Christmas Trees

emcor

Hi Guys,

Have some good quality land which is not doing much and is not in REPS or other grant scheme. I am looking at establishing christmas tree plantation of 1000 trees per year; Noble Fir(@1000/acre) for 5/7-Years until crop is ready.

I understand there is a good deal of work in establishing the plantation, weed/pest control and shaping/pruning the trees but the profits look fine - being tax free makes it attractive.

I've canvassed some retaillers locally and been told that they are paying €25/stem and having to travel 4-hrs to Wicklow to get them. I accept that security will be an issue coming up to christmas time. And selling direct an option too.

What I'd like is feedback from people who can advise of unseen negatives. The merits of high quality saplings and where to get them and anything else to look at before commitment.

Thanks in advance.

paddy147

emcor wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Have some good quality land which is not doing much and is not in REPS or other grant scheme. I am looking at establishing christmas tree plantation of 1000 trees per year; Noble Fir(@1000/acre) for 5/7-Years until crop is ready.

I understand there is a good deal of work in establishing the plantation, weed/pest control and shaping/pruning the trees but the profits look fine - being tax free makes it attractive.

I've canvassed some retaillers locally and been told that they are paying €25/stem and having to travel 4-hrs to Wicklow to get them. I accept that security will be an issue coming up to christmas time. And selling direct an option too.

What I'd like is feedback from people who can advise of unseen negatives. The merits of high quality saplings and where to get them and anything else to look at before commitment.

Thanks in advance.

Quote a few flat bed trailers of Xmas trees were robbed last year.

Some tree farms hired security firms to man/patrol their land to prevent the thefts from happening.

Rovi

You'd need to get professional clarification on the tax thing.
To the best of my knowledge, Christmas trees aren't considered to be 'forestry' for tax purposes.

Oldtree

No grant for Christmas trees, you may be interested in this

http://www.teagasc.ie/forestry/docs/advice/Teagasc_Christmastrees_1110.pdf

"Unlike commercial forestry, there are no grants or premia for growing Christmas trees but, as a forest product, they are exempt from income tax."

I didn't know that either about the tax.

http://www.christmastreesireland.com/
http://www.christmastreecentre.ie/
http://www.irishchristmastrees.com/

Just found this on revenue:
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vat/leaflets/horticultural-retailers.html
http://www.revenue.ie/en/about/foi/precedents/woodlands.html
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vat/rates/decision-detail-01585.jsp