Maybe some of the designated land in the country should be planted with trees, IFA presidential hopeful Tim Cullinan has said.
“Obviously there’s parts of the country already that is over-planted. There is concern about that.
“We also have designated land that is almost worthless at the moment. I think we have to reconsider that and maybe some of that land should be planted,” he told an Irish Farmers Journal debate on Friday night.
He warned that care needs to be taken: “We saw what happened in the past with Coillte and partnerships with farmers. Farmers came out very poorly out of those partnerships, so a word of caution, yes I agree with planting but farmers have to be protected here.” He added that the value of the wood as a result of planting is critical too.
Carbon sinks
“Look, if a farmer had a number of acres or poor land, maybe he should consider planting.
“What I want to achieve in my four years if I am elected president of IFA, is I want to turn those areas, the disadvantaged areas, into a carbon sink that farmers will be well compensated for, for having suckler cows and having sheep in those areas,” he said.
Tim Cullinan at the live Irish Farmers Journal debate. \ Philip Doyle
Blanket planting
John Coughlan said that forestry is an opportunity for farmers, but warned that there can’t be blanket planting across the country.
“The forestry plans in this country are flawed because I think we need to be able to allow farmers to plant trees. One plan doesn’t fit all.
“If you take a lot of the good land in the country, there are pockets of that land that farmers are prepared to plant with individual trees or small groups of trees that will have a huge effect on the environment if they’re allowed to do it. But at present the Government wants to plant big areas, blanket areas. We need to have a better forestry policy.
“I’ve planted over 300 trees on my farm since I started farming. I would continue to plant trees. I believe every farmer should get an environmental payment to plant individual trees and small groups of trees on their farms in areas that they can do it,” he said.
He added that at present the only trees that will pay a farmer to plant are Sitka spruce, which is not on.
“I think if there is a proper environmental payment given to farmers to plant hardwood trees over a longer period it would be very beneficial.”
Farmer premiums and land grabs
Angus Woods said that forestry is an opportunity for some farmers and it’s a threat for others depending on where they are and their circumstances.
“Like everything, it shouldn’t just be a blanket instruction to do it, there has to be proper consultation. What we do need is to see the farmer premium being reinstated again.
It’s a real opportunity for some farmers but it is definitely seen as a threat by other farmers
“Having large corporate entities getting paid the same as farmers for planting is not correct because in some areas of the country we’re seeing almost a land grab for planting, whereas I would like to see the money from forestry being retained by the local farmers therefore being spent in the local environment and economy.
“It’s a real opportunity for some farmers but it is definitely seen as a threat by other farmers and you have to get that balance right.
“There has to be a policy balance. The type of land that can be planted also needs to be looked at too to try and free up land in other areas. You can’t be funnelling it in small areas. It needs to be spread,” he said.
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Maybe some of the designated land in the country should be planted with trees, IFA presidential hopeful Tim Cullinan has said.
“Obviously there’s parts of the country already that is over-planted. There is concern about that.
“We also have designated land that is almost worthless at the moment. I think we have to reconsider that and maybe some of that land should be planted,” he told an Irish Farmers Journal debate on Friday night.
He warned that care needs to be taken: “We saw what happened in the past with Coillte and partnerships with farmers. Farmers came out very poorly out of those partnerships, so a word of caution, yes I agree with planting but farmers have to be protected here.” He added that the value of the wood as a result of planting is critical too.
Carbon sinks
“Look, if a farmer had a number of acres or poor land, maybe he should consider planting.
“What I want to achieve in my four years if I am elected president of IFA, is I want to turn those areas, the disadvantaged areas, into a carbon sink that farmers will be well compensated for, for having suckler cows and having sheep in those areas,” he said.
Tim Cullinan at the live Irish Farmers Journal debate. \ Philip Doyle
Blanket planting
John Coughlan said that forestry is an opportunity for farmers, but warned that there can’t be blanket planting across the country.
“The forestry plans in this country are flawed because I think we need to be able to allow farmers to plant trees. One plan doesn’t fit all.
“If you take a lot of the good land in the country, there are pockets of that land that farmers are prepared to plant with individual trees or small groups of trees that will have a huge effect on the environment if they’re allowed to do it. But at present the Government wants to plant big areas, blanket areas. We need to have a better forestry policy.
“I’ve planted over 300 trees on my farm since I started farming. I would continue to plant trees. I believe every farmer should get an environmental payment to plant individual trees and small groups of trees on their farms in areas that they can do it,” he said.
He added that at present the only trees that will pay a farmer to plant are Sitka spruce, which is not on.
“I think if there is a proper environmental payment given to farmers to plant hardwood trees over a longer period it would be very beneficial.”
Farmer premiums and land grabs
Angus Woods said that forestry is an opportunity for some farmers and it’s a threat for others depending on where they are and their circumstances.
“Like everything, it shouldn’t just be a blanket instruction to do it, there has to be proper consultation. What we do need is to see the farmer premium being reinstated again.
It’s a real opportunity for some farmers but it is definitely seen as a threat by other farmers
“Having large corporate entities getting paid the same as farmers for planting is not correct because in some areas of the country we’re seeing almost a land grab for planting, whereas I would like to see the money from forestry being retained by the local farmers therefore being spent in the local environment and economy.
“It’s a real opportunity for some farmers but it is definitely seen as a threat by other farmers and you have to get that balance right.
“There has to be a policy balance. The type of land that can be planted also needs to be looked at too to try and free up land in other areas. You can’t be funnelling it in small areas. It needs to be spread,” he said.
Read more
IFA candidates on dairy calves: breeding policy and sexed semen lab discussed
Paddy Power reveals favourite for IFA election
Watch back: IFA candidates take part in Irish Farmers Journal debate
IFA presidential debate: the candidates on 10 key farming questions
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