IT began when Michael Hyde went to plant trees on scrub land in the estate he inherited from a cousin in Co Galway nearly 60 years ago.

More emergency measures will be introduced this week to prevent a devastating fungal disease killing ash trees across Europe from spreading here.

There has been a 57% increase in the volume of applications for the forestry establishment grant in the first two months of 2012, according to Forestry Minister Shane McEntee.

FEARS have arisen that forestry thinnings will be redirected from Coillte timber processing plants to biomass-powered electricity generating stations because of incentives in that sector.

THE top honours in the annual RDS/Forest Service Irish Forestry Awards have gone to Limerick and Kerry.

A NEW body, Forás Orgánach, has been set up to drive forward the development of the organic sector in Ireland.

THE budget decision to cut forestry premiums by 8% is already costing jobs in the industry, the Irish Farmers Association has claimed.

THE importance of ensuring the forests being planted are well adapted to the sites chosen was highlighted by Forestry Minister Tony Killeen when he officially opened a Coford-Teagasc conference in Tullamore yesterday.

GRANT levels for certain elements of the NeighbourWood Scheme and the Native Woodland Scheme have been announced by Forestry Minister Mary Wallace.

MEMBERS of the Agricultural Consultants Association were urged by Forestry Minister Mary Wallace at their annual general meeting in Athlone last night to remind their clients to think safety.

FARMERS in REPS with up to 30 hectares (75 acres) can now avail of €724 per hectare Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) payments on as little as five hectares.

NEW planting is vital to the forestry sector so that it can continue to provide an income stream for farmers and a steady supply of material for the timber and energy industries.

COMMUNITIES and local authorities have been urged by Forestry Minister Mary Wallace to participate in some of the 300 or more events which will take place around the country during National Tree Week (March 2-8).

THE public has been warned of an increased “real and immediate” risk of forest fires due to the current weather conditions.

COILLTE and Fáilte Ireland are setting an example for rural communities and farmers to develop recreational facilities and amenities that are attractive to both domestic and overseas visitors.

PROVIDING raw materials for bioenergy production represents an opportunity for farmers and rural communities, according to Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan.

NO threats to the health and vitality of the national forest estate were discovered in a field study carried out by the Department of Agriculture.

THE forestry and wood products sector contribute more than €1.65 billion annually to the economy.

FOREST-RELATED tour-ism and recreation activities in Coillte plantations generate an estimated €268 million of economic activity for the rural economy every year, it was disclosed yesterday.

FARMERS are now responsible for more than 90% of new planting, Forestry Minister Mary Wallace revealed when she presented the Irish Forestry Awards at Castletown House, Celbridge, Co Kildare.

A VIRUS carried by the grey squirrel, which is dramatically increasing its numbers, poses a serious threat to the survival of the country’s native red squirrel population.

THE chat-up lines used by farmers as they try to woo the girl of their dreams were the subject of survey results revealed by Macra na Feirme at the National Ploughing Championships at Annaharvey, Tullamore, Co Offaly, yesterday.

A HUGE boost for the wood energy supply chain was announced at the Bioenergy 2007 open day in Carlow, which was jointly organised by Sustainable Energy Ireland, COFORD and Teagasc.

A HUGE boost for the wood energy supply chain was announced at the Bioenergy ’07 open day in Carlow yesterday.

FARMERS have again been urged to consider energy crops as an alternative land use option.

TWO consignments of timber from Canada were found to be infested with harmful forestry pests, it was revealed yesterday.

THE annual forestry premium payments of almost €57 million in respect of nearly 15,000 plantations has been announced by Forestry Minister Mary Wallace.

NEW planting by farmers in areas soon to be designated for the protection of the hen harrier is to be allowed under an agreed forest management protocol.

TEAGASC and the Department of Agriculture and Food have come together to organise the first National Bio-Energy Conference.

THE public has been reminded that with certain exceptions it is unlawful to fell a tree of any age without a licence or to uproot a tree over 10 years of age.

A MAJOR increase in grants for the construction of forest roads was announced yesterday.

THE Irish Forest Industry Chain (IFIC) has welcomed the announcement by Forestry Minister Mary Wallace of a new Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS).

THE establishment of a Forestry Environmental Protection Scheme (FEPS) to encourage high nature-value forestry on farms which participate in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) was welcomed yesterday.

DETAILS of a new Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) to encourage high-nature value forestry on Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) farms was announced yesterday by Forestry Minister Mary Wallace.

THE country’s timber resource has significant energy potential, a conference in Longford was told yesterday.

A NEW thinning protocol for forestry owners being finalised by the Forestry Development Association is expected to be published next month.

IT was an occasion when the politicians left the plinth of parliament to plod the ploughing fields of Carlow on the second day of the national and world ploughing championships in Grangeford, Tullow, yesterday.

THE sale of woodchip as a fuel can make it more economical for farmers to manage their forestry plantations to the highest standards.

DEER are causing damage to new and existing woodlands around the country.

IRELAND has the potential to secure an extra 5% of its energy needs from refined wood fuels, Sustainable Energy Ireland said at Wood Energy Week yesterday.

SOARING oil prices, environmental concerns and fears about the security of supplies from politically volatile regions such as the Middle East has fuelled increased interest in renewable energy in Ireland.