Forestry incentive covers full initial planting costs
Forestry development officer Liam Kelly explained that the current incentives available to encourage private landowners include a grant and an annual forest premium payment.
“The grant includes a payment system that usually covers the full cost of planting and establishing a young plantation. The grant is paid in two instalments, approximately three quarters in year one after planting and the balance is paid two years later, upon successful establishment of the young forest. The grant rate is determined by the type of ground and species being planted.
“The annual forest premium is paid for 20 years in the case of a farmer and 15 years in the case of a non-farmer. In a farmer’s case the rate varies between €369 and €515 per hectare. In the case of a non farmer the rate is between €181 and €195 per hectare.
“These rates are applicable to enclosed farmland and are determined again by soil type and species that are planted. Farmer qualification should always be proven prior to all planting taking place. There may also be many advantages under the SFP regulations if forestry continues to be an eligible land use option.”
Forest thinning in the private sector is currently under way on many sites as more and more farm forest sites reach their thinning age. This is a new area for most private forest owners.
Forest thinning is usually good management practice and normally ensures that each site reaches its full potential if carried out correctly and at the proper stages.
Thinning provides an early source of timber, which benefits the crop, the land owner, and also the timber industry.
It is most important that all owners are aware of best practice and the proper procedures that are required to carry out forest thinning.
Government policy has been to increase forest cover in Ireland to a minimum of 17% of the total land area. This will only be achieved through private landowners and the Irish farming community planting some of their land.
