Teagasc campaign to train forest owners on how to maximise profits

FARM training body Teagasc is on a drive to train landowners on how to maximise their profits from forestry.

At present, about 10% of Ireland’s land surface is devoted to forestry. Export earnings from forestry are worth more than €250m annually to the Irish economy. The plan is to extract greater value from the sector by educating forestry owners to better manage this emerging sector’s potential.

Teagasc and partner organisations including the Forest Service, IFA, Coillte and the National Parks and Wildlife Service are currently hosting a forestry fortnight in venues throughout Clare. Forest owners from other counties are also visiting forest owners in Co Clare, with events running until Wednesday. Workshops will focus on maximising returns from thinning.

Denis Purcell from Feakle is one of the few forest owners in Co Clare who has gone through the process twice. He has just completed his second thinning. Back in 1988, Denis’ father planted 18 hectares of land with Sitka spruce. His decision has proven very successful.

Denis says: “Initially I was more comfortable getting a forestry consultant to help organise the first thinning. I really saw a huge improvement in the plantation after thinning — it really started to look like a forest.

“Since then, I have taken a more active role and I decided to manage the second thinning myself. Over the past few years I attended Teagasc training days and I got as much information as possible to make sure I was making the right decision. I am very happy with the result.”

Although selling small-sized timber from first thinning is a new venture for many owners, the process is straightforward.

Teagasc’s ‘Steps to Thinning and Marketing your Timber’ workshops are aimed at helping forest owners make the right decisions about thinning.

Denis Purcell said, “I made a few thousand euro from the first thinning and I was very happy with the help I received from the forester. I was lucky to sell the second thinning when prices were very strong — that’s where the real money is, but you have to do the first thinning first.”

Teagasc, Seed Savers and Celt will jointly demonstrate the importance of tree and orchard planting and management next Tuesday.

For information, visit www.teagasc.ie/forestry for all event details.