IFA calls for Ash Dieback scheme

There have been calls for a new scheme to help farmers affected by ash dieback.

IFA National Farm Forestry Chairman Vincent Nally has called on Minister Andrew Doyle to bring in such a scheme as soon as possible and said it has been 10 months since the Department sought submissions to help develop a new scheme.

Ash dieback can have a major impact on the value of the timber crop due to the affect it has on growth and quality of ash trees, as well as the prospects of the trees’ prospects of survival full stop.

“Farmers planted ash, encouraged and supported by the Department through higher grants and premiums,” Mr Nally said.

“The management of ash dieback is very challenging and there is no scientific evidence that thinning infected plantations is beneficial in the long term when ash dieback is present. In fact, when dieback is severe, research suggests that the best approach is to harvest remaining commercial timber before value depreciation and to replant the area with other tree species.”

Mr Nally wants farmers to have the option to clearfell, and replant with a species of their choice should such a support scheme materialise.

He also wants no penalties to be imposed on farmers who do not replant, under certain circumstances.

“All infected plantations must be eligible for a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara), which would grant aid farmers to replant with tree species that satisfies their management objectives and provides a forest premium on the replanted land for 15 years according to GPC rate,” he added.