The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Timber demand
Industry body says soaring timber prices means forestry and woodprocessing should become vital part of the post-Brexit rural economy
Scottish farmers are being advised to check out soaring timber prices to give them the confidence to plant a portion of their land with trees.
Forestry Commission statistics show the price of standing timber rose by 28.2% from March 2017-2018, while the price of softwood saw logs went up by 20.8% in the six months to March 2018.
The figures have prompted Confor, which represents 1,500 forestry and wood-using businesses, to remind the farming industry of the opportunity to diversify some land into trees to create what they describe as a “sustainable business model” after Brexit.
Confor’s technical director, Andrew Heald, said Britain was already the world’s second largest net importer of timber after China but the UK Government was still missing its tree-planting targets.
He added: “While high timber prices are good news for the UK’s forest owners, these are tough times for sawmillers who are also having to compete with cheap imports of sawn timber. A steady supply of round timber is essential for sawmillers and processors to plan their operations and to have the confidence to continue to invest in their mills and factories.”
“Scotland is increasing planting rates but the rest of the UK is lagging behind and the supply crisis will only get worse in the years and decades to come unless we tackle this problem now. These statistics highlight the need for forestry and wood processing to be a much more central focus of the rural economy after Brexit.”
Mr Heald pointed out that trees benefited farmers and landowners by providing shelter for livestock, firewood in the medium term, and a cash crop and a more balanced, diversified business in the longer term.
“For those who already have trees, but have maybe not managed them well now is the time to have that asset valued and look at realising a great price,” he said.
“When you have done that, you can re-plant the land and then consider extending the area covered by trees.”
He said wood processors were currently paying top prices for their timber, but the price of sawn timber and timber products was not rising at the same rate.
“It’s a tough time for them and we are working with the industry and government to try to work through the current supply crisis. However, what we need above all else is a structured approach to long-term planning and that means more tree planting.”