Land suitable for forestry

studdlymurphy

How do I identify suitable land? Do I need to consult with teagasc and/or a forrester? If the forrester agrees it is suitable could it still then be shot down by teagasc?
The reason I'm asking is that I'm looking at a bit of land that may be suitable but don't want to buy it to then find out it cannot be used.
Any views on a good method or any views in general would be great.
Thanks

timfromtang

Hi Studdly,
Suitable land? Nearly all of the land on the island of Éire will grow trees satisfactorily, the better the land, the broader the choice of species, exceptions include, land that is too high or too exposed. After all, if any land is fenced and left, or abandoned for a long enough period, it will eventually gain tree cover here in Éire. However there is some other land which is difficult to grow trees on bogs etc, and some land that is precluded from planting by the humans and their rules.
If the site is neither mountaintop, cliffside, bog, or Special Area of Conservation, then you're likely fine.

I'd suggest giving your local Teagasc Forestry adviser a call, its their job to help after all, and its advice they give, a teagasc adviser does not "set the rules" or give out orders, that is the job of the forest section of the dept of agriculture and legislation (Note new forestry act is now apparently in force and is somewhat more demanding than previous legislation)

A forester is usually working for a forestry company, and in the main these boys and girls are working for the grant money, i.e. the planting and establishment grants, maintenance grants, roading grants etc, the grant goes to pay their wages, and they do the work or supervise its subcontracting. Another role of foresters and forestry companies is to interpret the rules of the dept and deal with the paperwork etc. Their final role is the knowledge of suitable sites etc, and choice of suitable species, however careful here as they tend to try and choose species which pay the most in grant in the short term, and may not be best suited to YOUR long term plans for the site, i.e. what species suits your long term reason for planting trees (end use)?

If you'd consent to posting its location on google maps perhaps some folk here could help more. Its difficult to say without more information on the land.


tim

tomwaterford

Sorry for butting in....I'm aghast at starting new threads

But how much would land that has been in forestry but has been cleared (??) But not been replanted Be worth??


I assume it would have to be replanted??

How much per acre is cost of clearing it to replanting it and planting (roughly)

timfromtang

tomwaterford wrote: »

Sorry for butting in....I'm aghast at starting new threads

But how much would land that has been in forestry but has been cleared (??) But not been replanted Be worth??


I assume it would have to be replanted??

How much per acre is cost of clearing it to replanting it and planting (roughly)

Hi Tom,
I'd suggest that the forestry co's are able to get paid their wages, for the work and the hire of contractors and buying of plants and fencing and what have you, all from the planting grant which comes in two lumps, one paid after planting and the other 4 years or so later when the plantation hopefully pases inspection.
For a good estimate of the costs involved, I'd suggest looking at the published planting grant figures for a guideline for whatever species you are interested in.
Your own costs are likely to be broadly similar.
tim

tomwaterford

timfromtang wrote: »

Hi Tom,
I'd suggest that the forestry co's are able to get paid their wages, for the work and the hire of contractors and buying of plants and fencing and what have you, all from the planting grant which comes in two lumps, one paid after planting and the other 4 years or so later when the plantation hopefully pases inspection.
For a good estimate of the costs involved, I'd suggest looking at the published planting grant figures for a guideline for whatever species you are interested in.
Your own costs are likely to be broadly similar.
tim

OK. ...one last question (know I should ask teagasc)....if I was to buy ex forestry ground....

it's been harvested and lying idle since a few years ago,would I be able to get a grant to replant it (I'm assuming it can't be reclaimed as farmland)

cute geoge

What would rough summer grazing land be worth per acre .This land suitable for forestry or reclaiming would be only 10 acres .I hear forestry land is making €3/3500 per acre but would this apply to plots of 10 acres

timfromtang

tomwaterford wrote: »

OK. ...one last question (know I should ask teagasc)....if I was to buy ex forestry ground....

it's been harvested and lying idle since a few years ago,would I be able to get a grant to replant it (I'm assuming it can't be reclaimed as farmland)

Welll....... thats an IF?
I'd say probably not if it was previously in forestry then I would imagine there is some sort of statutory duty to replant, and no grant payable, of course ther may be some help available, give your local teagasc forestry adviser a call i'd say.

Another question comes to mind??
What species was the previous crop, how old when harvested, yield?

Cost of replanting will be heavily influenced by ground conditions on the site.

Cost of replanting can be dramatically reduced if you take on some of the work yourself.

tim

fergus1001

studdlymurphy wrote:

How do I identify suitable land? Do I need to consult with teagasc and/or a forrester? If the forrester agrees it is suitable could it still then be shot down by teagasc? The reason I'm asking is that I'm looking at a bit of land that may be suitable but don't want to buy it to then find out it cannot be used. Any views on a good method or any views in general would be great. Thanks

You get a registered forester to put in a form 1 for approval to plant forestry, you have the approval for forestry as a condition of sale that's how I do it, once approved the sale closes, best get in contact with a forestry company that deals with investment so you can get an idea of what you should pay for it

fergus1001

timfromtang wrote:

Hi Tom, I'd suggest that the forestry co's are able to get paid their wages, for the work and the hire of contractors and buying of plants and fencing and what have you, all from the planting grant which comes in two lumps, one paid after planting and the other 4 years or so later when the plantation hopefully pases inspection. For a good estimate of the costs involved, I'd suggest looking at the published planting grant figures for a guideline for whatever species you are interested in. Your own costs are likely to be broadly similar. tim

Planting refor has higher contractor and plant and maintenance costs due to pine weavil and then the need to spray for them and also the weeds would be a lot more vigorous than on a greenfield

tomwaterford wrote:

it's been harvested and lying idle since a few years ago,would I be able to get a grant to replant it (I'm assuming it can't be reclaimed as farmland)

No there is no grant for replanting

I'd say 750 to 1000 per acre, don't pay any more than that

tomwaterford

fergus1001 wrote: »

Planting refor has higher contractor and plant and maintenance costs due to pine weavil and then the need to spray for them and also the weeds would be a lot more vigorous than on a greenfield



No there is no grant for replanting

I'd say 750 to 1000 per acre, don't pay any more than that

What price would you be talking to replant per acre??

Between shredding (??) Old stumps and coSt per acre for trees to plant (roughly)??

Melodeon

Going by what I've been hearing over the last few years at various information days and demos, a figure of €1500/Ha appears to be the ballpark of what's currently being recommended to budget for re-afforesting a clearfell site.
I'd be inclined to round that up to €2000/Ha for wiggle room, so I suppose a figure of €800/Ac or so would be reasonable?

fergus1001

Melodeon wrote:

Going by what I've been hearing over the last few years at various information days and demos, a figure of €1500/Ha appears to be the ballpark of what's currently being recommended to budget for re-afforesting a clearfell site. I'd be inclined to round that up to €2000/Ha for wiggle room, so I suppose a figure of €800/Ac or so would be reasonable?

Agreed your roughly talking 10 to 20% of your income from the clearfell, you will end up paying around as much as 15-20 year old crop would cost so I'd recommend buying those kind of crops instead