Teagasc Runs Special Meetings on New Forestry Concessions

1 March, 2004

Farmers who wish to avail of the attractive forestry concessions under the new EU CAP reforms must have their forestry planting completed by December 2004.

The Minster for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh, has confirmed that farmers who plant in 2004 will qualify for the full Fischler decoupled payments on the land planted and will also be entitled to draw the full forestry premium

Jim Reidy, National Forestry Development Officer with Teagasc, said this amounts to a substantially enhanced payment on afforested land and represents a huge boost to farmers getting into forestry.

“The concession negotiated by the Minister applies to farmers who planted part of their land between January 2000 and December 2004. Therefore, farmers who have applied for the afforestation grant scheme or who intend to apply over the coming months must have planting completed by 31 December next in order to benefit from this major concession”, said Jim Reidy.

He announced that Teagasc is running a series of special meetings and courses during the next two months for farmers planting forestry this year. These will provide full information on the new arrangements and enable each farmer to see the major financial benefits of planting this year.

“The nationwide Teagasc Planning Post Fischler programme also provides comprehensive advice on forestry as a potential source of additional income. Farmers can avail of this service through every Teagasc office,” he said.

Jim Reidy said that, independent of these new concessions, there is still scope to improve income through planting trees.

“From January 2005, all payments to beef, sheep and tillage farmers will be based on their average payments received in the period 2000-2002. Farmers who will receive less than €200/ha (€80/acre) direct payments from 2005 should seriously consider forestry. Expert advice is available from Teagasc forestry advisers,” he said.