‘It’s an ill wind that doesn’t blow someone a favour’
Victor Barber, Harvesting Manager, Western Forestry Co-op
THIS old Irish saying is definitely coming true for some forest owners these days, the delays in obtaining a felling licence have been well documented over the last few months, all of which has resulted in a scarcity of timber logs. If you are one of the lucky forest owners that have a felling licence or at an advanced stage of getting your licence, then now is a good time to “make hay” and to harvest your timber as timber prices are very good with some record prices being achieved.
While this is a great situation for forest owners with a licence, unfortunately it is also frustrating for the numerous owners with applications that are still stuck in the licencing system or in appeals. There is good news with regard to appeals in that new legislation introduced in October 2020 has increased the forestry appeal committees from one to four which means a lot more appeals are being heard and also the amount of appeals and objections has also slowed. Western Forestry Co-op are very proud of our heritage in promoting the benefits of farm forestry and delighted to be part of the supply chain which grows a great local product by local forest owners and to see it processed locally in the North West and then exported as product overseas to the UK.
Our goal at Western Forestry Co-op is to encourage and inspire forest owners with the same pride and satisfaction that farmers in the North West have of producing their world famous livestock. We want to see the forests staying in local family ownership and encourage all forest owners to resist the offers from big investment companies and ask yourself why all these big companies/investors want your forestry so much. There are several answers to this but the realisation that Ireland’s timber industry is sustainable, renewable, productive and an environmentally positive industry is a big attraction with extra benefits such as attractive forest premiums, low labour and low taxation. Western Forestry Coop believe the future is bright, there are plenty of opportunities, ways we can progress and diversify and improve our industry and continue to make it an industry that supports and sustains rural employment and the rural community for future generations.
Harvesting timber for most forest owners will happen once in a generation and can sometimes seem a bit daunting and complicated but just like a person would get an architect to help plan and build a house, Western Forestry Co-op provide professional experienced foresters to advise and assist you through the whole process of harvesting and selling your timber to make it a positive and successful experience and make sure you get the best return from your forest.
If your forest is between 13 and 30 years you need to start planning for the future and call Western Forestry Co-op on 071-9161458 or your local harvesting forester Victor Barber 086-8289926.