Forestry & Energy Review - Vol 9 Issue 2 Autumn/Winter 2019 by dawn_media

Forestry & Energy REVIEW

Volume 9 Issue 2 Autumn/Winter 2019 Price €3.95. £2.95 (Stg)

THE VOICE OF FORESTRY & RENEWABLE ENERGY

FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

SSRH BENEFITS ANALYSIS

>> SEE PAGE 18

>> SEE PAGE 36

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NATIONAL FOREST INVENTORY >> SEE PAGE 62

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Carbon and Nitrogen Losses

Carbon and Nitrogen Losses From Decomposing Woody Debris In Reforested Coniferous Stands

Forestry methods and life cycle have been studied to measure differing sequestration outcomes by Brian Tobin, Giovanni Pastore and Maarten Nieuwenhuis UCD Forestry, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin

ontinuous Cover Forestry

Forestry & Energy REVIEW

F Continuing Developments For Continuous Cover Forestry orest ecosystems act as a large global net carbon (C) sink since they sequester atmospheric carbon in biomass and soil for long periods of time. In addition, the timber products produced extend this effect considerably. The effects of forest management practices, such as thinning and clearfelling and their associated mechanical site effects, can lead to a greater impact on the ecosystem and affect its sequestration ability as well as its long-term sustainability. One of the significant pools of carbon in forests is woody debris resulting from various types of disturbances. Forest harvesting leaves the non-merchantable residues on the forest floor, and this material is usually assembled and heaped to form windrows to facilitate the planting and establishment of new seedlings on reforestation sites. Since periodic operations and other events add to this pool of material it usually accumulates at a faster rate than it decomposes. This study aimed to investigate the role of windrowed harvest debris in the cycling of C and N in a typical commercial forest type in Ireland. To improve estimates of woody debris (WD) decomposition rates, and therefore C retention from WD on harvested sites, two separate pathways of loss were investigated. Both

respired C efflux as well as leached C and N from decomposing WD were investigated across an age sequence of forest stands. Ongoing climate change is predicted to further unbalance the resilience mechanisms offered by forests and other biological systems which buffer the impact on the global climate system. Many studies have pointed out that dissolved organic material (DOM) leaching from WD can affect soil and water body chemistry. The highly “clumped” distribution of woody debris could create “hotspots” of solute concentration and flux. Under typical Irish climatic conditions, e.g. persistence of extremely wet conditions, it may be more likely that dissolved C is exported directly to groundwater, with implications for the C balance as well as for the quality of groundwater downstream of forests. For these reasons, maintaining or enhancing site organic matter storage is considered critical to sustainable forest management. Therefore, knowledge of the production, movement and fate of dissolved nutrients are important components of C and N cycles in forest ecosystems, particularly in relation to sustaining fertility and limiting pollution effects.

Volume 9 Issue 2 Autumn/Winter 2019

The past year has seen a number of significant developments for Continuous Cover Forestry Price €3.95. £2.95 (Stg) CCF) in Ireland.

he past year has seen a number of significant developments for Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Ireland. As many readers will be aware, CCF is the management of irregular structure odlands, with multiple canopy layers and an emphasis on natural eneration to achieve stand renewal and sustainability. Traditionally, duction forests have been managed on a rotational system, often h clear-felling and re-planting in Sitka spruce stands taking place on 5-40 year cycle. For owners of small woodlands, in particular, CCF ecoming increasingly attractive due to savings in management costs, h as replanting and weeding, while generating a continuous income m regular stand interventions. Relatively few woodlands are currently ng managed on CCF principles, but this is destined to change with w policy measures, investment and research coming on stream, as cribed further in this article.

rest Policy

ew grant scheme dedicated to CCF was announced by Andrew Doyle , Minister of State for Forestry, on 22 January 2019. This initiative art of a wider strategy to promote the sustainability, resilience and diversity of Ireland’s forest estate. A maximum of 30 applications will approved in the first year. There will then follow a review of progress ore the measure is extended forward from 2020. Funding is for 12 rs to assist with planning and management costs associated with stand nsformation to CCF. Three cost-based payments will be made, up

The study was conducted using a chronosequence of five secondrotation sites in a commercially managed Sitka spruce forest in Co. Wicklow (Ballinastoe Forest). The five sites (A to E) ranged from 3 to 15 years since being reforested. Five sampling plots, measuring approximately 30 × 20 m, were randomly located in representative areas of each of the sites. These plot areas included a 20-m length of windrow and the area alongside it as far as the next windrow. The quantities of woody debris on each plot were measured. Following this, two series of measurements were carried out over the course of 18 months: 1. Lysimeters were placed underneath the windrows in all five plots at all five sites to collect water leaching through them. The leachate was collected in containers sunken below the soil surface and quantities were recorded on a weekly basis. Rainguages were used at all sites to record precipitation. Weekly samples of windrow leachate and rainfall (throughfall on some sites) were tested to determine dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (DOC and DIC) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) content. 2. Weekly measurements of CO2 efflux being respired directly to the atmosphere were made using chambers inserted into the windrows in sites A, C and E. Measurement chambers were also inserted into soil not covered by windrows. Ground surface temperature and moisture were recorded at the same time as the gas measurements to allow daily respiration to be modelled from site climatic data. Fluxes of dissolved C and N were calculated by multiplying concentrations of DOC, DIC, and TDN by the volume of leached water recorded on each specific sampling date. To estimate the flux of solutes in the precipitation or throughfall at each site, the concentration of each solute from a given sampling date was similarly multiplied by the precipitation/throughfall volume collected on that date. Net fluxes were calculated by subtracting DOC, DIC and TDN quantities

in precipitation and throughfall from those found leaching from windrows. These values were then summed over the entire year. To calculate annual flux of leachate from windrows, the monthly values (mg m-2 m-1) were averaged within each site and adjusted to account for the site surface area covered by windrows (kg ha-1 yr-1). This standardisation was necessary since WD covered only a proportion of the forest floor at each stand.

Dissolved losses The annual average DOC concentration in windrow leachate ranged between 18.85 mg l-1 in the oldest stand and 38.79 mg l-1 at the intermediate stand. In contrast to the high DOC concentrations observed underneath the windrows, precipitation/throughfall DOC concentrations were generally much lower. The net fluxes, amounting to the leached windrow contribution to the C cycle, were calculated intended to protect Europe’s natural capital. The facility will enable by subtracting precipitation/throughfall fluxes from the woody debris institutional support alternative sustainable forestry fluxes. Consequently, the annual net DOCinvestors fluxes in thetoleachate water −1 were estimated to range from 33.31 and to 76.99 kg C haIreland’s yr−1, across the models support ambition to protect biodiversity, soils and five sites (Table 1). All stands had significantly lower fluxes of DIC. landscapes,annual and combat threats associated with climate change. The concentrations and, consequently, fluxes of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) were the most at all sites and ranged Thevariable investment strategy forfrom the fund is to acquire existing plantations 0.015 to 0.51 kg N ha-1 yr-1in . Ireland and, where possible, transform them to CCF. SLM Partners Annual fluxes of DOC, DIC and TDN in the windrow leachates is the collaborating with DIC Purser Russell Limited (PTR), a leading were all positively related to quantities of DOC, and Tarleton TDN arriving in precipitation/throughfall. These results suggest that there and research firm with deep forestry management, consultancy was no significant dilution effect of precipitation/throughfall on experience inwindrow Continuous Cover concentrations of DOC, DIC and TDN in leachates; i.e. Forestry. PTR will be responsible for higher monthly precipitation led to greater leachate solute managing the monthly forest properties after acquisition. The increment in growth concentrations. It seems plausible that the of N will have beenthe ‘capital’ of the standing forest. is removed ascycling ‘income’, preserving affected by the amount of litter and debris deposited during

Continuous Cover Forestry

Features

Environmental impact monitoring, training and development activities will continue over the lifetime of the fund.

18 Carbon and Nitrogen Losses From Decomposing Woody Debris In Reforested Coniferous Stands

to €750/ha in year 1, another payment of €750/ha between years 4-8 and a final payment of €750/ha at year 12. The management plan must follow a standard template and payments are based on work in the plan being completed. Foresters making applications on behalf of clients must provide evidence of prior knowledge or training in CCF. The new CCF management grant has been called a “landmark” in Irish forestry. There have been a significant number of applications within just the first few months of the ministerial announcement. With approximately 22,000 small and farm woodland owners across the country, there is potential for CCF to be widely adopted.

Research and Development

New Investment Another notable development for CCF took place in May 2018 with the launch of the SLM Silva Fund. This fund will be managed by SLM Partners, an asset management company that acquires and manages rural land on behalf of institutional investors. The company’s mission is to scale up regenerative, ecological farming and forestry systems that deliver financial returns and environmental benefits. The SLM Silva Fund is backed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), Irish investors and other European institutional investors. The EIB investment package includes €12.5 million in EU guaranteed loans, plus additional funding for training and development activities. The EIB investment package for CCF is part of the bank’s Natural Capital Financing Facility, launched in 2015. This is a €400m initiative

Foreword/Contents/Credits

Results

The most important research project currently taking place is the TranSSFor Project. This is dedicated to the transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry. Given that Sitka spruce accounts for over 50% of the productive forest area in Ireland, it is essential that more detailed research is conducted with this species to understand how it can be managed on CCF principles. The primary objective of the TranSSFor Project is to compare crown and graduated density thinning with conventional (low) thinning regimes in two productive woodlands, one on gley soil and the other on brown earth (Figure 1). Crown and graduated density thinning are thought to promote stand structural diversity and facilitate natural regeneration. The trial was established at the time of first thinning in 2010. The stands are currently at the third thinning stage and are being assessed in terms of stand stability, productivity, timber quality, environmental impacts, operational factors and economic performance. The project is being led

Forestry methods and life cycle have been studied to measure

Figure 2. Students from Waterford Institute of Technology developing tree marking skills at the marteloscope in Oughaval Forest.

Figure 1: Windrowed harvest debris are a common sight in reforested stands in the majority of Ireland’s commercial forests.

differing sequestration outcomes by Brian Tobin, Giovanni Pastore and Maarten Nieuwenhuis UCD Forestry, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin.

26 Opportunity Knocks 19

Winston Churchill once stated “ A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity: an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty!” By Paddy O’Toole…

Figure 1. Example of a crown thinning plot at one of the TranSSFor project research sites.

elcome to the Autumn/Winter Edition of Forestry & Energy Review Magazine. It is always interesting to find out if the National Forest Estate is increasing or decreasing. We are glad to report that the level of forestry of various species now stands at 11% of the total land area. These answers and others are contained in a very informative article on the National Forest Inventory. John Casey and Richard Walsh of Teagasc have written extensively on the opportunities now presented in combining farming and forestry. There is a little bit of going back to the past here as farmers of old combined numerous systems to make a living. Biomass: Colm Byrne of Glas Energy outlines the detail of the Support System For Renewable Heat so that you can find out if it would be beneficial for your Farm or Business. Noel Kennedy of Teagasc has given an excellent round up of the various opportunities present and future clients have

to meet up during the year. I would however like to draw your attention to a specific open day of Teagasc Research in Oak Park Carlow on the 16th October 2019. It will give a window to the future of the valuable research being carried out by Teagasc Researchers. CONFOR: Last September we represented our magazine customers in the UK by exhibiting at APF2018 This year it will be the Confor Woodland Show at Longleat Estate on 5/6 September. If you do travel to the show, please call and say hello…STAND C6 We trust you enjoy reading this publication which will continue to provide a voice for the Forestry and Energy sectors.

30 Continuing Developments For Continuous Cover Forestry The past year has seen a number of significant developments for Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Ireland. 31

34 Confor Map

For readers attending the Confor Show on the 4th and 5th of September we have published a detailed map Including exhibitors.

36 Will Biomass Heating be Beneficial for Your Business or Farm?

The entitlement to access, rules and benefits are outlined here by Colm Byrne of Glas Energy.

Until the next time……… The Publisher Forestry & Energy Review

62 Ireland’s National Forest Inventory

This information serves to inform domestic forest policy and assists with forward planning. The Publisher: Denis Lane Editorial: Denis Lane Tel. + 353 91 777222 Email: dlane@dawnmedia.ie Production: Hugh Lane Shauna Quinn Contributors: Noel Kennedy Teagasc Ciaran Nugent DAFM

Colm Byrne Glas Energy Marie Doyle UCD Edwin Corrigan UCD Charles Harper UCD Ciaran Walsh UCD Danie McInerney UCD Brian Tobin UCD Giovanni Pastore UCD Maarten Nieuwenhuis UCD Tom Kent WIT Arthur Byrne ESB Networks Tom Houlihan Teagasc

Michael Somers Teagasc John Casey Teagasc Richard Walsh Teagasc Karl Coggins DAFM Ted Wilson Teagasc Padraig O Tuama CCF Management Paddy O’Toole Quinns David Tyrell Quinns

Distribution: EM News Newspread Published by: Dawn Media Ltd, 2 Barrack St Clarinbridge Co Galway Tel. + 353 91 777 222 Email: dlane@dawnmedia.ie

All material contained in this edition is copyright of Forestry and Energy Review 2019 and may not be reproduced or electronically stored without the permission of the publisher. However items may be freely reproduced provided the source is acknowledged. Content and views expressed in the publication do not necessarily represent those of the publishers.

Forestry&Energy

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News News

Forest Management Walks Owner Involvement Is Key

he importance of involvement in the management of their forests was stressed to over 400 forest owners who attended the recent nationwide series of Teagasc forest walks. The forest walks, in association with DAFM, targeted owners with trees less than ten years and the large attendance reflected a desire to learn more about the management challenges and tasks to grow young conifer and broadleaf forests into quality older forests. The premise of forest management is from planting to encourage healthy trees and to grow them into a quality productive forest yielding an attractive return for the owner and bringing wider environmental benefits. This year’s series of fifteen nationwide walks, led by Teagasc, presented an opportunity to see forest management in action with time to discuss the various management issues and maintenance works encountered or required on site. With the maintenance of many forests sub-contracted out for the first four years the importance of owners having some idea of what needs to be done each year was emphasised. After all, the better the trees are looked after in those critical first four years the greater the likelihood the owner will benefit financially in the longer term. Topics concentrated on controlling vegetation around small trees including grass and woody weeds, protecting against browsing, the replanting or “beating-up” of failed trees, assessing nutrient needs, shaping of broadleaf trees and reducing the risk of fires. Although the focus of the walks was on the management in young forests,medium to longer term management topics were also discussed including management schemes available to support forest owners in optimising their farm forest resource.

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News News

Talking Timber. Asking questions – Maximising returns

“

Making the most cents out of harvesting” was the focus for this year’s Teagasc Talking Timber conifer marketing events in Cork and Laois and once again hundreds of forest owners attended to network with the forest industry. Organised in association with DAFM and Forest Industries Ireland (FII), Talking Timber began with an outdoor demonstration organised by FII at which forest owners had the opportunity to view log samples, end use products and discuss the quality of conifer timber required by Irish sawmills.

Gerry Dolan of Glennon Brothers sawmill who organised the FII demonstration at the Cork event held in Charleville stressed that from a timber buyers perspective the importance of building trusted relationships with forest owners as a harvest cycle can take up to 25 or 30 years. The demonstration was followed by short conference-style presentations from Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture, a tax expert and a forest owner on their perspective, advice and experience of what is involved in harvesting conifers successfully. In their presentations Teagasc forestry advisers John Casey and Liam Kelly highlighted that timber harvesting is a process with many moving parts and emphasised that forest owners need to ask the right questions prior to both thinning and clearfelling conifers, in order to maximise their forests’ potential. Typical forest owner questions include: • How do I prepare my crop for harvesting? • What can I expect from my conifer crop? • Who is doing what, when, how and for whom? • What deal suits me best?

The opportunity to network is the key attraction of Talking Timber for both owners and industry. With fifty trade stands at the two events representing a range of management, harvesting and timber purchasing service providers forest owners took advantage of the excellent networking opportunities to make contact with timber buyers in their locality, discuss their individual situations and to put a face to the name and the service they can provide.

Product Product News News

Ponsse Machines Ireland Continues To Grow And Announces Roadshow For 2020

onsse onsse Machines Machines Ireland Ireland Ltd Ltd continues continues to to grow grow and and grow. grow. Since Since it it was was established established in in January January 2017 2017 Ponsse Ponsse machines machines have have grown grown in in popularity popularity amongst amongst Irish Irish harvesting harvesting contractors. contractors. Now Now offering offering more more choice choice than than ever ever before, before, Ponsse Ponsse Machines Machines have have the the largest largest range range of of products, products, strategically strategically designed designed for for every every environment. environment. Whether Whether it’s of both, both, Ponsse Ponsse have have it’s thinning thinning or or clear-fell clear-fell operations, operations, or or aa mixture mixture of aa machine machine to to suit. suit. Ponsse Ponsse OYJ OYJ are are dedicated dedicated to to supporting supporting the the Irish Irish Market their machines. Market and and are are always always keen keen for for customer customer feedback feedback on on their machines. 6 6

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In In May, May, Ponsse Ponsse hosted hosted aa customer customer seminar, seminar, where where aa number number of of personnel factory personnel travelled travelled from from the the R R& &D D department department of of the the Ponsse Ponsse factory in customers and and get get feedback feedback on on in Vierema, Vierema, Finland Finland to to speak speak to to Irish Irish customers their This seminar was was proceeded proceeded their experiences experiences with with Ponsse Ponsse machines. machines. Th is seminar by premises in in Emo, Emo, by the the official official opening opening of of Ponsse Ponsse Machines Machines Ireland’s Ireland’s premises Co. Co. Laois. Laois. At At this this event event it it was was announced announced that that Patrick Patrick Murphy Murphy was was to Ireland. to take take up up the the role role of of Managing Managing Director Director of of Ponsse Ponsse Machines Machines Ireland. Patrick Patrick has has been been involved involved in in HGV HGV sales sales and and aftermarket aftermarket for for many many years. years. He He also also has has vast vast experience experience in in forestry, forestry, logging logging and and timber timber transportation. transportation. Patrick Patrick will will be be in in charge charge of of operations operations of of Ponsse Ponsse Machines Machines Ireland Ireland and and takes takes over over from from Gary Gary Glendinning. Glendinning. Speaking Speaking at at the the event event Patrick Patrick spoke spoke of of Ponsse Ponsse Machines Machines Ireland’s Ireland’s plans plans to to expand expand both both their their premises premises and and workforce workforce in in 2020 2020 so so as as to to continue continue to to provide provide aa high high level level of of support support for for their their customers. customers. In In 2020 2020 Ponsse Ponsse will will celebrate celebrate 50 50 years years of of building building the the world’s world’s best best forest forest machines. machines. To To celebrate, celebrate, Ponsse Ponsse wants wants to to bring bring the the celebrations celebrations to to the the customer. customer. With With this this in in mind mind Ponsse Ponsse will will host host aa European European wide wide road road show. show. Starting Starting in in Finland Finland this this event event will will come come to to Ireland Ireland in in April April of of next next year. year. The The roadshow roadshow will will consist consist of of live live forest forest demonstrations demonstrations of of Ponsse’s Ponsse’s latest latest equipment equipment together together with with customer customer seminar’s seminar’s aa celebratory celebratory dinner. dinner. The The new new PONSSE PONSSE Cobra Cobra and and PONSSE PONSSE Bison Bison will will be be two two of of the the machines machines in in exhibition. exhibition. Ponsse Ponsse will will also also continue continue to to focus focus on on promoting promoting PONSSE PONSSE Active Active Care Care agreements agreements which which allows allows Ponsse Ponsse to to take take care care of of the the scheduled scheduled service service and and machine machine optimization optimization while while the the contractor contractor solely solely concentrates concentrates on on harvesting. harvesting. Find Find out out more more at at www.ponsse.com www.ponsse.com

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News News

Ash Management Event –

Managing For Resilience And Sustainability

ilkenny was the location for a Teagasc Ash Management event in July focussing on the importance of thinning Ash to promote crop vigour, tree quality and timber value. In light of concerns due to the spread of Ash Die-back (Hymenocyphus fraxineus) the event, in association with DAFM, provided a timely opportunity for owners with Ash plantations to see a range of thinning options proposed by Teagasc researchers. The key take home message was – Thin your Ash and thin in time. 150 forest owners gathered at a local GAA centre in Callan before being bussed in groups to the nearby Ash site. On arrival each group, led by a Teagasc forestry adviser, was given a brief description of the site – a 24 year old Ash plantation with Ash Die-back, thinned once in 2016, and managed by Irish Wood Producers - a not for profit company managed by private forest owners. The groups were then brought through a series of stops where a range of management topics were discussed. • the management of ash • management options for ash dieback • thinning systems, • timber production • various timber uses Speakers from Forest Service, DAFM outlined the background and current status of Ash Die-back disease. The classic signs associated with the disease were pointed out to the groups on neighbouring trees. The groups heard that a much anticipated Ash Die-Back (ADB) reconstitution scheme is being developed but was not yet over the line. In the next number of stops the reasons for thinning and thinning options, particularly in the light of the threat from ADB were addressed and demonstrated.

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Conventional selection thinning was discussed and alternative thinning approaches to encourage longer term tree retention, timber production including hurley butts and, in some systems the underplanting of new broadleaf trees Time and again the message of the importance of thinning was reinforced. – • Timing is critical in broadleaf management and health in particular for Ash. • Timely thinning improves the overall quality of the trees because it allows for the removal of suppressed and diseased trees while favouring the best quality trees.

Dr Ian Short, broadleaf forestry researcher with Teagasc explained and demonstrated the Coupe felling system in which 50% of the area is felled in circular “coupes” with selection thinning of the remaining area. The coupes are then either restocked through natural regeneration or planting or a combination. If replanting this site broadleaf species for consideration included Oak, Cherry and Birch. If replanting with conifers Norway spruce was considered a good choice. In addition to coupe felling the forest owners also saw other alternative thinning systems of Free Growth offering potential valuable hurley butt production and Band thinning offering a more systematic option with underplanting of alternative diverse species benefitting from the shelter of the remaining lines of Ash. The message from the alternative thinning systems was the promotion of the establishment of a new generation of diverse species contributing to woodland sustainability and resilience. The safe use good maintenance of chainsaws was demonstrated by Arthur Kerins, Teagasc forestry technician with Alastair Dunnit from Irish Wood Producers (IWP) and forest owners Will Gabbett discussing IWP services and firewood production respectively.

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News

Swedish Welcome For Komatsu Forest Irish Group

team from Komatsu Forest distributor, McHale Plant Sales – accompanied by a number of Irish forestry customers – attended a recent Komatsu Days event held in the wooded surroundings of the company’s global headquarters and manufacturing base in Umeå, Northern Sweden. Highlight of their programme was the unveiling of the upgraded Komatsu Forest 2020 harvester range, from the thinning harvester model through to the eight-wheel 931XC and Komatsu 951 with features that include improved off-road manoeuvrability, higher ground clearance, refined tractive force and new fingertip-controlled steering function. Also shown were upgrades of their three largest forwarders – the 855, 875 and 895 models, as well as their new Stage V engine with latest AdBlue system, new exhaust and hydraulic tappets.

Other exhibits included Komatsu Forest’s new MaxiXT control system – described as the machine’s nervous system that controls everything from the engine to the crane and the head whilst powering its MaxiVision technology. Designed to help the operator visualise forest conditions through map views, it provides data on ground conditions whilst keeping operators up to date with the rest of the team’s production. Also present at the biennial event were some 800 Komatsu distributors, dealers and customers from across Europe, whose visit included a factory tour with the chance to observe live demonstrations of the new machines at work and attendance at the famed Skogsnolia Forest Fair – Sweden’s largest forest expo.

Pat Shanahan of McHale Plant Sales and Pat Doyle of Doyle Harvesting Limited, Aughrim pictured attending a recent Komatsu Days event held at the company’s global headquarters and manufacturing base in Umeå, Northern Sweden.

Broader Remit Adds To Growth At Mchale Plant Sales

he expansion by McHale Plant Sales into the forestry and waste handling sectors through their appointment as distributors for Komatsu Forest harvesters and forwarders, and Terex Ecotec conveyors and shredding equipment, is proving to be a positive development. On the Komatsu Forest front, the company is reporting a ‘very satisfactory’ level of sales with 13 units sold into the market already this year. Of these, Laois-based Camross Transport has taken a 901 harvester unit and a model 835 forwarder. A similar situation exists in relation to their Terex Ecotec brief, recently extended to include larger machines of up to 36 tonnes with an all-island coverage remit. Notable in this regard is the cross-benefit McHale brings to its appointment thanks to its role as distributor of Komatsu excavators and Metso crushing equipment – roles that give them a strong profile in the quarrying and aggregates sector. This was reflected recently in a sale of an 80ft long Terex Ecotec model TSC conveyor to Carlow-based contractor, Hilltop Quarries. 10

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FER031

News

“Forestry Has Allowed Me To Breathe Again”. Westmeath Farmer Wins 2019 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award

erard Deegan, from Cloghan, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath was announced as the winner of the 2019 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award at the presentation of the annual RDS Spring Awards in April. He received his award from Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc. Gerard successfully combines an organic calf to beef enterprise and poultry farming with a 43 hectare forest enterprise in an impressive example of integration of farming and forestry which is recognised by the Award. He has also recently commenced a very rewarding involvement with a local social farming initiative. Up to 2012, Gerard was an organic dairy farmer, milking 35 cows and supplying Glenisk Dairies, while also managing a calf-to-beef system. As the years passed, Gerard found his main farming enterprise to be getting more stressful. After considering many different options including land leasing, Gerard decided he would plant up to 75% of his farm in trees and continue to farm the rest. He believed forestry was a good option as he could still draw Basic Payment on the planted land in addition to a 20 year forestry premium. As he was in REPS at the time he was able to plant under the FEPS scheme which offered a range of environmental forestry options. In 2012, Gerard planted 43ha (107acres) of mixed woodland under FEPS. This fitted well from an environmental point of view as he was an organic farmer. Working with his forester, he was able to plan and organise the layout of the forest which was very important to him. He planted over 20ha in broadleaves, predominately ash, plus oak, beech and sycamore and approximately 20ha of mainly Norway spruce plus some Scot’s pine and European larch. The spruce will be the

commercial timber producing part of the forest. Between all 60 species of trees are planted and all are thriving. The RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award category aims to recognise excellence in sustainable use of land that incorporates both farming and forestry through the successful adoption of a whole farm planning approach. Congratulating Gerard Deegan, Professor Boyle highlighted how the award recognises working farmers who have integrated forestry with their farming enterprises for environmental, economic and social sustainability. The award also acknowledges Gerard’s role in actively managing his farm forest to optimise the economic and environmental contribution to the farm’. Professor Boyle added: ‘Teagasc will continue to support the RDS Forestry and Woodland Awards and encourage farm forest owners to become involved in this very worthwhile competition which will open for this year’s applications shortly’. Accepting the award Gerard said he was ‘privileged to accept the RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award and will enjoy it. Forestry has allowed me to breathe again”.

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Forestry&Energy

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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) provides a range of information on forestry, associated grants and felling licences. The COFORD, Wood Technology Ireland and Wood Energy websites listed below are hosted by DAFM and provide a range of information important for the development of the forest sector. The relevant websites are: www.agriculture.gov.ie Forestry grants and premiums • Felling licences • Online management tools

www.woodtechnologyireland.ie Independent advice on the speciﬁcation and use of wood products, and on timber standards

www.woodenergy.ie Advisory service on the wood biomass supply chain and wood fuels

www.coford.ie Download COFORD publications and Connect Notes

For up-to-date and detailed information on forestry grant schemes, visit

https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantsandpremiumschemes2014-2020/ For contact details of your local Teagasc Forestry Advisor, visit www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/

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Ed Power +353 872542570

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www.JohnDeere.ie/forestry

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News News

Forestry Promotion At Major Farming Events

number of recent national Teagasc farming events attended by over 13,000 farmers provided an ideal opportunity for Forestry Development Department staff to promote forestry. With both indoor and outdoor stands at Moorepark 2019 – Teagasc National Dairy Open Day in Cork and Crops and Spreaders Open Day in Oak Park Carlow forestry advisers and researchers were busy discussing with dairy and tillage farmers’ many queries about all

aspects of forestry including planting land and managing farm forests. The stands were well stocked with the latest information including agroforestry – combining farming and forestry – which had several enquiries. Teagasc forestry staff are looking forward to meeting farmers and forest owners on the Teagasc stand at the 2019 National Ploughing Championships in Fenagh, Co.Carlow from 17th to 19th September.

H He

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Worrell.pdf

02/05/2019

18:29

Worrell Harvesting Ltd. Specialist in Woodchip, Timber Harvesting, Haulage, Timber Marketing and General Logistics

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27/08/2019 14:09

Forest Ecosystems Carbon and Nitrogen Losses

Carbon and Nitrogen Losses From Decomposing Woody Debris In Reforested Coniferous Stands

orest ecosystems act as a large global net carbon (C) sink since they sequester atmospheric carbon in biomass and soil for long periods of time. In addition, the timber products produced extend this effect considerably. The effects of forest management practices, such as thinning and clearfelling and their associated mechanical site effects, can lead to a greater impact on the ecosystem and affect its sequestration ability as well as its long-term sustainability. One of the significant pools of carbon in forests is woody debris resulting from various types of disturbances. Forest harvesting leaves the non-merchantable residues on the forest floor, and this material is usually assembled and heaped to form windrows to facilitate the planting and establishment of new seedlings on reforestation sites. Since periodic operations and other events add to this pool of material it usually accumulates at a faster rate than it decomposes. This study aimed to investigate the role of windrowed harvest debris in the cycling of C and N in a typical commercial forest type in Ireland. To improve estimates of woody debris (WD) decomposition rates, and therefore C retention from WD on harvested sites, two separate pathways of loss were investigated. Both

fleet

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es the

s esidthe heat

ss tock

being bon d and This

Figure 1: Windrowed harvest debris are a common sight in reforested stands in the majority of Ireland’s commercial forests. 18 18

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Ecosystems Carbon andForest Nitrogen Losses

Results Dissolved losses The annual average DOC concentration in windrow leachate ranged between 18.85 mg l-1 in the oldest stand and 38.79 mg l-1 at the intermediate stand. In contrast to the high DOC concentrations observed underneath the windrows, precipitation/throughfall DOC concentrations were generally much lower. The net fluxes, amounting to the leached windrow contribution to the C cycle, were calculated by subtracting precipitation/throughfall fluxes from the woody debris fluxes. Consequently, the annual net DOC fluxes in the leachate water were estimated to range from 33.31 to 76.99 kg C ha−1 yr−1, across the five sites (Table 1). All stands had significantly lower fluxes of DIC. The concentrations and, consequently, annual fluxes of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) were the most variable at all sites and ranged from 0.015 to 0.51 kg N ha-1 yr-1. Annual fluxes of DOC, DIC and TDN in the windrow leachates were all positively related to the quantities of DOC, DIC and TDN arriving in precipitation/throughfall. These results suggest that there was no significant dilution effect of precipitation/throughfall on concentrations of DOC, DIC and TDN in windrow leachates; i.e. higher monthly precipitation led to greater monthly leachate solute concentrations. It seems plausible that the cycling of N will have been affected by the amount of litter and debris deposited during

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Carbon and Nitrogen Losses Forest Ecosystems

Dr Pastore (author) recording CO2 respiration measurements at Ballinastoe Forest.

Sample site

WD age

Flux source

DOC

DIC

TDN

(kg C ha-1 yr-1)

(kg N ha-1 yr-1)

84.74

0.69

2.24

4.58

Precipitation

7.75

0.66

1.72

6.13

Net flux

76.99

0.03

0.51

(yrs) A

Leachate

75.24

0.70

1.39

4.83

Precipitation

8.13

0.65

1.35

6.18

Net flux

67.11

0.05

0.03

Leachate

94.58

0.71

3.41

4.46

Precipitation

4.36

0.69

3.26

6.44

Net flux

90.22

0.02

0.15

Leachate

86.05

0.67

1.79

4.70

Throughfall

9.65

0.59

1.52

6.01

Net flux

76.40

0.08

0.26

Leachate

39.16

0.62

5.25

Throughfall

5.84

0.56

0.59

6.04

Net flux

33.31

0.06

0.03

Table 1: Mean DOC, DIC and TDN fluxes, as well as mean pH, measured from leachate samples collected from zero-tension lysimeters under windrowed harvest debris and from precipitation and throughfall collectors from the Ballinastoe chronosequence. Net leachate fluxes were calculated by subtracting quantities of DOC, DIC and TDN found in precipitation and throughfall (mean values ± standard error of the mean) from those emanating from windrows (leachate).

Respired losses The estimated soil and windrow respiration rates at the chronosequence sites in 2015/2016 are shown in Table 2. The annual stand-level C losses from windrows were 11.5, 15.8 and 8.1 t C ha-1 yr-1, from stands A, C and E respectively. The calculation assumed that windrows were placed on the forest floor every 14 m and occupied a width of 2 m (accounting for 14% of site surface area). The CO2

emission rate increased along the early phase of stand succession to decrease thereafter and likely reflected the relative abundance of material available for decomposers and saprophytes. Figure 2 shows the annual variation of soil and windrow respiration across the chronosequence sites. The windrow respiration was approximately 7-times higher than that from soil.

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Carbon and Nitrogen Losses Forest Ecosystems Conclusions

Respired C Leached C Total C loss Sample site The majority (c. 99%) of C losses from decomposing (kg C ha-1 yr-1) (kg C ha-1 yr-1) (kg C ha-1 yr-1) windrowed debris were respired directly to the Site A 11,504.9 77.0 11,581.9 atmosphere and the rate of loss was most directly affected by temperature. In this study, leaching Site B 67.2 represented a comparatively small, but continuous loss Site C 15,814.7 90.2 15,904.9 of carbon from WD in the harvested forest ecosystems. DOC and TDN concentrations and leached quantities Site D 76.5 were largest in intermediate developmental stages of Site E 8,150.1 33.4 8,183.5 WD decay and their increase was more pronounced in autumn when the greatest intensity of rainfall occurred. Table 2: A comparison between estimated annual C loss from windrows through leaching Moreover, the calculation of TDN fluxes from WD and by respiration. C losses were calculated by scaling windrow rates to stand level, conleachate indicated that more N was retained than sidering that windrows covered approximately 14% of a stand’s area. lost, suggesting that this system acted as a net sink. DIC on the other hand was mainly produced during summertime decomposition (when the peak flux was recorded), although unexpectedly no differences were found among stands of different ages, however this was likely due to its largely originating from atmospheric sources. Also contrary to expectation, concentrations of DOC, DIC and TDN seemed to be positively related to the amount of precipitation (no dilution effect was observed). Therefore, it is plausible to conclude that one of the ecological roles of windrowed WD is as a nutrient reservoir for nitrogen and a weak but steady source of dissolved C. So, while the decomposition of carbon slowly reduces the stock of woody material on a site, this material acts as a significant long-term source of nutrition, contributing to the sustainability of forest productivity.

Acknowledgements

This study was part of the CForRep project funded by DAFM (11/C/205). Thanks to Mr Pat Neville and Coillte for collaborating and the use of their forest.

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Deer Management

Teagasc Forestry Services

Research

Advice

Training

Our research covers many aspects of the life cycle of a forest from seedling to sawdust. Research is carried out in Teagasc research centres in state-of-the-art laboratories and growing facilities and on privately owned farm forests throughout Ireland.

Teagasc provides objective and independent advisory services to all private landowners on forestry related matters. Teagasc forestry advisors provide free, independent and objective advice on any technical or financial aspect regarding forestry.

Teagasc offers a wide range of QQI certified practical courses. Topics can include formative shaping of broadleaves and timber measurement. A forestry qualification from Teagasc enables students to develop wide ranging and interesting careers.

For more information: Visit www.teagasc.ie/forestry Follow @teagascforestry on social media

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Deer Management

Forestry&Energy

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Case Study

Inch Sawmills Kilkenny Has Been Using Renewable Power Of One Form Or Other Since 1886. A Biomass Boiler was installed 14 Years ago by John Brett and is still going strong providing local heat for the next Generation of Brett’s explains Colm Byrne of Glas Energy.

History For those with a gra for ‘all things timber’ you will find your hearts delight at Inch Sawmills (also known as Brett’s Sawmill) in Kilkenny. A quintessential family run business passed down from father to son through five generations of Brett’s. Set in a magical location on the banks of the river Nore Brett’s produce a broad range of high quality native Irish timber products. In fact it is this same river Nore that has provided 100% renewable power for the business from the first mechanical driven sawmill established by Brett’s in 1886 although records of milling on this site date back to the 1600’s. Harnessing the power of the river took on a whole new meaning when Arcogen, a local Kilkenny company designed and installed 3 different power solutions to convert the hydro power to Electricity. This model provides a prime example of the potential for local energy generation in the distributed energy landscape of the future where individuals, businesses and communities can participate in the generation of clean local energy as we move away from fossil fuel supplies.

workshop, showroom and a 100% renewable heat source for the kiln to produce a truly sustainable native Irish timber product range. Lastly it provides me and Glas energy with heat for our office space on site allowing us a business to ‘walk the talk’.

Glas Energy

Summary

Continuing with Brett’s ethos of sustainability the heat demand on site is also 100% renewable. This is where my journey with Brett’s began. Back in 2005 when Glas Energy was just beginning to grow I secured the dealership for Ireland for an outstanding range of high-end German Engineered biomass boilers, from HDG Bavaria, the best in the world in my humble opinion at the time. My challenge was to convince John to invest in a technology that would stand the test of time. Not happy with just my word on it, John decided to visit Germany and see first- hand the quality of workmanship and emphasis on reliability and efficiency. Well that was 14 years ago now and that boiler is still doing me and the Germans proud today. It is a 150kW machine with a sweeping-arm auger system that is pre-programmed to handle a variety of fuels from sawdust and shavings to woodchip and bark of various moisture contents and sizes. Combined with a 3,000 litre buffer tank it forms the heart of a district heating system heating the homes of both John and his son Eoin (now the next generation to take the reins). It also provides heat for the

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The Brett’s benefitted from a capital grant from SEAI at the time but today any business can switch to biomass heating using this technology and get paid a handsome incentive for the heat they consume on a quarterly basis over 15 years through the government’s SSRH scheme. This not only eliminates the cost of fossil fuels for your business but also provides 100% carbon free heating and can benefit your local economy by sourcing a local indigenous fuel supply. Brett’s craft native timber into the many end uses such as cladding, flooring, beams, tables and even Hurley’s and specialise in spalted beech products. Their products stand the test of time and they are respected nationwide by people who want quality, like the owner himself when he came to select and invest in a biomass system. HDG Bavaria manufacture a broad range of biomass solutions from log gasification boilers to automatic wood pellet and chip systems and are available through Glas energy. Visit www.glas.ie for more information.

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Forestry&Energy

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Forest Industries Ireland Anaerobic Digestion

Agricultural Crops As Feedstocks For Opportunity Knocks Anaerobic Digestion (Ad) Winston Churchill once stated “A pessimist sees the diﬃcultyUnits in every opportunity: an

optimist theand opportunity in every diﬃculty!” Bythe Paddy O’ Toole David Tyrrell, Paddy O sees Toole David Tyrell of Quinn’s analyse energy valuesand of various feedstocks Quinns of Baltinglass. for Anaerobic Digestion.

enerally, AD units have utilized biological waste products as

feedstocks. Biological materials produce biogas when put into The Challenge

AD units. biogasiscontains Methanetoand Today the Irish beefThis industry in crisis mainly with proposals cullCarbon the dioxide few500,000 other gasses such as Hydrogen Sulphide in very small nationalwith herdaby to 1,500,000 head! Ireland is failing miserably quantities. of these waste materials being are: in meeting Typical it’s 2020examples renewable energybiological targets with Agriculture •continually Cattle and slurry, citedpig as the biggest contributor of greenhouse gases. • ThePoultry litter, is predicted to increase Carbon Tax on fossil fuels Government •from Slaughterhouse wastes, (belly €20 per tonne initially to €35contents and thenetc) to €80 per tonne. • In practical Food andterms, drinks€20 waste industry incl. dairy co-ops. per from tonnefood carbon tax equates to 5.36 cents •per litre Straw of oil, €2.10 cents per 40 kg of coal and 45 cents on a bale of •briquettes. SewageThsludges. is carbon tax is not ring fenced but goes into the general exchequer pot. Agricultural are alsoofexcellent AD but have only been With even crops a modicum joined upfeedstocks thinking,for Ireland could not used sparingly dueaddress to the its higher cost. Now due toenergy an expected only successfully obligatory renewable targetsproliferbut ation in AD aunits and the income subsequent extra demand forrecently feedstock, they also provide meaningful to farmers who have been will play a greater part inhardship. the feedstock mix in the future. The Support experiencing economic Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) will also provide additional support for AD going forward. ThSo,e Way Forward using agricultural crops as feedstock for AD units, the following How can crops like grass, miscanthus, wheat, maize, rye fit in with a new yields of biogas can be obtained and using the cost of these crops, we can type of agriculture? compare the relative cost of the biogas. Rather than producing quantities of beef with negative profit margins, There are 2 principal end uses for the Biogas produced in the AD unit. some of this land could effortlessly be diverted in to producing feedstock 1. Electricity generation for anaerobic digesters. 2. Upgrading the biogas to produce Biomethane for injection into the Ireland is obligated by law to meeting it’s renewable targets and its high gas grid or direct to use as transport fuel to service stations or fleet time that our policy makers addressed these targets by appropriate action customers. rather than just lip service. 1.ThElectricity Generation ere are circa 10,000 anaerobic digesters in Germany and less than a This process involves powering a generator with the biogas to produce handful in the Republic of Ireland! electricity can incentives be fed intofor theBiomethane electricity network. Germanywhich provides production through One cubic metre (m3) biogas contains 23MJ energy and generates the anaerobic digestion and the Republic of Ireland does not. following: The economics of producing Biomethane from agricultural crops and 26 26

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1.7 KWH electricity plus 2.5KWH heat. animal simple. 65% slurry of the are energy in biogas is lost to heat and other losses in this Assume the the cost the feed inputs arehave as follows: generation process. As of a result, it is vital to a heat use for the resid• waste Grassheat silage@ ual from€48/tonne this process. Some heat will be required to heat the • Maize €53/tonne digestor andsilage@ the ancillary buildings in the AD unit but most of the heat • require Wheata(15% dry matter)@€187/tonne will commercial use. • ForMiscanthus (45% dry matter)@ €50/tonne the biogas at €0.31/m3, the total usable yield from the process • 1.7Using either oneKWH or a combination the on above statedforcrops, the at plus 2.5 = 4.2 costs €0.074of /kwh average feedstock alone.feed input cost is €0.55 per cubic meter of biogas produced. • 1 cubic meter of Biomethane is equivalent to 10 kilowatt hours. •2. Biomethane Therefore, the feed input cost in the production of 1 kWh of energy is 5.5 cents. Upgrading the biogas to produce biomethane results in the biogas being

cleaned and compressed so that it can enter the gas grid. All the carbon A feed inand tariff similar to Germany would, if introduced be and dioxide thescheme other gasses such as Hydrogen sulphide are removed the catalyst for anaerobic digesters to spring up in strategic locations the remaining Methane is compressed to conform with natural gas. This throughout upgraded gasthe cancountry. be transported via tanker to injection points. Th is in turn would be veryyield signifi cantbiogas in helping to meet its On average, the methane from can beIreland estimated to average obligatory renewable energy targets. 56% (varying from 52-60% on the season). Therefore following is the Teagasc, in a number of different studies has demonstrated that with case for biomethane (feedstock cost only) better utilization of presently underutilized grassland, the the additional For the biogas at €0.31/m3, the total usable yield from process tonnage of grass production required for Anaerobic Digesters could be at 1.7 plus 2.5 = 4.2 KWH costs €0.074 /kwh on average for feedstock obtained without any reduction in supply for animal feed. alone. 10 million tonnes oftograss will be required • An1additional M3 Biogascirca costing €0.31 upgrades 0.56silage M3 biomethane for anaerobic digestion in order to replace 28% of natural • 0.56 M3 biomethane costs €0.31 in feedstock cost gas supply. It sounds like biomethane a tall order but is €0.55 eminently possible cost even without impinging • 1 M3 costs in feedstock supplies.= 10KWh energy •on animal 1 M3feed biomethane and France costs have €0.055 led the way in the proliferation of anaerobic • Germany 1 M3 biomethane per kwh energy digesters and Ireland must and will follow! But when?? • A biogas upgrade unit would typically cost in the region of €1.5 million

Government Action

(Source Philbegin Greenway GMTwhen BIOGAS) It will only to happen our policy makers, provide the

Forestry&Energy

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Anaerobic Digestion

incentives to do so. The economics of producing feedstock are set out above and in order to have long term contracts with farmers, which will ensure sustainability and continuity of supply, a contract, at least relating to present day prices must be offered. It makes no sense for our Government to inextricably march on to

2020, apparently oblivious or not in the least bit concerned at incurring imminent fines of circa €500,000,000 per year. Apart from waxing lyrical at various energy conferences, the Government has done little or nothing to redress, like a train coming down the track, a scandal that will pale “the cash to ash scandal” into insignificance. Oh to have another Churchill!

Benefit financially from the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat by switching from Fossil fuels to renewable energy. Sustainable Long Term Contracts available from Quinns: • Miscanthus Pellets • Miscanthus Chips • Miscanthus Large Bales For more information please contact: Paddy O’Toole 087-2549234 or David Tyrrell 087-8257190 T: 059-6481226 E: sales@quinns.ie W: www.quinns.ie Forestry&Energy

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Commercial Feature

New and Refurbished Firewood Machines, Trust Jas P Wilson’s

Posch distributors for the UK & the Republic of Ireland, Jas P Wilson, are well-known throughout Europe as suppliers of quality new & used machines.

hrough the sale of new machines, Wilson’s always have an excellent supply of quality used machines which have been partexchanged. This supply of quality used machines provides users with a high-quality product at a price point more suited to the entry level buyer or a user looking to upscale their production from another brand. Wilson’s endeavour to ensure these used machines are just as capable as when they were new! Wilson’s have a dedicated Posch firewood service workshop where Posch trained specialists recondition these machines to a standard where Wilson’s will happily cover them with a 6-month parts warranty! The used stock includes firewood processors, log splitters, saws, kindling machines and more. There is always a wide mix of other brands too, the other brands also come with a warranty, typically lasting 3 months. Wilsons have produced a short video to highlight both their used & new firewood machines and the benefits of each model – this is a great video to get a better insight on what would suit your needs! Please visit www.youtube.com and search ‘Posch Processor Guide’, here you will see the video titled “2019: New & Used Posch Processor Guide” Wilson’s aim to support firewood producers with quality machines and excellent service and in recent months, the company has expanded it’s after sales network with the addition of 3 new service vans, now making it 5 full -time service vans on the road, more sitting at their HQ and a new Service Co-ordinator, ensuring their customers across the UK & Ireland get first class service when they need it. 28

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The Posch range includes Firewood Processors, Kindling Machines, Log Splitters and Log Net Wrapping machines just to name a few… all these machines can be viewed online at www.jaspwilson.co.uk or give them a call. They are always happy to discuss your requirements, visit your business, or showcase products through demonstrations.

Forestry&Energy

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Commercial Feature A top seller within the range of new products is the S-375 firewood processor (As seen above about to board the ferry, as it travels from Scotland towards County Roscommon). This quality tungsten tipped circular saw machine has already made a name for itself, having been launched at the end of 2017. This model builds on the success of the prior S-350 & S-360 models with some excellent improvements to increase output performance and ease of use. It can accept timber up to 37cm in diameter and can easily process even the most twisted lengths. The timber enters the machine where it is cut into rounds up to 50cm long, these are ideal for the biomass market. The cut rounds then fall into the splitting chamber and are split by the powerful 12t splitting ram. The rounds are split into 2/4/6 or 8 depending on which knifes you have chosen for the machine. These knifes can be quickly changed over in a matter of moments with a quick locking pin. Upon splitting, finished logs travel up a powered outfeed conveyor to further reduce any handling requirements. This joystick-controlled machine also benefits from hydraulic ports to run additional machinery including log decks, cleaning screens and net wrappers. Their product range in Ireland also includes TP landscape and biomass wood chippers, Lasco cone splitters, Igland forestry winches, JAK tree shears, Keto & SP harvesting heads, Botex heavy duty trailer & loaders, used purpose-built harvester & forwarders, used firewood machinery and used spare parts for Forestry Harvesters and Forwarders. The Botex range of heavy duty trailers & loaders have been sold across Europe by Jas P Wilson for over 20 years. The full range is designed and manufactured at their factory site in Dalbeattie, South West Scotland. As a core part of Wilson’s business there has always been a focus to produce machines capable of performing well in our challenging terrain and conditions in the UK & Ireland. The continual development and focus on the UK & Irish market sees the product as the ‘go to’ brand when

users are considering their next purchase. Why not visit our stand at the National Ploughing Match on the 17th, 18th & 19th of September, Forestry Area, located in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co. Carlow Call Ken on 0874 171750, oﬃce Tel: (0044) (0) 1556 612233, email ken@jaspwilson.co.uk or visit www.jaspwilson.co.uk for all used stock listings.

Forestry&Energy

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Continuous Cover Forestry

Continuing Developments For Continuous Cover Forestry The past year has seen a number of significant developments for Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Ireland.

he past year has seen a number of significant developments for Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Ireland. As many readers will be aware, CCF is the management of irregular structure woodlands, with multiple canopy layers and an emphasis on natural regeneration to achieve stand renewal and sustainability. Traditionally, production forests have been managed on a rotational system, often with clear-felling and re-planting in Sitka spruce stands taking place on a 35-40 year cycle. For owners of small woodlands, in particular, CCF is becoming increasingly attractive due to savings in management costs, such as replanting and weeding, while generating a continuous income from regular stand interventions. Relatively few woodlands are currently being managed on CCF principles, but this is destined to change with new policy measures, investment and research coming on stream, as described further in this article.

Forest Policy A new grant scheme dedicated to CCF was announced by Andrew Doyle TD, Minister of State for Forestry, on 22 January 2019. This initiative is part of a wider strategy to promote the sustainability, resilience and biodiversity of Ireland’s forest estate. A maximum of 30 applications will be approved in the first year. There will then follow a review of progress before the measure is extended forward from 2020. Funding is for 12 years to assist with planning and management costs associated with stand transformation to CCF. Three cost-based payments will be made, up

Figure 1. Example of a crown thinning plot at one of the TranSSFor project research sites. 30

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Continuous Cover Forestry intended to protect Europe’s natural capital. The facility will enable institutional investors to support alternative sustainable forestry models and support Ireland’s ambition to protect biodiversity, soils and landscapes, and combat threats associated with climate change. The investment strategy for the fund is to acquire existing plantations in Ireland and, where possible, transform them to CCF. SLM Partners is collaborating with Purser Tarleton Russell Limited (PTR), a leading forestry management, consultancy and research firm with deep experience in Continuous Cover Forestry. PTR will be responsible for managing the forest properties after acquisition. The increment in growth is removed as ‘income’, preserving the ‘capital’ of the standing forest. Environmental impact monitoring, training and development activities will continue over the lifetime of the fund.

Research and Development

Figure 2. Students from Waterford Institute of Technology developing tree marking skills at the marteloscope in Oughaval Forest.

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Continuous Cover Forestry

Figure 3. Learning about CCF in broadleaf woodland on the PSI study tour to Alsace, September 2018.

by Teagasc Forestry Development Department and UCD, with support from Coillte and a farm woodland owner. Other applied research taking place at the present time includes monitoring of Research Stands established by the Irregular Silviculture Network (ISN). Seven different forest type stands have been identified in the network, with detailed inventory being repeated on a 5-year cycle. This is generating information on the transformation in stand structures, natural regeneration, economic performance and ecological attributes. A separate network of training plots, known as marteloscopes, have been set up to help develop skills in tree marking and preparation of stand prescriptions (Figure 2). In a new development for Coillte, a project called BioClass has mapped biodiversity areas across their estate. This has flagged sites where CCF is the recommended management option for enhancing biodiversity value of the forest stand, while also managing for quality timber. Linked to the programme of CCF research is a growing need for knowledge transfer. Forestry Knowledge Transfer Groups (KTGs), supported by DAFM, are enabling woodland owners to develop skills and understanding of woodland management, especially in CCF. Regular meetings and forest visits are a feature of KTGs, with additional support provided by the advisory team at Teagasc.

Pro Silva Ireland

ProSilva Ireland (PSI) is the leading non-profit organisation and registered charity dedicated to CCF in Ireland. Over many years, Pro Silva Ireland has forged strong links with similar forestry groups across Europe. Pro Silva Ireland organises two Open Forest Days each year in woodlands being transformed to CCF. Among other activities, PSI organises an annual international study tour (Figure 3) and provides input to relevant DAFM forest policy consultations. From Spring 2019, 32 32

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PSI has launched a series of 2-day short courses in tree marking and stand transformation. There are plans to extend this series and add new topics in response to growing interest and demand.

Concluding Points

Across the forestry sector at the present time, high timber prices continue to spur on the sector and draw more woodland into active management. The imperatives to enhance the resilience, sustainability and biodiversity of woodlands are stimulating new interest in CCF. With the introduction of a new grant, investment initiatives and training programmes there has never been a better time for woodland owners to give CCF their serious consideration. More Information • Pro Silva Ireland – www.prosilvaireland.com • Forest Service - www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice • Teagasc Forestry Development Department - www.teagasc.ie/crops/ forestry • SLM Partners - www.slmpartners.com/activities/slmsilva • UCD Forestry - www.ucd.ie/agfood Authors Ted Wilson is Walsh Fellow in Silviculture, based at the Teagasc Forestry Development Department and the School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD, Dublin, Ireland. Email: ted.wilson@teagasc.ie Padraig O Tuama is an independent forestry consultant with CCF Management, based in Ballingeary, County Cork, Ireland. Email: potuama@ hotmail.com

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2019-2020

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Biomass Heating

Will Biomass Heating be Beneficial for Your Business or Farm? The entitlement to access, rules and benefits are outlined here by Colm Byrne of Glas Energy

Background

The use of wood/biomass for heating in Ireland has enormous potential for growth and is still a relatively underdeveloped industry. Wood in its many forms, sawdust, shavings, chips, pellets and logs can contribute significantly to reducing our carbon emissions and our dependency on imported fossil fuels whilst stimulating rural economies. Across Europe and even on our island we have witnessed government supports and incentives to stimulate growth in regional biomass sectors. The good news is that at last, we now have our own scheme in Ireland that has the potential to underpin a vibrant industry.

Supports If you are entitled to the SSRH or Support Scheme for Renewable Heat; the scheme offers the following: 1: An operational support (i.e. operating-aid) based on useable heat output in renewable heating systems in new installations or installations that currently use a fossil fuel heating system and convert to using the following technologies: i. biomass heating systems; ii. anaerobic digestion heating systems. 2: An installation grant (i.e. investment-aid) to support investment in renewable heating systems that use the following technologies: i. air source heat pumps; 36 36

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ii. ground source heat pumps; and iii. water source heat pumps The scheme is limited to commercial heat demand only (in other words it does not cover heating in homes/domestic heating unless the home is part of a district heating scheme with a minimum of two homes connected. SEAI did offer a grant for domestic pellet boilers in the past and I believe it is high time that they revisited this space particularly given the level of fines we now face due to the low percentage of renewable energy currently used in the heating sector. Over 90% of rural homes still use oil for heating. 92% of the revenue from oil leaves this island and a meagre 2% stays in the local economy.

Entitlement So back to the SSRH, and who or what is eligible and how much is it worth? As this article is focused on biomass, and in particular, wood fuel the following information relates to the ‘Operational Support’ mentioned above. Firstly, in terms of the types of projects that are eligible and the regulations: Participants must be a commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating or other non-domestic heat user in the non-ETS sector; Buildings and heat using processes must adhere to (and continue, for period of support, to adhere to) verified energy efficiency criteria;

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Biomass Heating Heat generating technologies and project installations must comply with (and continue, for period of support, to comply with) Building Regulations, Construction Products Regulations, EN Standards, efficiency, technology standards and air quality standards in relation to emissions; Designers and installers shall be competent to carry out works; • feedstock (in the case of biomass and anaerobic digestion) must meet (and continue, for period of support, to meet) sustainability criteria and fuel quality standards where appropriate; and • recipients of payments must be subject to tax clearance procedures.

of this and the potential income. So, to explain the above: For every unit of heat consumed (based on a pre-approved, benchmarked cap), the owner of the biomass plant will receive a payment for 15 years. This tariff is based on your annual consumption. For example: if you install a 100Kw biomass boiler running 2000 hours per year to meet a demand of 200MWh/yr (or 200,000 KWhrs) you will fall within tier 1 and receive: 200,000 x 5.66c = €11,320 per annum. Once your consumption goes above the tier 1 limit of 300,000 KWhrs you then move into tier for the additional demand and so on. The scheme is administered through SEAI and the application process requires the client to undertake a detailed analysis of the energy demand, benchmark their demand against.

The incentive itself is paid quarterly for 15 years based on the metered heat at the point of consumption. The chart below shows the breakdown

Tier

Lower Limit (MWh/yr)

Upper Limit (MWh/yr)

Tariff (c/kWh)

Value

300

5.66

€16,980

300

1,000

3.02

€21,140

1,000

2,400

0.5

€7,000

2,400

10,000

0.5

€38,000

10,000

50,000

0.37

€148,000

50,000

Backleas, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal Proprietor: John Gallinagh, Tel/Fax: 074 9132612 Contact: Conor Gallinagh, BAgrSc, Horticulture, 087 6496887 John Gallinagh: 087 6988481 Forestry&Energy

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Biomass Heating Biomass Heating

Fuel Quality & Sustainability

SEAI will require applicants to verify all sustainability criteria detailed in below. Compliance with the sustainability criteria will form part of an applicant’s ongoing obligations for the duration of support for the Scheme. • An applicant must confirm compliance with the sustainability criteria through self-declaration as part of an annual compliance declaration that every applicant will be required to submit to SEAI to confirm compliance with its ongoing obligations. This obligation is greater than current legal requirements contained in the Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources but is aligned with the guidance document issued by the European Commission associated with the same legislation and the forthcoming legislation. • SEAI may amend and update the certification requirements in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and the Council on the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources (Recast). Types of Feedstock for biomass and biogas • For the purposes of the Scheme, biomass is defined as the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from agriculture (including vegetal and animal substances), forestry and related industries including fisheries and aquaculture. • Eligible renewable technologies may be permitted to use solid biomass contained in waste as a fuel source however Feedstock shall not be diverted to heat use from recycling or reuse. The requirements of the Commission Directive 2008/98/EC shall inform the eligible use of waste. The combustion of the biodegradable fraction of municipal waste to produce heat is not eligible for support. • Technologies using food based biofuels are not eligible for support under the Scheme.

Biomass sustainability requirements • •

•

All biomass fuel must meet (and continue, for the period of support, to meet) the Scheme sustainability requirements in order to receiver Scheme payments. For biomass produced in Ireland, there are clear monitoring and enforcement systems in place under existing legislation, monitored by the Forestry Service, the relevant local authorities and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Verification of the CrossCompliance Requirements rests with DAFM and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Applicants must confirm that Feedstock, regardless of country of origin, used for biomass and HECHP units, approved under the Scheme, complies with all relevant regulations, standards and the existing legislation detailed below

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•

Biomass fuels produced from agricultural biomass shall not be made from raw material obtained from land: i. with high biodiversity value, i.e. primary forests, specially protected areas, special areas of conservation and highly biodiverse grasslands; ii. with high carbon stock, i.e. wetlands, continuously forested areas; or iii. that was undrained peatland in January 2008. Biomass fuels produced from forest biomass shall meet the following requirements: i. the country of origin of the biomass has harvesting laws, and monitoring and enforcement systems (or where not available in the country of origin, that management systems are in place at forest sourcing area level) to ensure: a. it is carried out in accordance with a harvesting permit; b. forest regeneration is in place; c. nature protection areas, including peatlands and wetlands, are protected; d. impacts on soil quality and biodiversity are minimised; and e. it does not exceed the long-term production capacity of the forest. ii. the country (or regional economic integration organisation) meets the following LULUCF requirements: a. is party to or has ratified the Paris Agreement; b. has submitted and Nationally Determined Contribution to the UNFCCC or there are laws in place (in accordance with the Paris Agreement) to conserve and enhance carbon stocks and sinks; and c. has a national system for reporting GHG emissions and removals from land use including forestry and agriculture. Applicants must produce heat with lifecycle GHG emissions of less than or equal to 24 gCO2eq/MJ of heat generated in order to be eligible under the Scheme. This equates to a minimum 70% GHG saving compared to a fossil fuel comparator for heating of 80 gCO2eq/MJ. If biomass sustainability requirements detailed above are not demonstrated through a recognised verifiable certification process, applicants must, in order to ensure compliance, have management systems at the forest sourcing area level in place to ensure that carbon stocks and sinks levels in the forest are maintained for the long term and have a documented lifecycle GHG emissions calculation for all biomass used. The Irish Wood fuel Quality Association can provide advice, assistance and certification for those exploring the potential to supply biomass and/ or consume their own fuel as part of the scheme. More information on www.wfqa.org

Conclusion

In conclusion it is a timely and welcome support scheme for the biomass sector which has seen little or no growth over the last 10 years. The terms and conditions, although onerous, combined with the 15-year support will ensure the schemes sustainability and should result in diversification within the farming sector and increased local biomass/fuel crop establishment.

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Biomass Heating

Lafferty Forestsales.ie Paul on 086 25 99 189 Specialist Auctioneers in Forestry

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Commercial Feature

A Family Run Business Established in 1972, Dermot Casey Tree Care Ltd. has evolved from modest beginnings to becoming one of Ireland’s largest and most reputable tree surgery companies.

propelled AHWI RT400 mulching machine – unique to Dermot Casey Tree Care – which has been used on major infrastructure operations over the last decade as well as site clearance and land reclamation contracts for the forestry and agricultural sectors. Always keen to work with the most modern equipment, Dermot Casey Tree Care have invested in purpose-built forestry tractors, coupled with felling grapples and 20” self-propelled chippers. The larger diameter chippers also produce a viable source of biofuel. Dermot Casey Tree Care is the largest arboricultural contractor for ESB Networks’ Overhead Network Vegetation management programme. Experience and accreditations developed within this sector enables Dermot Casey Tree Care to work near overhead networks with a reputable degree of safety and confidence; these skills are transferable into both the commercial and domestic sector. As part of their continued expansion and development, Dermot Casey Tree Care specialise in Timber Harvesting for ESB Networks and the ever-expanding private forestry sector in Ireland.

Staﬀ, Client and Public Safety is Our Priority

ermot Casey Tree Care Ltd. has a proven and successful track record in providing arboriculture and consultancy services to a wide range of commercial organisations, local authorities, state boards and domestic homeowners.

Professional Tree Surgery - Nationwide With so many companies offering tree surgery services at a variety of prices and standards, it is difficult to know who to trust. Dermot Casey Tree Care Ltd. – ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 accredited – has the expertise, training, experience and specialised equipment to cover all aspects of tree surgery. Dermot Casey Tree Care employ an award-winning team of NPTCcertified arborists – all with extensive industrial experience and knowhow. Staff are trained to the highest arboricultural and safety standards and use industrial best practice methodology and equipment. An in-house Safety Officer is tasked with ensuring ongoing audits of crews, equipment checks and safety briefings. Tree felling is conducted in accordance with BS3998: 2010 (Tree Work) and BS5837: 2012 (Design, Demolition and Construction), appropriate Health & Safety Method Statements and the guidance provided by Arboricultural and Forestry Advisory Group Safety. Dermot Casey Tree Care arboricultural services include tree felling, pruning, trimming, mulching, chipping, crown reduction, stump grinding, site clearance, bridge, motorway and railway maintenance, tree surveys and reports. Dermot Casey Tree Hire also offer a 24-hour emergency call out service throughout Ireland. This dedication to our work has earned us a solid reputation for quality, reliability and professionalism.

Dermot Casey Tree Hire is a safety- and performance-driven company, adhering to all guidelines issued by the Health & Safety Authority and are fully compliant with safety legislation. Reliability is underpinned in deploying equipment and machinery that are CE compliant and all working activities are risk-assessed and strategically planned to the highest standards to ensure the health and safety of our operatives, our clients and the general public. It is this innovative and progressive outlook that enables Dermot Casey Tree Care Ltd. to proudly say that they are the safest tree surgery company in Ireland!

Environmental Awareness

Dermot Casey Tree Care Ltd. deems environmental protection as a fundamental part of its business and is fully committed to the prevention of pollution and reduction of its carbon footprint, conducting all its working activities in an energy-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

dermotcaseytreecare.ie 022 55000 treecare@dermotcasey.com

Specialised Equipment The latest and leading-edge PiCUS Sonic Tomograph is used for tree risk assessments in order to measure the thickness of the residual wall of trees with internal defects such as cavities or decay non-invasively. Constantly upgrading their equipment and fleet, Dermot Casey Tree Care were the first company in Ireland to introduce insulated platform equipment for working safely around live overhead networks and the self40

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Commercial Feature Sampo Rosenlew

The Next Step

Sampo Rosenlew FR48 is the first step for this Finnish forestry equipment manufacturer to expand and strengthen their model lineup. Not only are they adding more models to choose from but also offering larger machines to do more than thinning.

innish forestry equipment and combine harvester manufacturer Sampo-Rosenlew Oy, located in the city of Pori, catered a notable serving of new machines during the FinnMETKO 2018 forestry exhibition last autumn. Sampo unveiled a total of three new machines, thus making a huge increase of items in the company’s product portfolio – before this they had two forest machine models available. Both of the previous machines are suited mostly for thinning, HR46x being a four-wheeled harvester and FR28 being an eightwheeled forwarder. In addition to these two models Sampo now presented the FR48 and FR68 forwarders as well as the HR86 harvester. The latter two derive from the recent acquisition of former Finnish forestry machine manufacturer Logman, whereas FR48 is a “genuine” Sampo Rosenlew forwarder and also - at the moment - the first production-ready model of the three newcomers. FR68 and HR86 will be officially launched up for sale somewhere during mid-2019. Meanwhile, the FR48 has already been taking its rounds across Finland and other nearby countries in terms of on-site test drive events and deals have been closed globally and domestically at an exceptional rate among the Sampo-Rosenlew Oy’s business manager Hannu Hietikko and sales representative Ahti Sormunen.

Bogies And Rear Frame In Focus

first FR48s before it was handed over to a customer. One of the first things that catch the eye is the almost identical looks between the FR28 and FR48. This is really no secret or something we should be worried of, but more like a smart way to make the most out of the tried and tested parts of the FR28. FR48 shares many common parts with its smaller sibling: cab, engine, hydrostat, work hydraulics and middle joint are consisting of the familiar components. The differences hit in when you take a look at the rear frame, wheels, bogies, steering cylinders, and some under-the-hood flow control tweaks in the hydrostat system and crane hydraulics. Rear chassis frame is now extended by 1,2 meters and it has been slightly redesigned, reinforced and widened to handle the 14 tonnes of load and the bigger bogies. Still, it has the same basic idea and main profile as the rear chassis in the FR28. The balanced bogies are made by NAF and they are from the Heavy Duty lineup, equipped with double rocker bearings and measured to carry the full total weight without a sweat. It is even appropriate to say the bogies are a bit overkill to a machine this size, but that doesn’t seem to cause any problems even if they do bring in some more weight. That is because when we speak of forwarders, the bogies are the most common components to wear out or break. Therefore Sampo’s decision to make them durable once and for all seems like a good call.

We were provided a possibility of taking a closer look at the one of the 44 70

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Sampo Rosenlew Larger Diameter For Terrainability

The wheel size has increased from FR28’s 710/40-22.5 to FR48’s 710/45- 26.5. Larger wheel size has been one of the principles of design during the FR48 project, because Sampo Rosenlew customers asked for a machine with more wheel capacity to lower the ground pressure and to improve the terrainability. FR48 was already on the drawing desk during the evolution of the FR28, so the idea has been clear for a while. But it was not until the Logman-acquisition when the larger bogies came topical and the plans were finished: FR48 would also have similar heavy duty bogies. As the terrainability was the main focus point with larger wheels and bogies, the increased load carrying capacity came actually as an added bonus. Also the new wheel and bogie construction enabled the use of 900 millimeters wide symmetrical tracks. The balanced bogies tame down the machine’s behavior and enhance the ability to move in the harder environment such as uneven surface, soft soil or steep slopes. This is highlighted specially with the larger wheels as FR28 didn’t feature

FINNISH BY HEART. AGCO Power 49 AWF is a known powerhouse and found its way under many hoods. In Sampo’s setup the filters, for example, are placed cleverly for an easy change.

the balanced bogies as the smaller wheels don’t benefit from them that much. There has been an increase on operating weight due to the changes though. Whereas FR28 weighs 13 500 kgs without tracks or chains, FR48’s readout is a bit over 17 000 kgs.

Unleashing The Potential

FR28 was already rated quite comprehensively during the design phase to be ready for this kind of evolution. Critical parts such as the middle joint and the hydrostat system by Bosch-Rexroth were already upscaled for the future. Now, when the FR48 has advanced to the full production, we can for example see that the middle joint is still the same but the steering cylinders have been upgraded to provide more power and strength. The hydrostat is the same as in the FR28 but in this smaller machine it was programmed to deliver less power. Now the full effect has been called to action, producing 170 kN of traction force. Just to compare: FR28’s figure was 130 kN. The machine we now are featuring carries a Mesera

REFUELING MADE EASY. All the refueling functions and hood raising switch can be found under the right hand side hatch of the front fender.

MORE TURNING TORQUE. The middle joint is similar to the one in FR28 but the turning cylinders are larger and stronger.

STEADY MOVEMENT. Larger tyres, bigger bogies, beefed-up rear frame, more traction and greater capacity. This is the recipe of the FR48. 71

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Commercial Feature Larger Diameter For Terrainability

Sampo Rosenlew

FINNISH BY HEART. AGCO Power 49 AWF is a known powerhouse and found its way under many hoods. In Sampo’s setup the filters, for example, are placed cleverly for an easy change.

Unleashing The Potential

REFUELING MADE EASY. All the refueling functions and hood raising switch can be found under the right hand side hatch of the front fender.

MORE TURNING TORQUE. The middle joint is similar to the one in FR28 but the turning cylinders are larger and stronger.

STEADY MOVEMENT. Larger tyres, bigger bogies, beefed-up rear frame, more traction and greater capacity. This is the recipe of the FR48. 46

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Helping to get the job done efficiently Whether its harvesting, shearing, mulching, tilling, chipping, crushing, splitting or kindling we have tried, tested and trusted equipment from Europe’s leading manufacturers:

Neuson Forest, Rabaud, FAE, MDB, NHS and Mus-Max. Full sales and service backup. For more information

George Murphy

086 2231756 www.murphybrosferns.com Forestry & Energy Halfpage 1.19.indd 1

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Commercial Feature Sampo Rosenlew

MESERA OR KESLA. Crane choices are between two makes. This machine features a Mesera 83F with slightly more lifting capacity compared to the 71F.

CABIN VIEWS. Inside the cab the view is exactly similar to that of FR28’s. Only exception is the new, larger IQAN-display. The visibility outside is good in all directions

AGILE ADVANCING. Sampo Rosenlew FR48 brings more of that much wanted terrainability and even packs more load as a bonus. Now even 900 millimetres wide symmetric tracks can be used.

83F crane which is in theory similar to the legendary Mesera 71F, but it has a slight increase in lifting power. That change has been carried out mainly by adding more pressure to the work hydraulic system. Enigne is also the same Agco Power 49 AWF with just a pinch of an increase to the kilowattage. It now boasts 127 kilowatts which must have something to do with the software management carried out due to the improvements on the driveline. Inside the cab the only change is a larger Parker IQAN-display for the work hydraulics.

selection of larger machines. FR28 was and still is a good companion for a smaller harvester, such as HR46x. Still, bigger machines are now needed to team up with upcoming Sampo machines or other manufacturers medium and large size machines to work at late thinning or final felling sites. And this is what Sampo-Rosenlew Oy is now bringing in at the 14 tonnes class. The long and comprehensive knowledge gained with FR28 is clearly visible and FR48 seems like a fluent and rational step towards the right direction. The driveline from the engine to the bogies seems robust and hassle-free and rest of the construction has been thoroughly proven so the odds of failing the new concept are low in my opinion. There is of course the constant brand-related polemic going on between the by-heart-believers and supporters of different harvester and forwarder makes, and that ship turns slowly so to say. But with some brave open-mindness of the clientele, Sampo Rosenlew FR48 might just as well give the others a good run for their money in a new size class.

Walk A Mile - Or Work A While…

As the saying goes, it is better to walk a mile in someone’s shoes before saying anything. And that is what we just did, well not maybe walking a mile but working a while. First and foremost it is great to see how Sampo-Rosenlew Oy has done a brave move to strengthen its foothold in a very hard competitive situation. The company seems to have listened the voices of the current and also the potential future customers, resulting a 48 72

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Trackplot

Trackplot Celebrates 10 Years Protecting Lone Workers

rackplot, the UK’s leading remote lone worker monitoring system, is commemorating a decade spent keeping lone workers safe. Since its conception in 2009, Trackplot has been offering lone workers an effective way to keep in touch and minimise the risk of working alone outdoors. Gert Riemersma, Founder and Technical Director, developed the first iteration of the Trackplot Portal in 2008 as a project for a blue chip client. Educated as a land surveyor and with 15 years experience working in the oil & gas industry, Gert knew his product could help lone workers. In 2010, just two years after Trackplot launched, the Royal Highland Show presented us with the Silver Medal for the Award for Innovation for our original Trackplot Portal. Encouraged by this market response we sought Scottish Enterprise backing to realise further development ideas and we have been evolving our solution ever since. In 2017 we launched our mobile app which complements our satellite-based system, providing users with another way to keep in touch. Our sole purpose is to help keep lone workers safe and, over the past 10 years, we have helped companies implement our solution and establish robust lone worker procedures to give both employers and staff peace of mind. Forestry, estate and land management are sectors that we are passionate about helping protect. Currently, rates of fatal and major injuries across agriculture, which includes commercial forestry and estates, are second highest of the industries that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates, illustrating there is a real need for our system. As a member of FISA, Confor, FCA, BASC and the Suzi Lamplugh Trust we are fully committed to safety and understand the issues facing these sectors. Gert Riemersma, Technical Director said “Keeping people safe is at the heart of our business. We have worked with many different companies and lone workers over the ten years and we have brought enthusiasm and experience to every project. As a result of customer feedback we make continual improvements to our system to ensure it is fit for purpose. Recently we included an “Out of office” option to take into account holiday and leave absences, giving each lone worker the ability to redirect notifications to an agreed contact to ensure the escalation process remains robust despite absences.” Emma Thomas, Director, said “Understanding our customers and their challenges drives us forward. We are currently working towards gaining BS8484 standards to demonstrate our pledge to quality and our rigorous approach to health and safety.” For more information please contact: Emma Thomas, Director Phone: 07906 162925 Email: emma@trackplot.com Website: www.trackplot.com

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Green Belt Ltd

is Ireland's largest private forestry company backed by a reputation for quality and consistency. "Thinking of thinning or harvesting, THINK Green Belt!”

Freephone: 1800 200 233

www.greenbelt.ie | info@greenbelt.ie

Forest Roads

Thinning, Harvesting

Timber Marketing & Sales

Forestry Investment

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Paddy Gallagher NORTH WEST M: 086 258 8057

Andrew Dowds NORTH EAST & NORTH MIDLANDS M: 087 172 3260

Dermot Fenton STH EAST & STH. WEST M: 087 967 8779

Chris Byrne WEST M: 086 259 3130

Pearse Gath MIDLANDS M: 086 812 9917

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Forestry Operations in the vicinity of Overhead Electricity Lines

S death.

afe working practices must be implemented when carrying out forestry work where there are electricity wires and cables. There are no second chances with electricity because these wires are always ‘live’ and even coming close can result in serious injury or

The Electricity At Work - Irish Forestry Safety Guide was recently published by the Health & Safety Authority and here, Arthur Byrne, Public Safety Manager for ESB Networks explains what is required. The fundamental safety principle is to always ensure a safe distance between the area of the electricity wires and where work is taking place. and the falling distance of the tallest tree.

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The dimension of the Hazard This safe distance is the combination of the Electricity Hazard Zone Zone is either 6 metres or 10 metres, depending on the voltage. The falling distance of the tree is the vertical height of the tallest tree. Based on the distance of the trees from the wires, each tree is categorised as being Red Zone, Amber Zone, or Green Zone. Each of the Zones must be clearly marked using paint or high-visibility tape on the trees. No tree felling is permitted within the Red Zone of an energised overhead electricity line. Extraction machinery , or any part of any machine, load, or tree being processed must never come within the hazard zone.

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The Red Zone is the distance of the Hazard Zone plus one tree length. • For example for a 10,000 volt line, the hazard zone is 6 metres, and if the height of the tallest tree is 20 metres, then the Red Zone is 6 + 20 = 26 metres. No tree felling is permitted within 26 metres, measured either side of the outer electricity wire.

• 4.9 metres in special circumstances for designated forest roads only and where the electricity line height has been measured accurately by a competent person in consultation with ESB Networks, and the measured height is at least 6.0 metres above road level.

Red Zone timber can only be felled if the electricity line is disconnected and earthed. In these circumstances , the following control measures must be in place: • Early consultation with ESB Networks to consider the de-energisation of the electricy network. • On the day of the work, the forestry person in charge ( e.g. Forestry Works Manager) must be in possession of the Declaration of Disconnection/ Permit from the ESB Networks operator before work can commence. • Felled timber must be placed outside the hazard zone to enable safe extraction when the electricity line is re-energised. • Everyone must be clear of the Red Zone before the forestry person in charge ( e.g. Forestry Works Manager issues the Proof of Readiness to the ESB Networks operator for the electricity line to be re-connected. The Amber Zone is one tree length (tallest tree) beyond the Red Zone. Amber zone trees can be felled with the electricity line energised but only in a manner that is away from or parallel to the electricity line. The Green Zone is two tree lengths (tallest tree) beyond the Red Zone. Tree felling, harvesting and chain-saw operation in the Green Zone is permitted with the electricity line energised. Goalposts must be erected where machinery and vehicles pass under an overhead electricity lines. Goal post heights must never exceed: • 4.2 metres.

Where work is taking place in the vicinity of electricity lines and cables, the following are some important additional requirements: • Consult with ESB Networks in advance ( at least 2 months) to discuss harvesting plans. • Written Method Statement/Risk Assessments, including the felling and extraction arrangements. • On-site marking of Red, Amber and Green Zones. • Trained and competent operators. • Forestry personnel must be informed of the dangers from electricity and what to do in an emergency. • Traffic and vehicle movements must be properly controlled.

In an emergency involving work in the vicinity of electricity wires and cables, contact ESB Networks immediately on 1850 372 999

There are other important considerations that you must also take into account. Please read and understand the Guide in full. The Guide is available at: www.hsa.ie Forestry&Energy

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Agro-forestry

Farming and Forestry in the Same Space It is possible to combine farming and forestry Write John Casey and Dr Richard Walsh - Teagasc

id you know there is a farm enterprise that provides a range of benefits on farm which include income stabilisation, utilising less productive land, leaving a long-term legacy, providing shade and shelter, enhancing natural habitats and providing an opportunity to develop new skills and job opportunities. A farm forest can achieve these objectives and even more but there is need for farm owners to develop an understanding of forestry as an additional enterprise prior to undertaking it on their own farm. Benjamin Franklin was once quoted as saying “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” which still holds very true today. In September 2018, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Andrew Doyle TD officially launched the new Farm Forestry module in the Teagasc Certificate in Agriculture course. This module is primarily delivered by Dr. Richard Walsh, Forestry Liaison Officer, with the main aim of broadening the level of knowledge and awareness of forestry topics amongst current and future farm forest owners. From the standpoint of the inspiring quote, the delivery of this farm forestry module aids in providing young famers with the knowledge and control over all aspects of a diverse farm forestry enterprise. A particular emphasis of the module explains how farmers can integrate forestry into their overall farming landscape, to improve whole-farm sustainability and to reap the rewards from timely and good quality forest management. A key part of the module includes fostering the ability of students to identify some of the common trees found in forests in Ireland, where these trees may be suitable on their own land and suitable soil types and drainage requirements for each tree species. The most practical way of teaching this is to bring the students on a site visit to a nearby farm forest where they can experience this exciting enterprise first hand while also facilitating the farm forest owners. This additional insight from the forest owner provides an invaluable perspective of the important factors when making the decision to plant, experiences learned along the way and additional benefits gained by having a forestry enterprise on-farm. A method currently used by forests owners to share experiences and learn from one another is to get involved with forest owner groups. Fadó fadó (2006), z Casey, a Teagasc Forestry Development Officer based in Mallow, initiated a series of meetings and field days with the 54

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purpose of setting up forest owner producer groups. Out of this, the West Cork Forestry Group was formed. The initial focus was on building capacity amongst the forest owners through a series of courses on timber measurement, marketing, operating chainsaws, etc. and, equally important, through the sharing of forest owners’ experience of private forestry. In 2013 the group decided to register as a co-operative and to engage a forester and became the Forest Owners Co-Operative Society (FOCS) with members from across Munster. The FOCS offer their members services from planting to harvesting including management plans, road grants, felling licenses and supervision of harvesting operations. From the beginning, Tim McCarthy, Carriganima, Macroom has been integral to the forest owner group’s development and is currently its chairperson. In 2018, twelve members of Forest Owners Co-operative Society, including Tim, were presented with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for their woodlands by Minister of State for Forestry, Andrew Doyle T.D. This followed a Forest Service funded pilot project in which the FOCS and the North Eastern Forestry Group based in Dundalk were chosen to participate in. Each member completed a pre-audit assessment to identify any issues to be resolved pre-audit. All members agreed that the experience greatly increased their knowledge of their forests both from each other and from the project specialists. FSC is a voluntary process used by forest owners to assure consumers that the timber products being purchased come from a sustainably managed forest. In 2019, Tim generously agreed to share his experience of growing and recently thinning of his FSC certified conifer crop with Teagasc students. Much of the conversation ranged from individual tree growth through to forest growth and valuable forest timber production. In terms of practical forest skills, simple methods of tree measurements, forest stocking assessment, calculating yield class, performing log volume calculations and volume estimations for forest plots were also covered. These crucial skills aid in demonstrating to students that with good quality forest management there can be a host of benefits to in terms of increased volume production, increased forest stability, better quality trees which all result in a greater income to the farm forest owner. The impact of forestry

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Agro-forestry operations were also discussed in terms of the best-practice principles to benefit the environment, biodiversity and landscape while also providing a stable farm income from the forest going forward.

Photo: Flexibility of Agroforestry to incorporate other farming enterprises Photo: Indoor/Outdoor Farm forestry module delivered by Richard Walsh in Macroom and Tim McCarthy’s farm forestry organised by John Casey

Agroforestry is a component of the afforestation forestry programme which has received much positive attention recently. While it is a relatively new concept for many, it is hoped that it may allay some farmers’ concerns to demonstrate how forestry can enhance the overall farm (forestry can complement rather than compete with agriculture). A pilot agroforestry plantation was established in the autumn of 2011 on part-time farmer Liam Beechinor’s 20 hectare (ha) beef farm in Rossmore, Clonakilty. In 2009, Liam was rearing cattle to 30 months, and as a self-described “late entrant” to farming, he had no quota or

single farm payment and had limited options to increase his on-farm income, outside of REPS. A recent visit by Teagasc students to Liam’s forestry venture lead to an interesting discussion on the possible means of integrating forestry with farming. Liam explained to the students that he initially planted 10 ha of what he considered very marginal land under the Forestry Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) - 7 ha with broadleaves and 3 ha of conifer. He felt that because the conifers would mature earlier, he would get some of the benefits of that final crop by his retirement. As Liam put it- “Here I was with an enterprise that was making guaranteed money for me, with not much work on my behalf. I certainly couldn’t say that about my beef enterprise”. In terms of sustainable forestry and management, the cultural and husbandry requirements and associated costs for successful forestry

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Forestry Contractors

Photo: Silage harvesting on an agroforestry plantation

establishment and management were also discussed. In 2012, Liam decided to plant a further 7 ha of marginal land- “In reality I had enough of fighting back the rushes and they were beginning to win the war!” Liam was approached about trying out Agroforestry as part of a pilot and decided to plant 1.6 ha of the better land with ash, at 400 plants per hectare. Liam found that he was short of silage ground in the spring of 2012 so he decided to cut silage on his agroforestry plot. With a bit of care, it was possible to cut 30 bales of silage without damaging the young trees. This proved so successful that Liam took 2 cuts of silage off the plot up until recently, and felt that the extra silage yield was a real bonus during the fodder crisis in 2013.

carbon sequestration along with the global environmental benefits and associated non-financial benefits to Ireland are becoming more and more important to farm and landowners. Feedback from landowners indicates that the long-term implication of a permanent land use change to forestry can be a barrier to the take-up of forestry in Ireland. In this sense, although Agroforestry changes the status of the land to forestry, Agroforestry retains some of the agricultural potential of the parcel of land while also complementing with an additional income source, timber production and a host of environmental benefits. This farm forestry module within the Certificate of Agriculture is enabled by the forestry promotion campaign where the focus is on promoting sustainable afforestation and increasing awareness of the potential of farm forestry and creating a positive environment for potential future forests. Teagasc is committed to supporting and providing leadership in an on-going promotion campaign in conjunction with DAFM and industry as a whole. Along with education, Teagasc have also supported the outreach of forestry to a wider agricultural audience. These other initiatives include online Webinars, presentations to thirdlevel institutions, profiling of farm forest owners, integrating forestry into the carbon navigator, promotional material such as articles, infographics, supporting RDS award and forestry promotion at regional agricultural shows around the country. More information on a range of forest topics and contact details for Teagasc Forestry Advisors can be found on our website: www.teagasc.ie/forestry

Photo: A recent Teagasc farm forestry class visit to Liam Beechinor’s Agroforestry with discussion from John Casey and Richard Walsh

A further income opportunity presented itself when he began to rent the agroforestry plot for sheep grazing from 2014 onwards. It was no bother to successfully graze upwards of 50 ewes in the plot, since the young trees are protected by tree shelters. In his situation, Liam said- “I have the best of both worlds with Agroforestry. I have my forestry and yet I’m still able to use the land for agriculture, albeit in in a more controlled way. I think it is the perfect bridge between farming and forestry”. He acknowledges that sheep or calves would be best suited to an agroforestry plantation as they would the minimum damage to the young trees. While Agroforestry would not suit every farmer’s circumstances, there are many farmers in a similar position to Liam where this option should at least be considered. Forestry as tool to abate climate change through 56

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Photo: Sheep grazing in Liam Beechinor’s Agroforestry

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Commercial Feature

Robinson Distribution Ltd

Established in Portarlington, Ireland in 2004, Robinson Distribution Ltd. has continuously expanded and developed into a market leading trailer and crane manufacturer, supplying an ever growing customer base in the transport and forestry sector across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. Our Customer Mission The company now boasts an ever increasing customer base across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Our goal is to support our customers in their goal of purchasing trailers and equipment that will provide a strong return on investment and augment the success of their business.

Trailers & Cranes

Background Robinson is an ambitious family owned and managed business with a long and proud history of transport, agri–products and forest machinery. Throughout its history, Robinson’s has been an innovative company with continuous research and development being at the core of the business. Our track record of trailer and crane design and manufacture provides us with a strong competitive advantage in terms of new product development. All our trailers and cranes are designed and customised by our team of experienced engineers. Each product is manufactured to meet the specific needs of the operator which is backed up by our strict quality procedures. Our attention to detail enables us to build a product that will simply outlast others with superior strength and durability. Our success has been built on an ethos of serving our customers with quality transport solutions, efficiency, and reliability and also by ensuring there is a complete focus on customer satisfaction at the core of everything we do.

“Our state of the art production plant is one of the most modern trailer manufacturing facilities in Ireland”

Robinson manufactures a wide range of trailers and cranes, all designed to meet the specific needs of our customers, with specifications across three main categories including; On Road Trailers: Bulk Tipper Trailers, Platform Trailers, Container Trailers Timber Trailers: Centre Axle Drawbar Trailers, Semi– Trailers, Super Structures, Turntable Trailers Cranes: The company also supplies, custom manufactures and fits cranes, including brands such as Robinson, Loglift, Kesla, Liv. Our new timber cranes are now operating out in the Irish forestry industry with very positive feedback from our customers. We manufacture two models of crane to choose from, a 9 tonne and a 12 tonne. These both come in a single and double extension model. Our cranes have the highest quality finish with investments in our own forms for castings in Scandinavia, Swedish Steel, Parker Hydraulics, Indexator Rotators and Links, Tamtron and Maxi Cap Weighting Systems and high power LED working lights. The high standard of finish extends to the main components as they are blasted, primed and painted which presents a huge advantage over competing products. Robinson also supply their own grapple with its crane. This is a Robinson 42 Grapple which has a gripping area of 0.42m2. Robinson’s also manufacture their own Robinson One Piece Timber Bunk. These are made of specialised Swedish Steel. Due to the weight and price of the Robinson Bunks, they can now compete aggressively in the market place, making them very popular with customers.

Facilities & Competencies

With ongoing investment, research and development; the company has continuously developed a modern manufacturing facility designed to manage the expectations of today’s transport sector. Our state of the art production plant is one of the most modern trailer manufacturing facilities in Ireland. As a business we continuously innovate by applying cutting edge design aligned to the specific and changing requirements of each trailer’s function with the aim of saving fuel, maximising payloads, increasing manoeuvrability and flexibility, improving safety whilst ensuring we comply with all legal regulations Our focus is on building the highest quality trailers to the highest manufacturing standards. We achieve this through a combination of: Engineering & Design Excellence, Advanced Technology, A Wealth of Experience

For a discussion about your needs and how Robinson would be pleased to assist you, please call us today on Tel: 057 86 24832 or email scott@robinsondistribution.ie You can visit our website on www.robinsondistribution.ie

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News

Glennon Brothers Finalists for 2 TTJ Awards

he ‘Softwood Trader of the Year’ Award, is one of the TTJ’s most coveted awards, open to companies across Ireland and the UK to nominate their choice of ‘Best in Class’ timber supplier. Customers were given the opportunity to use an online voting system, to vote from a range of timber suppliers within the entire industry. Glennon Brothers are the only homegrown timber supplier to be nominated. The ‘Smart Manufacturing Award’ recognises companies in the UK or globally who have completed investment projects in machinery & technology that have led to a significant improvement in production efficiency in the timber trade industry. Glennon Brothers ‘Smart Manufacturing Award’ submission, detailed a £14 million biomass Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Plant project in their Troon facility in Scotland. Completed in 2018, the plant produces 2.5MW of electrical power, sufficient to supply the entire site, with surplus energy being exported to the UK national grid. Mike Glennon stated: This is the first time Glennon Brothers entered the TTJ Awards. We are delighted to be nominated for the ‘Softwood trader of the Year’ Award, as providing excellent customer support and reliability to our customers is key. It’s a great reflection of the hard work and effort everyone in Glennon Brothers puts in, as we strive to deliver high quality products and excellent customer service, from forest to front door. The 23rd TTJ Awards will take place on 13th September 2019 at Hilton Bankside Hotel, London, with Comedian Zoe Lyons, one of the UK’s foremost female stand-up comedians, hosting the event.

NON-STOP PERFORMANCE

Customers return again and again to this tried and trusted brand.

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www.teagle.co.uk

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Forest Inventory

Ireland’s National Forest Inventory

This information serves to inform domestic forest policy and assists with forward planning.

he purpose of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) is to record and assess the extent and nature of Ireland’s forests, both public and private, in a timely, accurate and reproducible manner. Reliable, current and consistent information is required to inform domestic forest policy, to support forest research and fulfil national and international reporting commitments. Between 2004 and 2006 the Forest Service carried out the first NFI of Ireland’s forests, with results published in 2007. The 2006 NFI was the first purely statistical approach to forest inventory undertaken in Ireland to provide an assessment of growing stock in both the public and private national forest estates. The NFI involved a detailed survey of permanent forest sample plots based on a randomised systematic grid sample design. A grid density of 2km x 2km provided sufficient forest plots to achieve a national estimate of volume with a precision of ± 5%, at the 95% confidence level. This grid density equated to 17,423 points nationally, each representing approximately 400 hectares (ha). Each circular NFI sample plot measures 25.24 metres (m) in diameter, comprising 500 m², and is permanent in nature to allow future re-sampling as required. The NFI provides information to monitor Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and data to support forest policy, specifically in relation to: Growing stock, Harvesting, Increment, Carbon, Forest area, Species 62

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composition, Forest biodiversity and Forest Health & Vitality. In order to assess changes in the state of Ireland’s forests over time, Ireland’s NFI was designed using permanent sample plots which facilitated a repeat measurement programme. This robust reporting strategy was adopted to provide credible information to address strategic objectives and reporting commitments. The fieldwork for the second cycle of the NFI began in 2009 and was completed in 2012. Data collection for the third NFI began in 2015 and was completed in 2017. An overview of the main results for the three NFI cycles are presented in the table on the next page. Ten key findings of the third National Forest Inventory completed in 2017 are as follows: • The national forest estate is still expanding and has now reached 11% of the total land area, with a wide variety of forest types present. The total forest area has increased from 697,842 ha in 2006 ha to 770,020 ha in 2017. The increase in area is a result of afforestation and the identification of pre-existing forests for the first time during the third NFI cycle. • Over half (50.8%) of forests are in public ownership and 378,663 ha (49.2%) are in private ownership. The share of private forests in the national forest estate has increased by over 6% since 2006.

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Forest Inventory • •

• • • •

Leitrim is the county with the highest percentage of forest cover (18.9%), while Cork has the largest forest area (90,020 ha). Conifer species are the dominant species present, representing 71.2% of the stocked forest area while broadleaved species accounted for 28.7% of the area. The share of broadleaf species in the national forest estate has increased by 3% between 2013 and 2017. In general, the forest estate is young with nearly half (44.9%) of the stocked forest estate less than 20 years of age. The total growing stock of Irish forests is estimated to be over 116 million m³, an increase of over 19 million m³ on 2012. Gross mean annual volume increment between 2013 and 2017 was 8.4 million m³ per year, while the mean annual standing volume felled within this period was 4.9 million m3 per year. The national forest estate is an important and expanding sink for carbon, at 317 million tonnes. Based on the NFI data, Ireland’s forests have removed 2.8 to 4.8 Mt of carbon dioxide equivalents per year from the atmosphere over the period 2006 to 2016. This carbon resource has proven to be of pivotal significance in Ireland

•

achieving its Kyoto target under the first commitment period of 2008-2012. There is an important biodiversity resource within Irish forests, with many non-tree plant species and lichens frequent across the forest estate. Large quantities of deadwood are present within the forest, with over 10.4 million m3 of deadwood present. Overall, the forest estate appears healthy. While nearly half (44.1%) of stocked forest areas displayed signs of forest damage present, the severity of the damage was low.

Planning for the fourth NFI cycle is underway with field data collection due to commence in early 2020. Areas afforested since the third cycle will be included in the fourth cycle. Data analysis and the publication of results will take place in 2023. For further information on Ireland’s NFI please visit www.agriculture.gov.ie/nfi.

2006

2012

2017

Total Forest Area (ha)

697,842

731,652

770,020

Mean Basal Area (m2/ha)

20.2

25.3

27.5

Mean Growing stock (m3/ha)

112

148

170

Growing stock (million m3)

71.9

97.5

116.5

7.69

8.53

3.62

4.90

Gross Increment Volume (million m3 yr-1) not available Gross Fell Volume (million m3 yr-1)

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Commercial Feature

A Small Sugarhouse For Maple Syrup Production On Family Farm

With the help of Wood-Mizer LT40 sawmill Herbert Butterfield built a small barn out of white pine and ash on his family farm in Charlotte, Michigan. In this barn he made a sugarhouse for maple syrup production.

aple syrup is a unique product, which is made according to an ancient Indian recipe from the juice of a special type of maple trees grown in North America. For the barn construction, Herbert sawed roughly 2,8m3 of white pine and ash on his Wood-Mizer LT40 hydraulic sawmill for siding, trusses, and structural. “Without my Wood-Mizer sawmill, I would not have been able to take on projects like this if I had to buy the lumber from the store,” said Herbert. Herbert finished the 4,3m x 6,1m sugarhouse in just six months by using timber frame construction methods. “I love it. Everybody who sees it wants one,” said Herb. “It’s beautiful”. By sawing his own lumber, Herbert estimated a $4,000 savings on materials and said his sawmill’s hydraulics helped him the most during the project. “It is truly a labor of love,” said Herbert. His sugar house will be making syrup for family and friends to enjoy for many years to come.

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Fischer – Rotary Mowers 1m – 6m wide

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Farm Forestry

Big Demand and Strong Market for Good Forest Plantations

Paul Laﬀerty of www.forestsales.ie speaks to Forestry and Energy Review about the current Market and was to maximise the value of your forest.

Paul Laﬀerty of www.forestsales.ie

Local and International Buyers Paying Top Prices

the potential purchaser will err on the side of caution in making their assessment. The aim of presenting any forest to the market, is to reduce doubt and provide accurate information.

Currently there is a strong demand for quality forest from a large number of Local and International buyers. At ForestSales.ie we are constantly seeking forests for sale to cater for the large demand of local and international buyers. These buyers are paying top prices for forests, however we have seen in recent years that the requirements have risen and the buyers especially the international ones with large budgets (in the €10’s of millions) to spend have more exacting standards. Here are some of the issues that arise:

Inspection Paths

Access and Rights of Way

Road Grant Approval and Felling Licences

Forest property such as forest lands, lands suitable for forestry and established woodlands are no different from any other property that is offered for sale and must be marketed properly. Timber by its very nature is a heavy and bulky product that requires machinery to handle it and proper access is essential to allow a forest road to be constructed. With recent changes in conveyancing laws, any property that is accessed by a road, laneway or track that is not in charge of a local authority such as Co. Council, must have a registered Right of Way. Prior to this, the registered Right of Way was not necessary as a Common Law or existing Use Right of Way was acceptable. However, nowadays, each Right of Way, must be recorded in Land Registry and in local parlance, have the “Yellow Line” on the map.

Species Maps

Potential buyers need to know what type of trees are growing in the forest. The presentation of good quality, readable species map is essential. This removes the doubt from a purchasers’ mind of the extent and quantity of the different species in the forest. A forest presented without a species map creates doubt in the mind of the purchaser and invariably 66

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Further to this, forests should be presented with adequate inspections paths which are essential in assessing plantations and allow foresters and investors access when assessing a plantation to access it properly, safely and accurately.

Other ways to increase the value and marketability of your forest is to have a roadway constructed. If the roadway is not due for construction, have an application in and in some cases, planning permission sought for the construction of a road. In line with this, if the plantation is due for thinning within the next five years, a Felling licence should be sought and granted. When all these things are in place, the forest is more marketable than if these items were not in place and eliminates the doubt and questions such as: If a buyer is asking, Will I get a Felling Licence? Will I get a road license? will the Council let me out on this road? They will be less interested but if all these are there to be seen -then the buyer will be more interested and will pay a better price. It should be noted that it is not essential to have these items in place, but the properties that have these are more marketable, sell quicker and achieve a better price. On www.forestsales.ie, we help solve any of these issues and aim to present the properties in a format that foresters and investors require - giving the full information and this has proved to be a successful formula in the marketing of forests throughout the country. (See our advert in this issue)

Forestry&Energy

27/08/2019 14:11

Bord na Móna requires 500,000 tonnes of biomass annually to co-fuel its power plant at Edenderry, Co. Offaly. The company is now offering long term sustainable contracts for the supply of: • Sawdust • Woodchip • Forestry Thinnings Sawdust

Wood Chip

Pulp Wood

For further details please contact: Donal McGuinness Mob: 086 3426933 Email: donal.mcguinness@bnm.ie Joseph Spollen Mob: 087 965 4645 Email: Joseph.spollen@bnm.ie John McNiff Mob: 00 353 (0)86 2755669 Email: John.mcniff@bnm.ie

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Driving the future of private forestry. With world class processing facilities capable of processing in excess of 1,000,000m3 of logs annually, Murray Timber has the capacity to ensure that forest owners always get the best price for their timber.

Call our Forestry Manager John Ryan today

on 087 7928405

Ballon, Co. Carlow, Ireland. T: +353 (0) 59 915 9178 E: sales@mtg.ie

Proud Sponsors of

Ballygar, Co. Galway, Ireland. T: +353 (0) 90 662 4688 E: sales@mtg.ie

Connacht Rugby

visit mtg.ie Untitled-1 1 MASTER.indd 68

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