August is a good month to examine the forestry option. As a long term investment, it is likely that demand for timber will increase and current grants and annual tax free premiums over 15 years are attractive.
In some counties, 40% of existing forest owners repeat plant, so the decision to expand their forest holding is proving an attractive option for many farmers.
Existing forest owners will be aware of the advantages and challenges of establishing new forests.
They will also be aware of the network of organisations, foresters, forestry companies and contractors who can help them in expanding their forest resources.
The more hands on forest owners may even be in a position to carry out some of the work themselves.
While existing forest owners have a head start if they wish to expand, new forestry entrants will require help in planning, species selection, site preparation, establishment and maintenance. Advice is available from a number of outlets, including:
Teagasc forestry advisers.Producer or forest owner groups.Registered foresters either employed by a forestry company, co-op or working as consultants. In addition, organisations like the Society of Irish Foresters, Irish Timber Growers Association, Pro Silva Ireland, Woodlands of Ireland, the Woodland League and Crann provide information, field days and demonstrations on a wide range of topics.
While some of those organisations require you to become a member, most events are open to the public and are often free of charge. Where there is a charge, it is usually modest.
Teagasc outlines topics worth discussing, including how forestry interacts with other farm schemes
As outlined in a recent Teagasc forestry e-newsletter, farmers should consult widely before planting.
According to the newsletter, Teagasc advisers provide “objective answers to your questions” for free. Teagasc outlines topics worth discussing, including how forestry interacts with other farm schemes.
An important question that needs to be answered, according to Teagasc, is “what effect establishing a forest will have on other farm support schemes?”.
These include the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) along with Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and GLAS. As Teagasc points out, farmers may be able to continue claiming under the BPS “on the afforested land by meeting very specific conditions”.
Other considerations, such as the size of the proposed forest and how it will fit in with the landscape and agriculture activity on the farm are important, as farming and forestry need to be compatible .
Once the farmer is satisfied that forestry is compatible with other schemes and existing farming activity, the next question is: does the proposed forest land qualify for grant aid? With only 11% of the land area of Ireland under forests, land availability and suitability should not be an issue, but it can be.
Even on good marginal forestry land, grant aid may not always be approved on sites such as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), fresh water pearl mussel catchment areas, archaeological sites and some unenclosed land.
If mostly heather is present, then the land may be excluded from forestry grant aid
However, on most marginal sites – grass-rush or rough grazing – and soil types such as brown earths, forest fertile podzols and gleys, approval is likely.
“If mostly heather is present, then the land may be excluded from forestry grant aid,” maintains the Teagasc newsletter.
Even on some of these usually exposed sites, there is flexibility in establishing forests. For example, the Native Woodland Schemes allows for birch, Scots pine and other native species on upland sites including “Highly modified peat and peaty podzols”.
Once the land is regarded as suitable for planting, the soon-to-be forest owner can choose what kind of forest is suitable.
Planting the right trees in the right places for the right reasons is still the goal, which allows the owner to factor in commercial, biodiverse and aesthetic considerations when making the species selection.
Expert advice is then needed to begin planning and establishing a forest. This will require selecting a registered forester who works as a consultant or is employed by a forestry company.
You will need a registered forester to make the grant application and to carry out some or all of the planning, site preparation and maintenance work
The Forest Service, or your Teagasc adviser, will supply you with the list of Registered Foresters.
You will need a registered forester to make the grant application and to carry out some or all of the planning, site preparation and maintenance work until year four when the forest is regarded as established and the final instalment of the grant is made.
Over the coming weeks, we will discuss issues such as entering contracts, species selection and forest establishment, as well as encouraging farmers to take an active interest in this process, because decisions taken at this early stage will dictate the future performance of your forest.
Leitrim woodland show a huge success
They were expecting a few hundred people to turn up, but an estimated 3,400 attended the inaugural Leitrim Woodland Festival in Killegar Wood last Sunday.
“The event surpassed our wildest expectations,” said Marina Conway, CEO of Western Forestry Co-op, the main organiser of the event.
Marina Conway, chief executive, Western Forestry Co-operative, extols the benefits of native woodland establishment at the Killegar show. \ Donal Magner
“This was a huge team effort not just by Western Forestry, but it had backing from the community and the forestry and woodland family,” she said. “I wish to thank all these including the Department of Agriculture and Paul Jordan, Coillte.”
The crowd began arriving from midday and it was late into the evening before they left.
The show combined commercial and cultural aspects of forestry, with space provided for large-scale high production commercial units and smaller harvesters exhibited by Mark and Con Little.
Marina Conway, chief executive, Western Forestry Co-operative, extols the benefits of native woodland establishment at the Killegar show. \ Donal Magner
If you required a more leisurely way to extract timber, Eamonn McDonagh was on hand with his cow herd, extracting firewood before milking time.
While the show was aimed at the West and Midwest, visitors turned up from all over Ireland.
However, Leitrim and the beautiful Killegar woodland stole the show, as did the local businesses, craftspeople and other stakeholders who turned up in force.
These included Leitrim forestry, forest products and haulage businesses including Masonite, Crowe’s Sawmill, McCauley Wood Fuels and McMorrow Haulage, as well as local staff from the Forest Service, Teagasc and Coillte.
August is a good month to examine the forestry option. As a long term investment, it is likely that demand for timber will increase and current grants and annual tax free premiums over 15 years are attractive.
In some counties, 40% of existing forest owners repeat plant, so the decision to expand their forest holding is proving an attractive option for many farmers.
Existing forest owners will be aware of the advantages and challenges of establishing new forests.
They will also be aware of the network of organisations, foresters, forestry companies and contractors who can help them in expanding their forest resources.
The more hands on forest owners may even be in a position to carry out some of the work themselves.
While existing forest owners have a head start if they wish to expand, new forestry entrants will require help in planning, species selection, site preparation, establishment and maintenance. Advice is available from a number of outlets, including:
Teagasc forestry advisers.Producer or forest owner groups.Registered foresters either employed by a forestry company, co-op or working as consultants. In addition, organisations like the Society of Irish Foresters, Irish Timber Growers Association, Pro Silva Ireland, Woodlands of Ireland, the Woodland League and Crann provide information, field days and demonstrations on a wide range of topics.
While some of those organisations require you to become a member, most events are open to the public and are often free of charge. Where there is a charge, it is usually modest.
Teagasc outlines topics worth discussing, including how forestry interacts with other farm schemes
As outlined in a recent Teagasc forestry e-newsletter, farmers should consult widely before planting.
According to the newsletter, Teagasc advisers provide “objective answers to your questions” for free. Teagasc outlines topics worth discussing, including how forestry interacts with other farm schemes.
An important question that needs to be answered, according to Teagasc, is “what effect establishing a forest will have on other farm support schemes?”.
These include the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) along with Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and GLAS. As Teagasc points out, farmers may be able to continue claiming under the BPS “on the afforested land by meeting very specific conditions”.
Other considerations, such as the size of the proposed forest and how it will fit in with the landscape and agriculture activity on the farm are important, as farming and forestry need to be compatible .
Once the farmer is satisfied that forestry is compatible with other schemes and existing farming activity, the next question is: does the proposed forest land qualify for grant aid? With only 11% of the land area of Ireland under forests, land availability and suitability should not be an issue, but it can be.
Even on good marginal forestry land, grant aid may not always be approved on sites such as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), fresh water pearl mussel catchment areas, archaeological sites and some unenclosed land.
If mostly heather is present, then the land may be excluded from forestry grant aid
However, on most marginal sites – grass-rush or rough grazing – and soil types such as brown earths, forest fertile podzols and gleys, approval is likely.
“If mostly heather is present, then the land may be excluded from forestry grant aid,” maintains the Teagasc newsletter.
Even on some of these usually exposed sites, there is flexibility in establishing forests. For example, the Native Woodland Schemes allows for birch, Scots pine and other native species on upland sites including “Highly modified peat and peaty podzols”.
Once the land is regarded as suitable for planting, the soon-to-be forest owner can choose what kind of forest is suitable.
Planting the right trees in the right places for the right reasons is still the goal, which allows the owner to factor in commercial, biodiverse and aesthetic considerations when making the species selection.
Expert advice is then needed to begin planning and establishing a forest. This will require selecting a registered forester who works as a consultant or is employed by a forestry company.
You will need a registered forester to make the grant application and to carry out some or all of the planning, site preparation and maintenance work
The Forest Service, or your Teagasc adviser, will supply you with the list of Registered Foresters.
You will need a registered forester to make the grant application and to carry out some or all of the planning, site preparation and maintenance work until year four when the forest is regarded as established and the final instalment of the grant is made.
Over the coming weeks, we will discuss issues such as entering contracts, species selection and forest establishment, as well as encouraging farmers to take an active interest in this process, because decisions taken at this early stage will dictate the future performance of your forest.
Leitrim woodland show a huge success
They were expecting a few hundred people to turn up, but an estimated 3,400 attended the inaugural Leitrim Woodland Festival in Killegar Wood last Sunday.
“The event surpassed our wildest expectations,” said Marina Conway, CEO of Western Forestry Co-op, the main organiser of the event.
Marina Conway, chief executive, Western Forestry Co-operative, extols the benefits of native woodland establishment at the Killegar show. \ Donal Magner
“This was a huge team effort not just by Western Forestry, but it had backing from the community and the forestry and woodland family,” she said. “I wish to thank all these including the Department of Agriculture and Paul Jordan, Coillte.”
The crowd began arriving from midday and it was late into the evening before they left.
The show combined commercial and cultural aspects of forestry, with space provided for large-scale high production commercial units and smaller harvesters exhibited by Mark and Con Little.
Marina Conway, chief executive, Western Forestry Co-operative, extols the benefits of native woodland establishment at the Killegar show. \ Donal Magner
If you required a more leisurely way to extract timber, Eamonn McDonagh was on hand with his cow herd, extracting firewood before milking time.
While the show was aimed at the West and Midwest, visitors turned up from all over Ireland.
However, Leitrim and the beautiful Killegar woodland stole the show, as did the local businesses, craftspeople and other stakeholders who turned up in force.
These included Leitrim forestry, forest products and haulage businesses including Masonite, Crowe’s Sawmill, McCauley Wood Fuels and McMorrow Haulage, as well as local staff from the Forest Service, Teagasc and Coillte.
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