€28m forestry premiums due

April 16 2013 04:01 AM

The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, has announced that €28.3m in forestry premiums will be paid this week.

These premiums are set to benefit 8,873 contractor holders with 14,000 plantations. The majority of these holdings are farmer owned.

Forest owners can apply online for their payments and also source previous payment history and maps.

The Department of Agriculture estimate that €75m will be paid out in forestry payments this year.

Landowners have also shown a keen interest in establishing forestry with a high uptake of the Teagasc nationwide forestry consultancy.

The Department believes that 600 additional landowners are considering planting forestry.

Meanwhile, a number of information meetings on Ash Dieback have been arranged by Teagasc and the Department.

These meetings are being held in response to the spread of the disease to more than 50 locations around the countbeing ry.

The disease is caused by the fungal pathogen Chalara fraxinea, which has affected ash stocks throughout Europe.

Visit www.teagasc.ie/forestry for a full list of dates and venues.

Seán Cummins

Farming Newsletter