in Ireland Frances McHugh Teagasc Forestry Development Officer, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The use of One-to-One Advisory Clinics in the Promotion and support of Afforestation in Ireland

Frances McHugh Teagasc Forestry Development Officer, Ireland

Outline

• Teagasc – what we do
• Development of privately owned forestry in

Ireland

• One to one clinics
• Conclusions

Teagasc

– Agriculture and Food Development Authority – national body providing integrated research, advisory and training services to the agriculture , food industry and rural communities.

The Teagasc Model of Knowledge Delivery

Teagasc Forestry Development Department

• Independent and Objective Advice
• site visits/office consultations
• field days/ info meetings
• courses (eg timber measurement,

broadleaf shaping etc)

• national demos
• producer groups

Teagasc Forestry Development Department Mission…. ….to lead and support science-based innovation in the farm forestry sector and wider bio-economy to underpin its profitability, competitiveness and sustainability

Objectives

• to encourage the maximum

number of farmers to optimize their incomes by developing a forestry enterprise.

• to promote, inform and educate

farmers in using sustainable forest management practices.

• to advise and support farmers in

the development of structures to harvest and market their timber

• to upgrade the quality of

hardwood tree species and develop broadleaf management protocols.

Overview of the Programme

Video

Forest Cover in Europe – 33% of land area

Land use category Area (ha) % of total land area

Forest

653,980 9.5

Forest open area

77,672 1.0

Total

731,652 10.5 Land use type Area (Ha) % of total land area

Scrub

82,606 1.2

Hedgerow

271,912 3.9

Other wooded land

47,681 0.7

Total

402,199 5.8

2050

18%

?

0.5 million hectares

• r
• ver 16,000 ha per

annum

Afforestation in Ireland

5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 state private

75% of forest estate is <30yrs (Almost 50% is <20yrs) Average size of grant aided forest is 9ha

The Forest

52% Sitka spruce 25% Broadleaves;

Oak, Be, Ash, Syc, Birch, Alder

23% other conifers;

NS, DF, Larches and pines

The Owners

Ownership Area %

Public 395,760 54.1 Private (grant aided) 246,550 33.7 Private (Other) 89,350 12.2 Total 731,650 100

85% - farming is their main business 78% grant aided forest is owned by 50+ yr olds new to forestry– no management expertise Most driven by grant scheme and alternative to farming

Decision to plant

sometimes difficult (and permanent) decision to plant land

Life-style change- a lot going on…

Basic Payments Attractive grants Poor land Thinking

• f retiring/

inheritance Part time farming Valuable crop Amenity/ Screening Wood energy On farm Pension Environment

Clinics - What are they?

• ‘one to one’ meeting with

Forestry Adviser

• Nationwide – local offices
• 30mins – 1 hour
• encourage spouses/children to

attend

• Follow up actions?
• contact forester
• arrange a visit
• Quick record of basic details/

feedback  Contact details  Purpose of clinic – 1st look?  Main issues of site  Farmer?  Where did they hear about clinic?

Clinics

2012 - 350 appointments/45 clinic days 2013 - 510 appointments/55 clinic days 2014 – 560 appointments /68 clinic days 2016 – 488 appointments/60 clinic days

time consuming; but worth it.

• Confidential
• Specific to every farm
• Look at individual farm on mapping system and access any

specific environmental requirements

2016 clinics

purpose of appointment type of farming

2016 clinics

• utcome

promotion

Case Study 1- part-time farmer

• Age 68
• Part-time farmer; inherited

small farm.

• One daughter in US –

suggested forestry

• Doesn’t want to sell land but

doesn’t want to farm either.

• Land quite wet – in area with

a lot of forestry

plant 8ha? : Discussed

1. Positive affect of planting marginal farm land 2. Permanent land use change 3. Grant scheme – covers costs 4. Annual payment: €4,000/year taxfree for 15yrs 5. Environmental regulations 6. Process to hire forester to draw up plan for grant application etc.

Case study 2- Dairy farmer;

• Age 53
• Milking since he left school
• Needs to spend money on animal

housing

• Does a lot of off farm contract work
• Wants to do more with his life; travel

etc

• Not married/no children
• No knowledge of forestry

Plant 30ha? – discuss:

1. Negative affect on land value 2. Permanent land use change 3. Grant scheme – covers costs 4. Annual payment: €15,300/year for 15yrs 5. Will continue to receive EU subsidies 6. Process to hire forester to draw up plan for grant application etc.

Resources

FIVE – Forest Investment and Valuation Modelling

Wide range of printed publications

Fortnightly contribution to Farming Independent

Teagasc newsletters

Posted out to 45,000 Teagasc clients 3-4 times annually

Teagasc Forestry website

Teagasc website

• Most visited

enterprise

• User focus

Number of hits:

• 300,000 (’09)
• 1,200,000 (’14)

Contents

• 500+ pages
• 350+ PDFs
• 800+ images

Essential knowledge transfer tool Two recent videos

• The importance of inspection

paths in conifer forests

• First Steps to Planting your

new Forest

Other videos in preparation From Ash to Clash, the art of hurley making

• Viewed 21,000 times

YouTube

Teagasc Forestry e-News

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 9/16/2012 11/16/2012 1/16/2013 3/16/2013 5/16/2013 7/16/2013 9/16/2013 11/16/2013 1/16/2014 3/16/2014 5/16/2014 7/16/2014 9/16/2014 11/16/2014 1/16/2015 3/16/2015 5/16/2015 7/16/2015

Very (cost) effective communication tool Powerful statistical tools Subscribers:

Twitter

• Number one source of forestry

information on Irish social media

• Helped to establish Teagasc as key

player in Irish forest industry

• 149 followers in 2011,
• 1551 followers currently
• Excellent, cost effective tool

Facebook

• Alternative avenue / discussion

forum directing users to Teagasc Forestry website

Twitter, Facebook

Conclusions

• Irish Government is relying on private sector to

convert agricultural land to forestry in order to reach planting targets

• Incentives to plant are essential but not enough

– forestry has to fit into landowners long term plan

• Teagasc are uniquely positioned to deliver our

programme in an objective and independent way

• Extension methods need to be varied and ever

evolving to serve the emerging privately owned forest industry in Ireland

Thank you!

www.teagasc.ie/forestry