IFA and GP Wood Discuss Forestry Roadmap Ahead

IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton highlighted the importance of the forestry sector working closer together from grower to sawmill during a meeting this week with GP Wood.

Director of GP Wood Niall Grainger and Kevin Kenneally brought IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton and Vice Chair Francis Foley on a tour of the GP Wood headquarters in Derrigra, Enniskean, Co. Cork.

During the meeting, IFA highlighted the need for price transparency. “Until timber prices are made readily available, farmers’ confidence in the timber market is non-existent. GP Wood gave a commitment to circulate timber prices to IFA each month.”

Niall Grainger emphasised the need for farmers to explore forestry as an option as part of their farming enterprises. “While the timber sector is competitive and has a promising future, without farmers planting it will be in rapid decline post mid-2030s.”

“The Government has ambitious targets to reach 8,000ha of afforestation per annum. To achieve the planting targets a credible Forestry Programme post 2027 that is attractive to farmers will be needed. The risks associated with forestry must be addressed to rebuild confidence in the sector,” said Padraig Stapleton.

IFA and GP Wood concluded that all forestry stakeholders must work closer together to close the gap between growers and sawmills.