Opening the Timber 17 show, Minister Doyle, who has responsibility for forestry, said that “forestry in Ireland is now entering a new phase in its development, where many of these owners are beginning to realise the commercial benefits of their forestry investment”.

While these are landowners who have benefited from successive Government-supported afforestation programmes in the past decades and are now seeing their forests mature, Minister Doyle launched a publication providing guidelines for a different approach to forestry. So-called “continuous cover” could appeal to farmers interested in planting part of their land and relying on a regular income from it.

Continuity of income

The technique consists in planting trees of different ages on the same land.

“Continuous cover forestry provides continuity of income from thinnings, as opposed to the large lump sum at clearfell stage. Furthermore, as reforestation is not required, the cost of replanting is also avoided,” said Minister Doyle.

Introducing forestry on existing farms is also the focus of Teagasc’s presence at Timber 17.

“Attractive options include native woodland initiatives, productive conifer establishment, as well as agroforestry and forestry for fibre categories,” said Teagasc’s acting head of forestry, Tom Houlihan.

Timber 17 takes place at Stradbally Hall in Co Laois until Saturday evening. Find out more about the show here.

In pictures: snapshots of biennial forestry and bio energy show

Full coverage: Timber 17

Options to combine farming and forestry at Timber 17

Minister of State Andrew Doyle has called on farmers to consider integrating forestry into their enterprise, and Teagasc has options to combine the two as the biennial forestry show opens in Co Laois.