One of the fastest growing industries at present is farm forestry

WHEN it comes to making a living from agriculture there are ever-increasing challenges for people in the sector.

However, there are options to consider other than the traditional ways of utilising land to make a living and one of the fastest growing industries in Ireland at present is in farm forestry.

It’s not as labour intensive as other forms of farming and as a result it can free up more time for doing things either farm or non-farm related.

For anyone considering getting into forestry, Teagasc advises they look at annual cash income rather than just compare farming and forestry directly.

There are a number of factors to consider including what the actual knock-on affect will be of changing use of land from livestock or crop to trees.

Some traditional forms of farming provide regular annual incomes - especially through subsidies - so a factor to consider is how a change to forestry will impact in that regard.

The good news is that forestry can often lead to increased income. Most farmers who get into the forestry industry focus on timber as the principal end product.

However, there are ways that farmers can ensure the potential of their forest farming venture is maximised and that includes adopting certain management techniques and practices.

According to Teagasc, the best way of ensuring you have a high quality tree crop is to make sure trees are thinned at an appropriate age and size.

It’s also advised that this is done on a regular cycle so the remaining trees are the most profitable when it comes to clear felling.

Consistent management of the plantation will have a direct, positive impact on the crop which in turn means a beneficial return on investment on the part of the farmer.

There is an increasing demand for timber products in society in general and farm forestry is at the forefront of providing for that need.

As with numerous other industries farming is changing and ever-evolving and farm forestry is at the heart of that changing environment.

Getting expert advice and adopting good practice techniques from the off will go a long way to ensure that your farm forestry venture gets off to the perfect start.