FCRN member request for help and suggestions

Barbara Knowles in Romania is looking for ideas regarding markets for hay as a means of supporting biodiversity rich hay meadows. She writes:

The mountain hay meadows of the Eastern Carpathians of Romania are amongst the most biodiverse in Europe. The success of EU agri-environment subsidies in persuading some farmers to continue to mow their meadows even though they now have fewer animals (an unintended result of EU hygiene policy and competition), means that there is a large surplus of hay in some villages. Something has to be done with this hay, they are not allowed to burn it, it must be removed from the meadow two weeks after cutting, the barns are full.

The aim of this project is to identify markets for this surplus hay, for example hay pellets as animal feed, or as biomass for burning; as winter fodder for wildlife such as deer; as an insulation material etc.

Barbara Knowles and the Pogány-havas Association are looking for ideas and examples of markets for hay. Please contact Barbara or post your reply to this page. 

You can learn more about their activities here and at www.treasuresoftransylvania.org