Payments under the Department of Agriculture\u2019s next forestry scheme \u201cmust increase by \u20ac200\/ha\/year\u201d to entice farmers back into planting, Forest Industries Ireland (FII) has warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FII Director Mark McAuley says farmer planting applications \u201chave reduced to a trickle\u201d with \u201cjust a dozen\u201d now submitted on a monthly basis as the sector has \u201calmost completely ground to a halt\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It follows mixed reactions to the Department\u2019s latest report into the regulatory framework that underpins forestry in Ireland. Speaking after a meeting with Forestry Minister Pippa Hackett, Mr McAuley said greater incentives will be vital to the 2023 forestry programme expected to be announced at the National Ploughing Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor most farmers, forestry is an overwhelmingly economic decision \u2014 money talks, so that was my main conversation with the minister,\u201d said Mr McAuley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCurrently, you get anywhere from between \u20ac500-\u20ac650\/ha\/year for 15 years, so if you plant 10ha, you\u2019d be getting between \u20ac5,000-\u20ac6,500 per annum. We\u2019d like to see that increase to between \u20ac7,000-\u20ac8,500 per annum for 15 years \u2014 on 10ha, that would add up to a \u20ac30,000 increase in your payments over the 15 years, which is a substantial increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not only money, you have to fix the regulatory system to make sure the whole thing works, then inject more incentives \u2014 a combination of those two things will go a long way to turning around the planting numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n