See all the top agricultural shows

The Government continues to give their full backing to an ever-growing Forestry Sector with a focus on achieving 6,600 ha this year, supporting the further development of the sector in line with the Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020.

Making a living from agriculture is becoming increasingly difficult as our climate is getting wetter and

Wetter, making it increasingly difficult to produce crops or rear livestock on land better suited to commercial forestry. “More and more farmers now recognise the potential role of forestry in helping to achieve their farm income objectives,” says Daniel O’Connell, Veon’s South West Regional Manager.

Forestry is now well-recognised as an alternative or supplementary land use for farmers to generate income from their farms. Veon Ltd is Ireland’s leading forest establishment and management company with 40,000 acres of forest under their expert care.

Veon carries out every forest operation from planting to harvesting and replanting. This work is carried out for all types of land owners all over Ireland, farmers, estate owners and investors.

According to Daniel O’Connell: “we can usually get a three month turn around for any farmer or land owner who is considering planting which enables owners to have their land planted so they can draw down their tax free premiums in this year’s growing season.”

Farmers who plant can receive a premium of up to €275 per acre per year for 15 years. This payment will be received while also keeping their entire Single Farm Payment.

Veon also ensures that the forest is established to the highest quality. Fencing, vegetation control and good plant quality is guaranteed. This will ensure that farmers are maximising their forests’ economic potential. The Grant payment covers 100% of the work to be carried out on the ground, including fencing, draining, tree purchase, planting, and maintenance.

As pressure mounts to reduce carbon emissions from farming activities, forestry will become an increasingly important activity for all farm enterprises to engage in over the coming years. THE family- run O’Callaghan Coach Holidays in Killarney is a leading service provider for farming and agricultural shows in Ireland and the UK.

O’Callaghan Coaches have provided farmers in the Kerry, Cork and Limerick region with a reliable coach service to the major agricultural shows for years.

People looking to attend events like The Balmoral Show in Belfast in May, The Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd in July, The Tullamore Show in August, and The Ploughing Championships in September will get there in comfort thanks to O’Callaghan Coaches.

The trips are hugely popular among farmers, especially as O’Callaghan Coaches offers a complete service combining day-trips, package holidays, accommodation, meals and entry tickets.

“Wegetbignumberseveryyearaseach event is a social occasion in itself where people don’t have to worry about driving orparking. ThePloughingChampionships especially are very popular with over 100 people a day availing of the service,” said Tour Manager, Deirdre O’Sullivan Darcy.

O’Callaghan Coaches place a huge emphasis on customer feedback and they have often run services to various events based on suggestions from customers.

Farming trips are a great social and interactive way of enjoying some of the year’s biggest agricultural shows in comfort and in good company.