Decoupling 'a powerful incentive for forestry'

DECOUPLING next January releases 450,000 hectares of land from livestock farming and introduces a powerful incentive for farmers to engage in forestry, according to economic consultant Dr Peter Bacon.

He told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food that the supply of land for forestry will increase.

"For the past three years, the base for establishing a single payment was the output of the farmer", said Dr Bacon.