Interview with James Bennett

James Bennett's farm is in County Laois at the foot of the Slieve Bloom mountains, about 10 miles from Mountrath. There is a lot of forestry in the area: "I'm actually totally surrounded by forestry", says James, "so really I was living in the home of forestry and it was encouraging to see what was happening.  You could see that there was a future in forestry plus the fact that I was able to get all the information that I needed from local foresters. It was a huge advantage at the time", he recalls. James first planted part of his land in 1988: "I did that as a result of profits diminishing in farming plus the fact that costs for reclaiming ground, work which was needed to be done, were increasing rapidly and it wasn't economical."

James farms 193 acres of which 72 acres are planted. "The first planting I did was under the old Western Package. You were paid a premium depending on the amount of headage payment that you were getting at the time. As a result, I got practically no premium. Then in 1990 I planted additional land and that came in under a low rate of premium. The following planting I did was in 1992 and 1994. They came in under the present premium structure. I planted some land this year as well."   James pointed out that the premium isn't index linked. There was an increase in premium in about 1995 and there is another increase this year. James said that the premium increases are backdated to what was planted from 1992 onwards. The areas of land that were planted initially were aided under 15 year premium schemes and as it is now more than 15 years since they were planted, are no longer eligible.

The main species James planted was Sitka spruce. "I planted about 1.5ha of sessile oak and a small amount of sycamore and larch. This year's planting is about 20% larch", he explained. The 20% 'diverse species' means that a higher premium is payable.

James has noticed farmers attitudes to forestry are changing. "When I started some farmers weren't positive, but they are positive enough now. Some of the  neighbouring farmers have planted areas of their farms."  

James believes the tax free incentive is very important. "The tax free aspect is an advantage for the simple reason that it is a very long term enterprise. If you hadn't the tax free advantage, it wouldn't be as attractive at all. You are waiting 14 to 20 years before you can even thin or get any direct financial return."

Would James encourage other farmers to consider the forestry option?  "I think we're living in an age when the whole system of framing has changed. Years ago we had traditional livestock, like Angus hereford, which grazed on a lesser quality land, while today we have to sell our cattle for beef under 30 months. We have to produce a continental type beast which takes a better type of land. The result is that there's a lot of land out there that is producing nothing. I would say that farmers definitely should plant. There's a good future for timber and why not get an income from land that's not making a profit at the moment. I think that could apply to a fair amount of farmers. The Government wants to get the national planted area up by another 5 to 6%. I would say that there is at least that much land there that could be utilised for forestry."

What does James believe is forestry's key selling point to other farmers? "If you have land that isn't capable of producing quality stock and you need a guaranteed income, which we haven't got out of livestock,  then forestry is for them. Farmers will be sure of that income for the next 20 years. And also you're producing a product that, unless something extraordinary happens, it's a product that's going to continue to be needed, with demand likely to increase in the future."

James doesn't believe the issue of changing back from forestry to other crops is a problem. "The type of land that I'm talking about that could be put into forestry, I don't think you would want to go back anyway in today's agricultural climate because it's not really suitable for anything else. It's not suitable for grain, it's not suitable for producing the type of cattle that we need today in the time span that's necessary."

Can farmers expect any other income before the premium expires? (20 years from planting). "If you're planting Sitka, you could start to thin from year 15 onwards. At present there is a very good stake market. So there is a bit of income from thinnings and then once you get to year 17 / 18 you're getting a bit of boxwood or sawlog from it. There is a return."  I think it is worth pointing out to readers that James Bennett started to thin his first crops at year 13, but that may be exceptional.

"A wood fuel market will depend on the price of oil", says James. "It looks as if there is going to be potential. I think it's definitely worth keeping in mind. It's another option after stake and sawlog for the lesser quality timber. The demand will increase and the price will naturally increase also, as oil supplies become more of an issue."

"Maintenance for the first four years is vitally important because if you don't look after the forest during that time you can never make up afterwards", is James' advice to other farmers. "When the crop reaches four to five years you cannot replant where trees have failed because other trees will cloud them out. So it's really vitally important that you look after it properly for the first four years. After that you just do the general maintenance."

With regard to the actual thinning of the forest, James contracted the work to Coillte. "They used their contractors to do the harvesting. I hadn't got the expertise in thinning and I felt it was better get in somebody who could supervise the job properly and have the job done well. Secondly, they were able to get a market for the material.  I hadn't to worry about the insurance and the work was really good."

On the subject of having private forests certified as being managed sustainably, I asked James if any representative group been established to oversee this?
"Not to date, but there are groups setting up at the moment that will be involved in the whole area of certification. There will be a need down the road, but it hasn't materialised just yet". James went on to say the MDF plant in Clonmel needs 80% of its raw material from certified forests. At present this is not an issue as Coillte is by far its biggest supplier, but as the percentage of pulp-wood increases from farmers and other private woodlands, certification will become essential.

In addition to his farming work James is Chairman of the Forestry Commodity Committee, set up by Teagasc to look into the whole aspect of farmer forestry. This committee is made up of individuals from all different areas of forestry - Weyerhaueser, Coillte, Teagasc, Forest Service, sawmills and contracting. In reference to the committee James said "we discuss the role of forestry and what should be done to objectively promote forestry.  

James Bennett emphasises the fact that he runs his farm as a business to get the best possible financial return from his land. In addition to winning the Irish Forestry Award in 2006, he was runner-up the previous year. Readers should also note that James' expertise isn't confined to growing trees. He won the Livestock Section of the National Development Farmer of the Year in 1988, was regional winner of the Suckler Farmer of the Year in 1999 and runner-up at the national final the same year. As someone who clearly has considerable knowledge in a range of farming enterprises, it is very encouraging that he is so positive for the future of forestry.

"The future is very bright. The cost of energy is increasing, which could be important for forestry. I think another aspect is going to be carbon sequestration. From the national point of view this is important. There will probably be a trading point eventually. I am very positive about forestry."

IT&F would like to thank James for this time and wish him the very best with his farming / forestry business for the future.