Agroforestry is a relatively new land use in Ireland as it was only accepted as a grant-aided scheme since 2016. Up until last year, just 78ha of agroforests were established, but interest has been increasing, thanks to attractive schemes and a robust promotional programme carried out by the Irish Agroforestry Forum (IAF), the national body which promotes agroforestry.
So far this year, 150ha of agroforestry have been planted and paid, a seven-fold increase over last year. The programme for 2026 is even more promising, as already this year 500ha of agroforestry licences have been approved or are in the system for approval, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM).
Agroforestry applies to a land use that combines trees with agriculture – grassland, livestock and food crops – on the same land. The claim that agroforestry optimises agriculture and forestry production on the same land is one of its main selling points.
Unlike conventional forestry – and agriculture – information and research findings are confined to projects carried out in Northern Ireland. The Agrifood and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) agroforestry scientific trials in Loughgall, Co Armagh have been a vital source of scientific information, since they were established in 1989.
Jim McAdam, honorary professor, Queen’s University Belfast and formerly of AFBI, is well positioned to assess the results of Loughgall. An IAF director, he outlined the benefits of silvopasture at the recent Athenry conference on agroforestry. These include, maintaining significant livestock production within conventional farm management practice, extending the grazing season, improving soil health and providing an income from timber production.
To convince foresters, forest owners and farmers – especially beef, dairy and sheep farmers – of its long-term viability, agroforestry needs to be assessed on its performance in optimising grass and commercial timber production.
Grass production
While food – nut and berry – production are important benefits of agroforestry, farmers in particular are drawn to it because it provides grassland for grazing and hay or silage production alongside timber production.
“Peak grazing season production is 28% lower in silvopasture than grass only,” said Prof McAdam at the IAF conference. “This is less than predicted and while late season growth still has to be analysed, lower soil moisture in silvopasture will benefit grass utilization,” he said.
He cited a PhD project carried out by Samuel Crowe in 1989/91 which “measured all environmental and pasture comparisons inside and outside a 30-year-old poplar plantation in Co Down planted at 270 trees/ha grazed and unthinned”.
This study compared grassland or herbage both inside and outside the wooded area, acknowledging that plant composition had changed over the years. Average total herbage production under the trees (17 kg/ha per day), was less than half the yield in the open (38 kg/ha per day), which represents a major decrease.
However, the study found that by the end of the season (September and October) the results were almost the same both inside and outside the trees at around 18kg/ha per day.
Also, the benefits to cattle cannot be measured simply about grass production because “the trees can bring other significant benefits to animal production systems as tree fodder has nutritional value” maintained Prof McAdam.”
Timber production
Questions were raised at the agroforestry conference about the lack of emphasis on commercial timber production in agroforestry by speakers.
DAFM forestry inspector Eugene Curran, said that producing quality commercial wood was a key objective of agroforestry in Ireland, while Prof McAdam and Dr. Ian Short, Teagasc also discussed this issue in their presentations.
That said, the majority of speakers actually practising agroforestry, emphasised horticulture rather than silviculture as food (berries and nuts) took precedence over timber production.]
The production of quality wood in agroforestry is undoubtedly more challenging than conventional forestry, which carries an initial stocking of 2,500/ha, so thinning and natural selection will result in quality straight “final crop” trees of 120/ha or 5% of original crop. As initial stocking in agroforestry is 400/ha, a similar percentage reduction to 20/ha would be unacceptable. To avoid this and achieve quality timber, continuous formative shaping of selected stems up to 6m is essential as outlined by Dr Short.
Information and research findings on yield (m3/ha), timber quality and timber markets for selected species require future study not only in Loughgall but also in agroforests established in recent years.
The performance of individual species and their ability to produce quality timber at wide spacing also requires assessment. Apart from Scots pine, broadleaves are the only species recommended for agroforestry.
Future forestry
Taken in isolation, both timber and grass yield are reduced in agroforestry systems. In this regard it is a compromise land use but comparing direct production yields between timber and grass misses the point about agroforestry. The agroforestry model makes environmental and economic sense when wider environmental benefits such as soil health, water quality enhancement, shelter and other benefits to the ecosystem are factored in.
However, its role in helping to achieve Ireland’s Climate Action Plan (ICAP) targets needs to be objectively assessed. The onus now on policy makers is to decide on the type of forests Ireland requires to fulfil ICAP’s claim that “afforestation is the single-largest land-based climate change mitigation measure available to Ireland”.
Agroforestry has a role to play in sequestering carbon and reducing livestock numbers. It will however play no medium- or long-term role in producing the required timber to displace fossil based materials in construction, the biggest global greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter.
Balance between the different Forest Types is required along with clarity in achieving ICAP targets and a viable forestry programme that achieves sustainable economic and ecological objectives.
Call for windblow reconstitution grant at Sligo field day
The total area of windblow damage is now estimated at 25,922ha amounting to 9.08 million m3 (Table 1). Add in an estimated 1.1 million m3 in Northern Ireland and the total volume equates to well over two years’ harvest across the island.
While Coillte is on course to remove all its windblown trees by the end of next year, a recent Sligo field day heard from Victor Barber, harvesting manager with Western Forestry Co-op, that all timber from storm damaged private forests won’t be removed until well into 2027.
However, the private sector has achieved market penetration in Europe while Irish sawmills have increased capacity which helped private growers in the immediate aftermath of Storm Éowyn maintained Barber.
But he accepted that mills are just about coping with increased volumes from Coillte at the moment in the northwest. Barber also acknowledged Bord na Mona for increasing capacity and storage but admitted that it too is at saturation point.
The message from the field day was the need for an urgent, realistic and flexible reconstitution grant as income from storm damaged crops is extremely low due to depressed prices, fragmented small forest areas and increased harvesting costs.
We will feature a full report of the Co Sligo field day – organised by Western Forestry Co-op and the Irish Timber Growers Association – in the next forestry feature.
Final call for RDS forestry awards
Forest owners interested in applying for the 2026 RDS Forest and Woodland Awards, have until December 19 to submit their applications.
The awards, supported by DAFM, Teagasc, and the Woodlands of Ireland, recognise and reward farmers and woodland owners who are employing the principles of sustainable forestry. The awards which cover all forest sizes, ages and species are divided into the following award categories:
Silvicultural Excellence and Innovation.Teagasc Farm Forestry. Community Woodland.Native Woodland. There is a prize fund of €12,000 for winners and runners up along with specially commissioned trophies and RDS silver medal for category winners.
Download application form via this link and submit by 19 December.
Agroforestry is a relatively new land use in Ireland as it was only accepted as a grant-aided scheme since 2016. Up until last year, just 78ha of agroforests were established, but interest has been increasing, thanks to attractive schemes and a robust promotional programme carried out by the Irish Agroforestry Forum (IAF), the national body which promotes agroforestry.
So far this year, 150ha of agroforestry have been planted and paid, a seven-fold increase over last year. The programme for 2026 is even more promising, as already this year 500ha of agroforestry licences have been approved or are in the system for approval, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM).
Agroforestry applies to a land use that combines trees with agriculture – grassland, livestock and food crops – on the same land. The claim that agroforestry optimises agriculture and forestry production on the same land is one of its main selling points.
Unlike conventional forestry – and agriculture – information and research findings are confined to projects carried out in Northern Ireland. The Agrifood and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) agroforestry scientific trials in Loughgall, Co Armagh have been a vital source of scientific information, since they were established in 1989.
Jim McAdam, honorary professor, Queen’s University Belfast and formerly of AFBI, is well positioned to assess the results of Loughgall. An IAF director, he outlined the benefits of silvopasture at the recent Athenry conference on agroforestry. These include, maintaining significant livestock production within conventional farm management practice, extending the grazing season, improving soil health and providing an income from timber production.
To convince foresters, forest owners and farmers – especially beef, dairy and sheep farmers – of its long-term viability, agroforestry needs to be assessed on its performance in optimising grass and commercial timber production.
Grass production
While food – nut and berry – production are important benefits of agroforestry, farmers in particular are drawn to it because it provides grassland for grazing and hay or silage production alongside timber production.
“Peak grazing season production is 28% lower in silvopasture than grass only,” said Prof McAdam at the IAF conference. “This is less than predicted and while late season growth still has to be analysed, lower soil moisture in silvopasture will benefit grass utilization,” he said.
He cited a PhD project carried out by Samuel Crowe in 1989/91 which “measured all environmental and pasture comparisons inside and outside a 30-year-old poplar plantation in Co Down planted at 270 trees/ha grazed and unthinned”.
This study compared grassland or herbage both inside and outside the wooded area, acknowledging that plant composition had changed over the years. Average total herbage production under the trees (17 kg/ha per day), was less than half the yield in the open (38 kg/ha per day), which represents a major decrease.
However, the study found that by the end of the season (September and October) the results were almost the same both inside and outside the trees at around 18kg/ha per day.
Also, the benefits to cattle cannot be measured simply about grass production because “the trees can bring other significant benefits to animal production systems as tree fodder has nutritional value” maintained Prof McAdam.”
Timber production
Questions were raised at the agroforestry conference about the lack of emphasis on commercial timber production in agroforestry by speakers.
DAFM forestry inspector Eugene Curran, said that producing quality commercial wood was a key objective of agroforestry in Ireland, while Prof McAdam and Dr. Ian Short, Teagasc also discussed this issue in their presentations.
That said, the majority of speakers actually practising agroforestry, emphasised horticulture rather than silviculture as food (berries and nuts) took precedence over timber production.]
The production of quality wood in agroforestry is undoubtedly more challenging than conventional forestry, which carries an initial stocking of 2,500/ha, so thinning and natural selection will result in quality straight “final crop” trees of 120/ha or 5% of original crop. As initial stocking in agroforestry is 400/ha, a similar percentage reduction to 20/ha would be unacceptable. To avoid this and achieve quality timber, continuous formative shaping of selected stems up to 6m is essential as outlined by Dr Short.
Information and research findings on yield (m3/ha), timber quality and timber markets for selected species require future study not only in Loughgall but also in agroforests established in recent years.
The performance of individual species and their ability to produce quality timber at wide spacing also requires assessment. Apart from Scots pine, broadleaves are the only species recommended for agroforestry.
Future forestry
Taken in isolation, both timber and grass yield are reduced in agroforestry systems. In this regard it is a compromise land use but comparing direct production yields between timber and grass misses the point about agroforestry. The agroforestry model makes environmental and economic sense when wider environmental benefits such as soil health, water quality enhancement, shelter and other benefits to the ecosystem are factored in.
However, its role in helping to achieve Ireland’s Climate Action Plan (ICAP) targets needs to be objectively assessed. The onus now on policy makers is to decide on the type of forests Ireland requires to fulfil ICAP’s claim that “afforestation is the single-largest land-based climate change mitigation measure available to Ireland”.
Agroforestry has a role to play in sequestering carbon and reducing livestock numbers. It will however play no medium- or long-term role in producing the required timber to displace fossil based materials in construction, the biggest global greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter.
Balance between the different Forest Types is required along with clarity in achieving ICAP targets and a viable forestry programme that achieves sustainable economic and ecological objectives.
Call for windblow reconstitution grant at Sligo field day
The total area of windblow damage is now estimated at 25,922ha amounting to 9.08 million m3 (Table 1). Add in an estimated 1.1 million m3 in Northern Ireland and the total volume equates to well over two years’ harvest across the island.
While Coillte is on course to remove all its windblown trees by the end of next year, a recent Sligo field day heard from Victor Barber, harvesting manager with Western Forestry Co-op, that all timber from storm damaged private forests won’t be removed until well into 2027.
However, the private sector has achieved market penetration in Europe while Irish sawmills have increased capacity which helped private growers in the immediate aftermath of Storm Éowyn maintained Barber.
But he accepted that mills are just about coping with increased volumes from Coillte at the moment in the northwest. Barber also acknowledged Bord na Mona for increasing capacity and storage but admitted that it too is at saturation point.
The message from the field day was the need for an urgent, realistic and flexible reconstitution grant as income from storm damaged crops is extremely low due to depressed prices, fragmented small forest areas and increased harvesting costs.
We will feature a full report of the Co Sligo field day – organised by Western Forestry Co-op and the Irish Timber Growers Association – in the next forestry feature.
Final call for RDS forestry awards
Forest owners interested in applying for the 2026 RDS Forest and Woodland Awards, have until December 19 to submit their applications.
The awards, supported by DAFM, Teagasc, and the Woodlands of Ireland, recognise and reward farmers and woodland owners who are employing the principles of sustainable forestry. The awards which cover all forest sizes, ages and species are divided into the following award categories:
Silvicultural Excellence and Innovation.Teagasc Farm Forestry. Community Woodland.Native Woodland. There is a prize fund of €12,000 for winners and runners up along with specially commissioned trophies and RDS silver medal for category winners.
Download application form via this link and submit by 19 December.
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