all but economists are predicting that any gains are likely to be short term with higher food and fuel costs on the horizon. The cost of living as measured by the Consumer Prices Index was down from 2-point-6 per cent in July to 2-point-5 per cent last month. With well publicised strife in the dairy industry and other producers struggling are we paying enough for our food - or indeed paying too much?

'Eat less but eat better' is definitely the mantra Illtud Llyr Dunsford lives by. Last year, he was the first person ever to take up a scholarship from Hybu Cig Cymru to study pork production - an opportunity which took him to the United States. Now he's establishing a business - Charcutier Ltd. - hand-salting and curing meats at the family farm in Pontyates, Carmarthenshire.

A huge and fascinating display of vegetables in all forms, sizes, weight, colour and texture are to be seen this weekend at Rhondda Heritage Park which is hosting its a Giant Veg Show. Champion gardener Philip Vowles from Llanharry in Pontyclun is helping to organise it and is a Guinness World Record holder for giant vegetable growing