Most private forestry companies in Ireland were established to carry out afforestation but in recent years, they have diversified as the forests established from the late 1980s mature. Now roading, harvesting and reforestation are required as high-yielding crops reach final harvesting. The increased range of activities has coincided with a geographical spread as most of the larger forestry companies now have nationwide representation.

Drumshanbo

Momme Reibisch, regional manager, Veon North West, explained the need to have a strong local presence at the opening of the company’s new office in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, last week. Veon is headquartered in Dublin but the company places strong emphasis on localised promotion.

“We have four regional offices strategically located throughout the country, in counties Wexford, Kerry, Galway and now Leitrim,” he said. The main activities are planting and harvesting but the company’s portfolio continues to expand to cater for a wide range of farm forestry management services.

“These include forest planning, audits, forest sales, insurance, fire protection, wind-farm services and forest valuations,” he said.

Andrew Doyle, Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, opened the office. “Veon’s decision to locate in Drumshanbo is a vote of confidence in the commercial forestry sector in the northwest and the increasingly important role that forestry plays in providing income diversification opportunities for farmers,” he said.

“This is important in light of continuing uncertainty over the effects of Brexit on farm incomes,” he said.

Crossmolina

The Forestry Company opened its new regional office in Crossmolina, Co Mayo, last week, while also announcing the appointment of Sarah Standish, as the company’s forest manager for the region. “We are particularly delighted that Sarah has joined us as she is a great addition to our team of foresters who are now managing forests in every county in Ireland,” said John Roche, managing director.

“The Crossmolina base will allow us to provide a better service in the northwest of the country and it’s important that the operation is run by a locally based forester,” he said. “Sarah’s interest in forestry developed from a young age as many of her family members continue to be involved in the sector.”

She sees this as an exciting time for the company and the forestry sector. “Many private growers that established forests in the 1990s are moving into the thinning and harvesting phase,” she said. “Much of this planting was carried out in the northwest and many owners are only now realising that there is real value in the timber crop for them and their families,” she maintained. “Forestry has a genuine role in diversifying farm incomes, particularly in areas of marginal land.”

The Forestry Company, based in Cork, has responded to the challenge of timber mobilisation but John Roche said that ensuring a strong afforestation programme has to be a priority. “Grants are available which cover all the establishment costs as well as 15 guaranteed annual tax free premium payments for farmers,” he said. “In the majority of cases, land which is planted is also eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).”

Beet to biomass

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar checked out the Clonroche biomass processing plant, T&A Byrne Renewables, last Sunday week during a visit to Co Wexford. The plant services a range of commercial and industrial scale biomass energy clients in the southeast. It uses predominately Coillte logs for its annual supply of biomass.

An Taoiseach wished to see first-hand the contribution a regional processing hub of this scale makes to the local economy, as well as hearing the many benefits in terms of displacing imported fossil fuel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mobilising Ireland’s forestry resources.

The unit comprises a large, secure log storage yard and fuel storage sheds. Logs, sourced and delivered on a pre-planned basis several months in advance, are systematically stacked for open air drying.

T&A Byrne Renewables diversified into wood energy in 2000 as one of the company’s sources of business, the Irish sugar beet industry, was being phased out.

Now well established, the company has a wide range of clients including the global healthcare company Glaxosmithkline (GSK), based in Dungarvan. GSK’s use of wood biomass displaces 2.5m litres of oil annually.