Forestry Bill & New Forestry Programme 2014-2020 are top priorities for IFA Farm Forestry Committee

IFA Forestry News Summer 2014

Forestry Bill 2013IFA supports the need to update the Forestry Act 1946 to reflect the scale of private sector involvement in the industry and support the development of a modern sector, which reflects the multi-functional demands on today’s forests. IFA believes that good forest practice should be central to the development of farm forestry.

The current Forestry Bill will dictate the regulation of the industry for many years ahead and it is vital that this legislation will not act as a barrier to individuals entering forestry.

Michael Fleming, Chairman of the IFA Farm Forestry Committee and Committee representatives have met with Minister of State for Agriculture Tom Hayes and TDs on several occasions. The Chairman also presented IFA’s concerns on the current Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture.

Michael Fleming said ‘Following committee stage, IFA secured a number of amendments to the Bill which are critical for the growth of the forestry sector. Our members have given a lifetime commitment to forestry and have a legitimate expectation that they will achieve a fair economic return for their crop and this point was clearly outlined to the Minister in our discussions.’

IFA lobbied very strongly for this measure to be introduced in the Bill. If for some reason an individual cannot fell his forest, an avenue of compensation must be available. IFA believes that farmers must realise the full potential of their crop and therefore it was vital that this amendment was made to the Bill. The forest owner must be compensated for any loss of value or financial return if the forest owner incurs an economic loss due to the attachment of conditions and/or suspending or revoking of the licence, grants etc.

Compensation in the case of a felling licence being refused

IFA also secured a provision that a felling licence must be approved within a specific time. Previously this was left open ended with no timeframe. IFA welcomes the amendment to the Bill that a felling licence will be granted within 16 weeks.

Felling licence turnaround timeframe

IFA fought hard for this measure to be introduced in the Bill. IFA believes private forest owners must have an input into the species that are planted and the opportunity for consultation on this to ensure replanting requirements are in line with the managements objectives of the forest owner.

Species selection

IFA lobbied strongly for the extension of the timeframe of a thinning licence. Under the bill, once a farmer is granted a thinning licence it is valid for 10 years with the possibility of extending this to 15 years. IFA believes this is very important as it allows the farmer to get a thinning licence which will bring him up to clear-fell stage, reducing the administrative burden on the farmer.

Thinning licence timeframe extended to 10 years

Under the new Forestry Bill there will be an appeals board appointed by the Minister. The establishment of this board is positive for private forest owners as previously there was only an appeals board within the Forest Service.

Establishment of an appeals board

IFA secured a simplified (tick the box) version FMP for smaller/average size forest owners. This will reduce the administrative burden for the private forest owner.

Forest Management Plans (FMP)

This Bill is due to be passed in the Dáil in Summer 2014. A copy of the IFA Submission to the Forestry Bill 2013 is available on www.ifa.ie/sectors/forestry

Following IFA’s submission and continuous lobbying on the Bill, IFA secured a number of important amendments. The key amendments include:

Forestry Programme 2014-2020Private forest owners must have financial and technical approval by 30th June 2014 in order to plant under the current afforestation programme. The Forest Service will automatically grant financial approval once technical approval has been given before June 30th. If you receive approval by this date, you must complete planting by 31st December 2014.

Forestry forms an integral part of the EU policy on rural development, contributing to the achievement of some of the most important environmental, social and economic targets of the policy. It is proposed that the New Forestry Programme 2014-2020 will be 100% Exchequer funded in line with European Union Guidelines for State Aid in the agriculture and forestry sector and in rural areas 2014-2020. The intention is to continue to support the sector within a new forestry programme designed to increase forest cover, maximise the economic value of existing and future forests, in addition to promoting the positive contribution that forests can make to biodiversity, water quality, recreation, and the landscape.

“2013 was the lowest planting year since the

late 80s”

Stakeholders in the industry, including IFA, will have an opportunity to discuss the new programme with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, during a consultation process.

Applications that receive technical and financial approval on or before 30th June 2014 will be considered under the old scheme. Any application approved on or after 1st July 2014 will come under the New Forestry Programme 2014-2020. The new Forestry Programme aims to build on the progress made under previous Forestry Programmes.

Chairman IFA Farm Forestry Committee, Michael Fleming said that ‘Private forest owners account for 47% of forests in Ireland and therefore have a key role to play in the sector. It is vital that a number of amendments are made to the Consultation Paper on the New Forestry Programme 2014-2020 to encourage private sector involvement in the industry.’

Over the past 5 years confidence in the private forest sector has been severely eroded. The main factors contributing to this include: introduction of USC charge on forestry grants and premiums, introduction of PRSI, introduction of the €80,000 tax threshold and reduction of premiums rates.

‘The introduction of the above measures have affected farmers’ attitude and approach to forestry in Ireland. This is clearly reflected in the recent planting figures. Planting has failed to surpass 6,500 hectares for the past 3 years, despite funding being allocated for 7,000 hectares each year. In fact, 2013 was the lowest planting year since the late 80s. The new planting targets set out aim to plant 10,000 hectares in 2015 and 15,000 hectares in 2016 and onwards. Without modification to the proposed Forestry Programme 2014-2020, this will not be possible’, Mr. Fleming added.

IFA has made a submission which includes a number of proposed amendments which would make the New Forestry Programme more successful and incentivise farmers to enter into forestry, in addition to regaining the confidence of current private forest owners in Ireland.

Mr. Fleming said, ‘It is vital for farmers that the premium payments are maintained over a 20 year period, with an increase in the value of premiums to compensate for the introduction of taxation measures. Farmers must also be assured that the value of premiums are index linked.’

“IFA agrees that investment in infrastructure is

necessary over the coming years”

IFA also strongly opposes the proposal to replace the farmer and non-farmer rates with a single rate. It is critically important

that farmers continue to receive premiums as a tax free incentive.

Mr. Fleming stated ‘IFA agrees that investment in infrastructure is necessary over the coming years as the mobilisation of timber will increase significantly in the next 10-15 years. However, the level of grant aid must be in line with the costs associated to construct a road. Farmers should also be entitled to restrict public access on forestry roads if there is any risks to themselves or their property.’

Under the New Programme a reconstitution scheme must be put in place for wind damage, particularly in light of the recent windblow events. Reconstitution should also be available for frost damage, pest damage and fire damage.

There are a number of other areas which are not included in the consultation paper and IFA feels need to be addressed as they are a huge concern to private forest owners, including: digitisation, the structure of afforestation grants, the GLÁS Scheme and the structure of the new independent appeals system.

“Forestry is a long term investment and a farmer must have confidence in

the sector to convert farm land to forestry.”

‘Forestry is a long term investment and a farmer must have confidence in the sector to convert farm land to forestry. The cuts to forestry premiums, changes in the tax status of forestry income, reductions in supports and increased management costs due to environmental constraints have undermined confidence in recent years. In order to regain this confidence, the New Forestry Programme must be amended in line with IFA’s proposals’ Mr. Fleming added.

Hen HarrierIn the 2007 Hen Harrier Forest Management Protocol, agreed in consultation with all stakeholders, annual afforestation quotas were allocated for each of the 6 Hen Harrier SPAs. The figures show that the protocol allocated a very small afforestation quota per designated SPA, which allowed local farmers to plant less than 0.2% of the designated SPAs per annum. The protocol was suspended in 2011 without consultation with stakeholders and currently no planting is allowed in the 6 Hen Harrier SPAs. We have been advised that no planting will be allowed until a Threat Response Plan for Hen Harriers in Ireland is developed and that this will take at least 2 years. The latest research undertaken by University College Cork on “Optimum scenarios for Hen Harrier conversation in Ireland” shows that the Hen Harrier breeding population has increased in recent years. The findings of the research “suggest that the overall effect of plantation forests on breeding Hen Harriers in Ireland is positive” and that the “influence of afforestation is likely to be increasingly a positive one”. IFA is seeking that the quota system be re-introduced as a short-term solution until the Threat Response Plan for Hen Harriers in Ireland has been developed.

IFA met with Minister Jimmy Dineehan and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) on the issue of Hen Harrier SPAs and secured a public meeting for farmers on this issue. This meeting took place on May 22nd in the Charleville Park Hotel, Co. Cork. The meeting was attended by over 220 farmers. The NPWS, the Forest Service, and the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine presented on the night. The clear message from farmers was that the designation should be removed from their land and if not then farmers must be fairly compensated for the designation. Lands that are designated as Hen Harrier SPAs completely devalue a farmers land and there must be an element of compensation introduced. The NPWS are currently compiling a Threat Response Plan to deal with the issue, however IFA is insisting that there is an interim solution put in place for affected farmers.

Michael Fleming said that ‘IFA will meet with Minister Jimmy Dineehan again and negotiate a fair deal for those farmers in designated Hen Harrier areas.’

Forestry Programme 2014-2020

WindblowFollowing the recent storms, a Windblow Taskforce Group was set up by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, which is chaired by Minister Hayes and comprises the IFFPA, Coillte, IFA, ITGA and the Forest Service, DAFM. Both Michael Fleming (Chairman) and Deirdre O’Shea (Executive) sit on this group. The aim of the group is to assess the damage nationally and to quickly identify the various issues that have arisen and that will arise as a result of the severe windblow event of the 12th February, and to agree on a course of actions to deal with these issues. Currently there is a digital assessment being carried out to assess the exact level of windblown area. Early indications suggest that somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 hectares have been affected by windblow mainly concentrated in Munster.

IFA advises farmers not to clear-fell all the forest and only clear-fell what is necessary. It is very important that farmers get a number of opinions before deciding to clear-fell. It is important that farmers walk through the forest and make an informed decision with the help of a professional on what the best approach to take is. If a section of the forest has been affected then it may not be necessary to clear-fell the entire forest. Farmers must keep in mind that the economic value of the timber will be greatest in the last ten years.

It is important that any farmers submitting an application for windblown sites clearly mark the Felling applications ‘windblow’. This will allow the Department to identify windblown areas and also fast-track these applications.

Mr. Fleming has made representation to Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Tom Hayes TD, on behalf of private forest owners and stated the importance of reconstitution for farmers experiencing loss due to the windblow events. IFA is frequently engaging with Minster Hayes on this matter and will continue to fight for those farmers affected by windblow.

‘It is important that farmers get professional advice on the best course of action to take before removing any windblown timber. Farmers must also bear in mind that the timber is still valuable and can be harvested very successfully’ added Mr. Fleming. The Windblow Taskforce Group has compiled a guidance note to assist forest owners with the harvesting of windblown timber.

Guidance for Forest Owners with Windblow - 21 March 2014 https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/windblow/   Alternatively email your query to windblow@agriculture.gov.ie

L to R: David Tierney (NPWS), David Buckley (DAFM), Seamus Dunne (Forest Service), Kevin Collins (Forest Service), Conor O Raghallaigh (NPWS) Tom Turley (IFA Connacht Regional Chairman), Michael Fleming (IFA Farm Forestry Chairman), at the recent Hen Harrier meeting in Cork.

Forest fires are always a concern for private forest owners. Given recent dry weather patterns, and the impacts of this weather on flammability of available fine fuels, DAFM/Forest Service advises that a moderate wildfire hazard (Condition Yellow) is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels are available in proximity to woodland or other assets.

This condition will remain the minimum default status until the end of the main peak fire season in June unless otherwise upgraded by Forest Service/DAFM. Forest owners and managers should be aware of the inherent high fire risk during this period. All forest owners and managers are advised to check and update fire plans for forest holdings, and other relevant contingencies such as insurance, helicopter contracts etc. in the event of fire. Following the recent storms, forest owners and managers should check access conditions to plantations where forest roads and other access routes may be blocked by fallen trees and debris. Where obstructions cannot be reasonably cleared, fire plan maps should be updated showing alternative safe access routes. Forest owners, farmers, rural dwellers and holiday makers are asked to be vigilant, to report any suspicious activity to the Gardaí and to report any uncontrolled or unattended fires immediately to the Fire and Emergency Services.

Anyone interested in taking part in a training course on controlled/safe burning, please contact IFA Farm Forestry Section. There is also an option for farmers to be trained to give these courses to other farmers/private forest owners. Controlled burning when carried out correctly and in a safe manner is an effective management tool with many benefits. Danger arises when burning is carried out carelessly and outside the prescribed burning season. The current controlled burning season is September 1st until February 28th. IFA has made a submission to Minister Dineehan to change these burning dates. At a recent meeting with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Dineehan, a commitment has been secured by IFA that a review of the burning dates will be undertaken. IFA will make a strong case for the burning dates to be extended from the end of February to mid-April.

Steps to reduce the risk of fire damage to your forest

• Each forest owner must take responsibility to have adequate insurance to cover cost of the forest fire. Forest crops should be insured against losses by fire, particularly as there is no longer a grant scheme which covers the cost of replanting or reconstituting woodland after fire. In the event of a fire destroying a forest area, the owner would have to replant this area at his/her own cost or face repaying all past grants/premiums for this area to the Forest Service.

• Firebreaks should be well maintained and checked once a year.

• A fire plan should be in place with numbers for emergency services and must be up to date.

• Raise awareness with the local communities so that people are not careless in the locality of the forest.

• Landowners who set fires to burn vegetation are required to give you and the Gardaí written notice, if they are going to burn within 1 mile of your forest and you may object within 3 days.

• Encourage people to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious activity.

Example: 8 Hectares of Sitka Spruce (average yield class 16) planted in 1998 The cover applicable would be Fire, Lightning, Explosion, Storm, Riot Civil Commotion, Earthquake (Storm cover subject to an excess of €3,500 each loss)

Cover is for Loss of Crop and Re-establishment cost. Fire Brigade cover up to €10,000 included.

Premium including Government Levy is €217.70

Sample Insurance Quotation on FBD’s Growing Trees ProductAvailable to IFA Farm Forestry members

FBD Insurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

For a quotation please contact your local FBD Office now on

1890 617 617

FBD-Ad506-Timber-93x133-Jun14-v3.indd 1 05/06/2014 12:45

Forest Fires

IFA Farm Forestry Timber Market Report June 2014

The following is a guide to standing prices being paid for timber:

Thinning Price € / tonne Average Price €/tonne

1st thinning’s €8 to €12 €10

The following is a guide to the roadside prices being paid for timber:

Product Type Price €/tonne

Sawlog €70 / tonne

Pallet wood €50 / tonne

Stake wood €40 / tonne

Pulpwood €30 / tonne

The following is a guide to the specific product prices being paid for timber:

Product Type Price €/tonne

Sawlog 4.5 metre length @ 18cm top diameter €80 / tonne

4.9 metre length @ 14cm top diameter €80 / tonne

Pallet wood 3.1 metre length @ 16cm top diameter €55-€60 / tonne

3.1 metre length @ 14cm top diameter €55-€60 / tonne

2.5 metre length @ 14cm top diameter €55-€60 / tonne

All prices quotes relate to conifers. The prices offered vary depending on access to the forest, distance to timber markets and the age of forest.

L to R: Tom Houlihan (Teagasc), Kevin Keary (Forest Inspector Forest Service), Paddy Cowman (IFAC), Michael Coughlan (IFA Forestry Representative, Clare), Michael Fleming (Chairman IFA Farm Forestry Committee) at the recent IFA Forestry meeting in Clare.

* One hedgerow ash positive site (Co. Leitrim) within and near former infected ash plantation, and one ash hedgerow (Co. Tipperary) near infected farm landscaping shelterbelt

There are currently 120 confirmed findings of Ash Dieback in RoI. This includes 43 affected forests while 73 are in non-forest locations e.g. nurseries, garden centres, hedgerows etc. All confirmed cases of ash dieback have been in sites planted with imported nursery stock. There were also two hedgerows in Leitrim and Tipperary which were located close to a young plantation which was affected. Ash Dieback in Ireland has to date been contained to young plantations and has not spread to the wider environment, which is positive.

Ash Dieback Update

At the Ash Dieback Conference in Dundalk recently it was stated that approximately 14% of global crops are lost to disease annually and improved control strategies can make a significant impact in combating the disease. The conference discussed methods of controlling the spread of the disease. There are a number of research projects currently looking at this and there was a clear message from all delegates that there must be a coordinated approach to research throughout Europe and between Irish agencies north and south.

Minister Tom Hayes and Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle O’Neill said they are committed to an all-Island strategy to combat Chalara.

The main aims of this strategy are:

• Reduce the risk of the disease becoming established in the wider environment

• Support research on modelling the spread of the disease and developing resistance

• Encourage industry, landowner, voluntary organisation and general public engagement

• Building resilience in woodland and in support of associated industries

Symptoms include:

• Necrotic lesions and cankers along the bark of branches or main stem

• Foliage wilt

• Foliage discolouration (brown / black discolouration at the base and midrib of leaves)

• Dieback of shoots, twigs or main stem resulting in crown dieback

• Epicormic branching or excessive side shoots along the main stem

• Brown / orange discolouration of bark

Forest owners who are concerned about ash dieback in their forest should contact the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, by e-mail forestprotection@agriculture.gov.ie or by phoning 01 607 2651. Your report will be followed up by a Forestry Inspector.

* The strategy is available to download on the DAFM Chalara Ash Dieback web page http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/ashdiebackchalara/.

IFA negotiated with the Department to put in place a reconstitution scheme for those affected with this disease. Michael Fleming said he is aware of the consequences of this disease for farmers and fought hard to ensure that an appropriate scheme was put in place for those affected. IFA continues to encourage farmers to assess their forest for signs of the disease.

Location type Number of confirmed findings

Forestry plantations 47

Horticultural nurseries 17

Garden centres 4

Private gardens 4

Farm planting / REPS / AEOS 21

Roadside planting 25

Hedgerow * 2

Confirmed findings (as of 7 April 2014) of ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea)

Change to Native Woodland Scheme (NWS)The Native Woodland Scheme is an innovative package aimed at protecting and expanding Ireland’s native woodland resource. This scheme aims to develop new native woodland areas in addition to conserving existing indigenous woodlands. It is important to note the amendment to the existing protocol in relation to determining the acid sensitivity of surface water in the context of afforestation. Following IFA negotiations, the Forest Service will now accept, process and approve (where appropriate) applications under the new Native Woodland Scheme for sites within Acid Sensitive Areas, without the requirement for water sampling.

Digitisation UpdateIFA is awaiting response from Minister Hayes on IFA’s proposal to address the re-digitisation of forest area. It is IFA’s position that the recoupment of funds is unjustified and should be stopped.

The Minister has sought legal opinion from the Attorney General on the Forest Service policy to recoup payments and is awaiting clarification on this. IFA is advising all forest owners that receive a letter to (i) contact their forester and check that the proposed revised area is correct and (ii) appeal the re-digitisation of the forest area on the grounds that the forest owners adhered to the terms and condition of the scheme and that the area was approved by the Forest Service. Taxation

The ‘High Income Earner Restriction’ introduced in the 2006 Finance Act limits the tax reliefs on forestry income to €80,000 and has become an issue for forest owners that are in the process of thinning or clear-felling their forest plantations and an immediate issue for forest owners affected by windblow. In the Agri -Taxation Review, IFA has proposed that forestry income should be allowed to be declared over a number of taxable years (similar to the averaging of sugar beet restructuring payments over a six-year period).

Link to IFA Taxation Review: http://www.ifa.ie/Policy.aspx

Benefits include:• Representation at local, National and EU level – IFA Farm Forestry Committee

represents the interests of private farm foresters at all levels to optomise sector development and forest policy

• Email and text service – Regular messages to keep up to date with local and national forestry news, forestry advice, notification of meetings and events

• IFA Farm Forestry Newsletters – covers a wide range of topical forestry matters, latest policy changes and management advice and IFA activity on behalf of members; written specifically for private farm foresters

• Farm Forestry Information Services – IFA provides a comprehensive guide to forest management through field days, workshops, information leaflets and the website www.ifa.ie/Sectors/Forestry

• IFA Skillnet Training Courses – gain access to accredited training courses specifically designed for private forest owners

• IFA Forestry Directory – Direct access to IFA’s Farm Forestry Directory providing a county by county search of Forestry Consultants, Forestry Companies, Forest Inspectors, Wood energy suppliers, Wood energy installers and sawmills

• Essential Forestry Forms – IFA provides quick and easy access to a range of forestry related documents and application forms including those for ESB and Bord Gáis compensation

• Farm Forestry Owner Groups – IFA actively supports members to establish producer groups locally, to coordinate management operations, identify funding sources, and market timber sales collectively

Benefits of Associate Membership:Any forestry company, consultant or related professional can join IFA Farm Forestry as an Associate member. As an Associate member of IFA Farm Forestry your business will have the opportunity to network with farmers and build lasting business relationships.

The IFA is Ireland’s largest farming organisation with over 88,000 members in 947 branches nationwide. As an associate member you will get unprecedented access to this network of farmers to promote the services offered by you or your business.

The benefits of an Associate Membership include:

• Priority listing on the IFA Farm Directory

• Access to IFA text and email services

• The opportunity to advertise in the IFA newsletter

• Guaranteed savings for your business with IFA Telecom and IFA Mobile

If you are interested in becoming an IFA Farm Forestry Associate member, and to find out the full range of benefits available, please contact the IFA Farm Forestry Section.

Benefits of IFA Farm Forestry Membership:IFA members can gain exclusive membership of the Farm Forestry Section by paying an annual fee of €25 on a 0-10ha plantation with €1/ha for every additional ha, up to a maximum of €130.

Compiled by: Deirdre O’Shea Executive IFA Farm Forestry CommitteeIFA, The Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin.

IFA Forestry News Summer 2014

For more information on the benefits and services of being an IFA Farm Forestry member please contact: IFA Farm Forestry Section on 01 426 0343, email: deirdreoshea@ifa.ie or go to www.ifa.ie/Sectors/Forestry