Farmers to gain as weather worries drive commodity prices to new highs

TIMBER costs are soaring in Europe due to an acute shortage of supplies.

Irish forest owners could be looking at gains as the Office for National Statistics in Britain said the inflation rate for wood products hit 13% in April, its highest level for more than a decade.

The British Timber Trade Federation estimated inflation was about 20% last year, while British dealers said the prices of sawn softwood have risen 30% in six months.