Minister Launches Teagasc Forestry Programme

11 March, 2004

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh today launched an expanded Teagasc advisory programme on forestry.

The programme involves the delivery of intensive advice to farmers on the role of forestry under the new EU policy which comes into effect in January 2005 as well as giving expert advice on the efficient management of farm forests.

Speaking in Meath at the launch of the programme, Jim Reidy National Forestry Development Officer with Teagasc, said 13,000 farmers now have a forest enterprise, with around 10% of the national land area under forests.

“Farmers now account for over 80% of annual afforestation. At present, 95% of all timber sales are from Coillte forests. However, by 2015, sales of timber from private forests will account for 25% of the total, reflecting the huge increase in farmer planting over the past decade,” said Jim Reidy.

He said 5,000 farmers, with a total of 50,000 hectares of forestry, are now at or near the first thinning stage.

“Planning and marketing the first thinnings is a major focus of the Teagasc programme. Our aim is to promote a timber culture among farmers,” he said.

Jim Reidy said that under the new EU decoupled payments forestry will offer many farmers the opportunity to boost income.

“Up to 25,000 drystock farmers will have decoupled payments of less then€200/hectare (€80/acre) from 1 January 2005. For many of these, planting tress on part of their land could lead to an increase in income,” he said.

“For those who plant in 2004 there is the additional bonus of retaining the full decoupled payment on the land planed while also being eligible for the full forestry premium,” he added.

“Any farmer who feels forestry can play a part in the new policy environment should get independent, expert advice from Teagasc,” he said.