Stephen Cadogan: Omens good for afforestation but farmers think otherwise

It should be a good year for afforestation, but farmers don’t think so.

IFA Farm Forestry Chairman Michael Fleming has voiced concern about the falling afforestation figures, following the publication of a Forest Service report that shows the area of forest established down 30% on this time last year.

If that trend continues, planting could be less than 4,500 hectares this year, compared to a government target of 6,600 hectares.