Western Forestry Co-op Welcomes Forestry Rule Change
NEW Environmental Requirements introduced in December 2016 for the afforestation grant scheme had increased setbacks in areas such as high status water bodies, which would often result in exceeding the 15% biodiversity payment threshold. After highlighting this issue to the Department on many occasions Western Forestry Co-op are delighted to say the Department has made changes so that there is greater flexibility presented in the calculation of these areas so that no farmer should exceed the biodiversity threshold whilst still maintaining the environmental safeguards for new forests. This is a very positive development which recognises the biodiversity enhancement that new forests are providing.
Forestry has a 30 year tradition of complimenting farming in rural Ireland where landowners afforested the marginal areas of their farms and use the premium payments to invest in other areas of their farms such as their beef, dairy or sheep enterprise. Western Forestry Co-op advises farmers to get advice from the co-op if they are thinking of forestry. Forestry is a recognised secure pension plan, heavy wet mineral gley soils are highly productive for forestry achieving fastest growth rates in Europe. Forestry creates jobs locally in planting, fencing, maintenance, foresters, harvesting, haulage, sawmilling, firewood, pulp manufacturing and most importantly the forest premium is income in to farmers pockets that is spent in the local community. A recent client who afforested their land with the Co-op was a full time suckler farmer who planted 10 hectares of an out farm, the land was 10 miles from house of average quality and was high maintenance. They still receive the basic payment of €250/Ha and now the forest premium of €510/Ha so the total income per annum is now €7,600 income tax free that is being used in other areas of the farm. This is how forestry can compliment farming and how it is good for rural Ireland.
Western Forestry Co-op has 32 years experience in advising farmers on forestry. The Co-op was established in 1985 by the main Co-operatives in Western Counties in response to a need for support services for farmers considering forestry. If you want honest advice then contact your local Co-op Forester Victor on 086-8289926 (please see our advert on this page). Please note it can take minimum 3 months for an afforestation application to be approved so if you are thinking of forestry this season then please contact Victor for a free assessment.