Farmers should group together to maximise woodchip profits

HEAT production from wood is only half the cost from oil, and the energy market offers landowners an opportunity to make money from thinnings — but they must co-operate if they are to harvest, process and market profitably.

IFA Forestry Chairman Pat Hennessy says he was offered €24 per metre for thinnings, but it would cost him €25 per metre to harvest the wood.

However, he took a different route and succeeded in achieving a profit margin of €10.50 per metre. “Farmers need to group together because it is the only way forward if they are to get a return from thinnings.”