THE Minister for Agriculture has stressed the importance of the forestry industry in developing rural Ireland at the introduction of a new information service by Coillte in University College Dub
Mr Yates yesterday announced additional grants under the Woodland Improvement and Woodland Reconstitution Schemes, which form part of the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry.
He said under the Woodland Scheme grants were now available for the high pruning of commercial coniferous crops aged between 13 and 22 years, depending on species.
The grants apply to crops being grown on managed sites with low risk of being wind-damaged, capable of being improved as a result of pruning.
The grants will be paid in two stages: a maximum grant of £375 a hectare for the pruning of 500 selected main crop trees a hectare to a height of 3.5 m and a maximum grant of £425 a hectare for the further pruning of taller trees of up to 56 m.
Mr Yates said grants would be available in future for broadleaf trees with a single straight stem, which could lead to the production of high-quality timber lengths for industrial use.
He said the new measures applied to frost and wind-damaged plantations up to four years of age, which had been grant-aided and actively managed, but older plantations capable of improvement would also be considered.
The grant will be payable in one instalment to cover operational costs to a maximum of £100 a hectare for the shaping of all trees capable of improvement.