Grazing Forestery Land

wicklow_hunter

Hi All,

Can anyone on here know if its acceptable to graze forestery land that's been planted with broadleaf trees? The plot in question is Primarily oak 15 years + old approximately. There are alot of brambles in it and was wondering if I could transition down the agroforestery route to try manage it.

TIA

148multi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058340215/grazing-forestery-land

Are you still drawing payments on it

Good loser

Don't see how that should bother anyone. Last year for BISS I applied on some land that went in as forestry in 1997. It was marked as 'ineligible' on the stuff from the Dept. It was about 0.5 Ha which is grazed periodically; it was really an access area for the main block. Anyway the Dept struck it from the application. As it is grazing area and /or space for nature I don't see why it should be ineligible. I phoned up to argue the point but didn't stick at it long enough to get anywhere.

wicklow_hunter

No payments have expired

tabby aspreme

Was it sheep or small cattle you had in mind for grazing

Castlekeeper

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121881846#Comment_121881846

Would the plot be designated as forestry in perpetuity now and just be ineligible for BISS etc now, regardless of condition or use?

cosatron

i seen on a documentary on the new forest in england they let pigs out in the forest before the cattle as the pigs eat up the fallen acorns as this proves harmful to them if they over indulge.

cupacoffee

I was enquiring about something similar and contacted the Irish agroforestry forum and they were brilliant, you can graze it but they cannot damage the trees

there are minimum tree stocking rates that must be met

it will never be eligible for biss

wicklow_hunter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121882698#Comment_121882698

Did that apply to forestery that was not originally designated as agroforestery? Ie your typical broadleaf forestery?

wicklow_hunter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121882527#Comment_121882527

Cattle

cupacoffee

Any kind of plantation can be grazed if it’s done right

Good loser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121882670#Comment_121882670

Probably or possibly. I don't know. It could be covered by the small print. Possibly if someone pushed the legality it might be deemed eligible.

I would consider 'the facts on the ground' would favour it's inclusion - as eligible ground.