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 % of total land Land use category Area (ha) area 653,980 9.5 Forest 77,672 1.0 Forest open area Total 731,652 10.5 % of total land Land use type Area (Ha) area 82,606 1.2 Scrub 271,912 3.9 Hedgerow 47,681 0.7 Other wooded land 402,199 5.8 Total
18% 0.5 million hectares or ? over 16,000 ha per annum 2050
Afforestation in Ireland 25000 state private 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
The Forest 52% Sitka spruce 23% other conifers; 75% of forest estate is NS, DF, Larches and pines <30yrs (Almost 50% is <20yrs) Average size of grant aided forest is 9ha 25% Broadleaves; Oak, Be, Ash, Syc, Birch, Alder
The Owners 85% - farming is their main business 78% grant aided Ownership Area % forest is owned by 50+ yr olds Public 395,760 54.1 Private (grant aided) 246,550 33.7 Private (Other) 89,350 12.2 Total 731,650 100 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… Poor Part land time On farm farming Pension Valuable crop Thinking of retiring/ Environment inheritance Wood Attractive energy grants Amenity/ Basic Screening Payments
Clinics - What are they? • ‘one to one’ meeting with Forestry Adviser • Nationwide – local offices • 30mins – 1 hour • encourage spouses/children to attend Contact details Purpose of clinic – 1 st look? • Follow up actions? Main issues of site • contact forester Farmer? • arrange a visit Where did they hear about clinic? • Quick record of basic details/ feedback
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 outcome 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 Grant scheme – covers 3. 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 Grant scheme – covers costs 3. Annual payment: € 15,300/year for 4. 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
YouTube 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
Teagasc Forestry e-News 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 Subscribers: Powerful statistical tools communication tool Very (cost) effective 200 400 600 800 0 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
Twitter, Facebook 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
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
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