Forestry benefits are highlighted

THE benefits of forestry to farm enterprises were lauded by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for forestry, Andrew Doyle, as the RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award 2018 was launched this week.

Launching the RDS Forestry Awards, he noted that there are four prize categories for the awards and joined with the RDS in encouraging all woodland owners and managers to enter the Awards, acknowledged that all woodlands, large or small, are of merit.

‘Not only do the Awards recognise and reward the foresight and work of those who have planted, and now manage, forests, I hope that the RDS Awards will help farmers and landowners to learn from each other’s’ successes and experiences,’ he said.

Minister Doyle also highlighted the benefits of the Afforestation Scheme operated by his Department under the Forestry Programme.

‘I believe that there are generous incentives available under the Afforestation Scheme and I believe that the farm forestry approach, where planting trees does not replace agriculture but works alongside agriculture as part of the farming mix, merits serious consideration,’ he said.

He also pointed out that between €60 and €70 million Euro is usually paid in forest premiums by tje Department each year, which represents a significant stable income stream for forest owners.

‘ There is also an online facility whereby forest owners may apply for their annual premium with payments issuing as early as January of each year,’ Minister Doyle added.