Afforestation grant

diarmuidb24

Morning guys, just trying to compile some information on this forestry grant that's going at the moment. We have a pretty poor field in the middle of the farm, approx 2ha in size. The soil quality is average, peaty inspots but it's down in a hole and is too wet to farm with cows or get tractors in on it.
Is the grant a worthwhile opportunity? And are the regulations and specifications very strict in relation to it? I know it would potentially dry the field up pretty well and allow us to get access to the back fields which would be a major plus.

timfromtang

diarmuidb24 wrote: »

Morning guys, just trying to compile some information on this forestry grant that's going at the moment. We have a pretty poor field in the middle of the farm, approx 2ha in size. The soil quality is average, peaty inspots but it's down in a hole and is too wet to farm with cows or get tractors in on it.
Is the grant a worthwhile opportunity? And are the regulations and specifications very strict in relation to it? I know it would potentially dry the field up pretty well and allow us to get access to the back fields which would be a major plus.

Hi Diarmuid,
Ask yourself this, "Do I want to grow trees?" "If I grew trees what could I use the timber for?" What other benefits might i derive from a bit of forest on our farm?" etc. You have already correctly observed that it will improve the field and access on the farm.

Like any other kind of land use, i.e. cows, if you want to be successful with cows you need to know lots about cows and love cows, and cow work, trees are the same, to do it well you need to love the trees and know about them and their uses.

The Grant is to cover the first establishment phase of the trees, to make up for not using the land for other things, but when it finishes then what?

If you know about trees after the grant finishes, they are big enough to start to use for some things, and should start to make a few pound, I'd suggest Larch for fencing in your case perhaps, nice rot resistant fencing material from about year 12 onwards with larch grown well in medium fertility soil. Perhaps some sitka for roofing material for a house your children may build? Perhaps some hazel for nuts, etc etc.
Having a timber resource on farm and the knowledge and abilities to use it will reward you in the long term, providing all sorts of benefits.

The long and short of it is,
the grant is worthwhile, but only if you WANT to grow trees, if you are a tree hater and ignorant of their benefits, then when the grant is finished the trees become an encumbrance and the need to keep the land under forest forever that you have agreed with the govt, its the law and such, will grate, many small parcels of forested land come on the market from such sources.

hope this helps
pm me if you'd like to chat about the benefits of forest on a farm, i'll share my number.
note I am not a registered forester and not associated with any forestry company, simply a farmer who has converted to growing trees and adding value on the farm as an alternative enterprise. I produce, fencing material, larch trailer floors, firewood, charcoal, planks for timber craft, blanks for woodturners, etc etc.

One more thing I would add, Be Careful! It appears that many of the forestry companies out there exist only as vehicles to harvest grant money, you can protect yourself from getting something less than ideal from your planting by having clear objectives and a bit of knowledge, forestry is about growing trees as much as farming is about growing food, if focused on harvesting grant aid, results are often less than ideal.

tim

Fuisneog Abu

diarmuidb24

Those are ideas I had never even thought of!! Thanks very much for your help. Gonna concentrate on finishing my final year exams next month and then start the ball rolling on this forestry grant. Thank you.

timfromtang

diarmuidb24 wrote: »

Those are ideas I had never even thought of!! Thanks very much for your help. Gonna concentrate on finishing my final year exams next month and then start the ball rolling on this forestry grant. Thank you.

Hi Diarmuid,
If you are studying Agriculture, then a chat with some folks in the forestry department might help a LOT.

tim
I had a great time as a mature student in UCD studying the forestry.