Although Pat Collins took on the role as chair of the IFA farm forestry committee less than three months ago, he has already made representations to the Department on a number of key issues that affect members. These range from timber mobilisation to compensation for growers whose forests were destroyed during the February 2014 storm.
He is well positioned to assess the major forestry issues and to promote forestry as a viable land use. He combines drystock farming with forestry in the family farm in Emlaghglassney, Ballintubber, Co Roscommon, so is well aware of how forestry interacts with mainstream agriculture. Also, the experience and knowledge gained as IFA Co Roscommon forestry committee chair has served him well in identifying the following key issues he plans to address in his new role:
Wood mobilisation.Environmental requirements for afforestation.Mapping issues and penalties.Reconstitution for windblown forests.Market opportunities including bioenergy.Forestry and climate change.Wood mobilisation
While forestry is a multipurpose land use, he believes that it is first and foremost a business. “I want to work with farmers to mobilise the wood resource and increase incomes on family farms,” he says.
“Forest owners need to know the value of their forests and what they earn from them, just as they do from other agricultural systems.”
He stresses the importance of getting independent advice before signing timber sale contracts. “There is plenty of advice and information out there, so farmers should talk to their local IFA farm forestry representative or forest owner group to find out what is involved,” he advises.
“I intend to build on the information and supports that IFA already provides to members such as the practical timber harvesting guide, timber price reports and an independent forest measurement and analysis service, so that farmers can maximise their return from thinnings while improving the overall quality of the remaining forest,” he says.
“I will be working with the Forest Service to resolve ongoing issues in relation to forest road entrances and the current requirement of planning permission when constructing a new entrance along with minimising the timeline for felling licence approvals.”
Environmental requirements
“If national policy to expand the forest resource is to be achieved, then the Government must ensure that plantations are economically viable and competitive, while satisfying environmental requirements,” he maintains. “The requirements must support the sustainable development of the sector and must be practical; to provide the best protection of the environment but also provide a reasonable economic return for the farmer,” he says.
He believes this approach will ultimately determine the success of the afforestation programme. “No other agricultural commodity is required to set aside such a high proportion of land to biodiversity,” he believes. “For example, in 2015, farmers set aside over €17m in land value to areas of biodiversity and landscape broadleaf planting within commercial plantations under the Afforestation Scheme. This equates to a loss of timber earning in the first rotation valued at approximately €34m.”
Mapping issues and penalties
The ongoing issues with digitisation and mapping are having a major impact on farmer confidence in forestry as “farmers no longer trust that they will be paid on the area they plant,” he says.
“Rather than working with farmers to rectify the over-claim cases, which was possible as most were due to the size of areas of biodiversity enhancement (ABEs) and unplanted areas, the Forest Service choose to raise a debt in some instances spanning 20 years,” he claims. This, despite the farmers involved complying with the afforestation scheme at the time of application and the forest being approved, typically following an on-site inspection by Forest Service inspectors.”
Reconstitution for windblown
forests
“Farmers were promised a reconstitution grant by Minister Hayes and I will be looking for that commitment to be honoured,” he says. “Approximately 2,000ha of private forests were destroyed by Storm Darwin in February 2014 including young and semi-mature plantations, which generated little or no return,’’ he explains.
“Farmers who own these plantations feel aggrieved by the lack of support and urgently need help to re-establish their forests.”
He is confident that Minister of State Andrew Doyle and his Department along with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe will approve funding for a reconstitution grant.
Market opportunities
As most farmers with forests are still at the first thinning stage, he is conscious of the need for greater awareness of the market potential of small wood. “The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) later this year for larger heat users, is expected to increase the demand for wood energy,” he says.
“This potentially will create new local markets for pulpwood, increasing the return from thinnings. I look forward to working with farmers and energy companies to develop and coordinate wood fuel supply chains to satisfy these emerging energy markets.”
Forestry and climate change
The interdependency between forestry and agriculture in relation to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is now an important aspect of the climate change debate.
This includes afforestation, which will be included in the ongoing negotiations with the European Commission for a Climate and Energy Framework to 2030.
He fully supports IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney’s recent statement that “the carbon sinks associated with forestry must count” in these negotiations.
He says that the IFA is correct to insist that “the whole picture from the sector must be accurately reported, and that means looking at the carbon sinks as well as carbon emissions”.
Additional income
His own experience with forestry has been positive and has enabled him to generate an additional income on a section of the farm that was not being fully utilised.
He promotes forestry as a viable land use in its own right, while acknowledging that Government funding is required for what is a long-term investment with benefits for growers and the State. He encourages farmers to look at the Afforestation Scheme and see if it works with their farm businesses, but doesn’t adopt a doctrinaire approach. “Forestry may not suit all farmers but some may have land that is underutilised and the additional income from forestry might well prove to be attractive,” he says.
Although he is relatively new to the job, he says it is enjoyable even though the issues are challenging. Asked if there was one bit of advice he would give to farmers with forests, he says: “Know the value of what you have and what you can make from it with careful management.”
Although Pat Collins took on the role as chair of the IFA farm forestry committee less than three months ago, he has already made representations to the Department on a number of key issues that affect members. These range from timber mobilisation to compensation for growers whose forests were destroyed during the February 2014 storm.
He is well positioned to assess the major forestry issues and to promote forestry as a viable land use. He combines drystock farming with forestry in the family farm in Emlaghglassney, Ballintubber, Co Roscommon, so is well aware of how forestry interacts with mainstream agriculture. Also, the experience and knowledge gained as IFA Co Roscommon forestry committee chair has served him well in identifying the following key issues he plans to address in his new role:
Wood mobilisation.Environmental requirements for afforestation.Mapping issues and penalties.Reconstitution for windblown forests.Market opportunities including bioenergy.Forestry and climate change.Wood mobilisation
While forestry is a multipurpose land use, he believes that it is first and foremost a business. “I want to work with farmers to mobilise the wood resource and increase incomes on family farms,” he says.
“Forest owners need to know the value of their forests and what they earn from them, just as they do from other agricultural systems.”
He stresses the importance of getting independent advice before signing timber sale contracts. “There is plenty of advice and information out there, so farmers should talk to their local IFA farm forestry representative or forest owner group to find out what is involved,” he advises.
“I intend to build on the information and supports that IFA already provides to members such as the practical timber harvesting guide, timber price reports and an independent forest measurement and analysis service, so that farmers can maximise their return from thinnings while improving the overall quality of the remaining forest,” he says.
“I will be working with the Forest Service to resolve ongoing issues in relation to forest road entrances and the current requirement of planning permission when constructing a new entrance along with minimising the timeline for felling licence approvals.”
Environmental requirements
“If national policy to expand the forest resource is to be achieved, then the Government must ensure that plantations are economically viable and competitive, while satisfying environmental requirements,” he maintains. “The requirements must support the sustainable development of the sector and must be practical; to provide the best protection of the environment but also provide a reasonable economic return for the farmer,” he says.
He believes this approach will ultimately determine the success of the afforestation programme. “No other agricultural commodity is required to set aside such a high proportion of land to biodiversity,” he believes. “For example, in 2015, farmers set aside over €17m in land value to areas of biodiversity and landscape broadleaf planting within commercial plantations under the Afforestation Scheme. This equates to a loss of timber earning in the first rotation valued at approximately €34m.”
Mapping issues and penalties
The ongoing issues with digitisation and mapping are having a major impact on farmer confidence in forestry as “farmers no longer trust that they will be paid on the area they plant,” he says.
“Rather than working with farmers to rectify the over-claim cases, which was possible as most were due to the size of areas of biodiversity enhancement (ABEs) and unplanted areas, the Forest Service choose to raise a debt in some instances spanning 20 years,” he claims. This, despite the farmers involved complying with the afforestation scheme at the time of application and the forest being approved, typically following an on-site inspection by Forest Service inspectors.”
Reconstitution for windblown
forests
“Farmers were promised a reconstitution grant by Minister Hayes and I will be looking for that commitment to be honoured,” he says. “Approximately 2,000ha of private forests were destroyed by Storm Darwin in February 2014 including young and semi-mature plantations, which generated little or no return,’’ he explains.
“Farmers who own these plantations feel aggrieved by the lack of support and urgently need help to re-establish their forests.”
He is confident that Minister of State Andrew Doyle and his Department along with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe will approve funding for a reconstitution grant.
Market opportunities
As most farmers with forests are still at the first thinning stage, he is conscious of the need for greater awareness of the market potential of small wood. “The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) later this year for larger heat users, is expected to increase the demand for wood energy,” he says.
“This potentially will create new local markets for pulpwood, increasing the return from thinnings. I look forward to working with farmers and energy companies to develop and coordinate wood fuel supply chains to satisfy these emerging energy markets.”
Forestry and climate change
The interdependency between forestry and agriculture in relation to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is now an important aspect of the climate change debate.
This includes afforestation, which will be included in the ongoing negotiations with the European Commission for a Climate and Energy Framework to 2030.
He fully supports IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney’s recent statement that “the carbon sinks associated with forestry must count” in these negotiations.
He says that the IFA is correct to insist that “the whole picture from the sector must be accurately reported, and that means looking at the carbon sinks as well as carbon emissions”.
Additional income
His own experience with forestry has been positive and has enabled him to generate an additional income on a section of the farm that was not being fully utilised.
He promotes forestry as a viable land use in its own right, while acknowledging that Government funding is required for what is a long-term investment with benefits for growers and the State. He encourages farmers to look at the Afforestation Scheme and see if it works with their farm businesses, but doesn’t adopt a doctrinaire approach. “Forestry may not suit all farmers but some may have land that is underutilised and the additional income from forestry might well prove to be attractive,” he says.
Although he is relatively new to the job, he says it is enjoyable even though the issues are challenging. Asked if there was one bit of advice he would give to farmers with forests, he says: “Know the value of what you have and what you can make from it with careful management.”
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