A winning approach that’s paying handsome dividends
“TRACTORS have got stuck, animals have got stuck. One would be thinking in the springtime: when will I get out there,” reflects Kilkenny farmer Andrew O’Carroll on his decision to take a different approach with marginal land on his farm in Kilkenny.
He planted the marginal land with trees in 2005 and says his farm forest is now “jumping out of the ground”.
Forestry premiums allow Andrew to lease better ground which is helping the day-to-day running of his suckling enterprise.
Andrew’s approach saw him recently became the inaugural winner of the Teagasc Farm Forestry Award category at the RDS Forest and Woodland Awards — Ireland’s national forestry awards.
His forestry ‘pension pot’ is already well ahead of schedule and he is planning first thinning next year. According to Teagasc drystock advisor Terry Carroll: “Andrew made that decision with his family and it has proven to be the absolute best decision.
“The combination of suckler cows, GLAS and forestry are complementing each other”.
You can hear Andrew’s story on the Teagasc Forestry channel on YouTube. Andrew received a €2,000 prize for his award-winning farm forest.
The next RDS Forest and Woodland Awards are now open for entries. With four award categories and a total prize fund of €12,000, all woodlands, large and small may be considered.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, July 13. Further information is available from www.rds.ie, www. teagasc.ie/forestry and from local Teagasc forestry staff. Could your forest be a winner?