“Cooperating to Compete”

National Forestry Producer Group Conference and Demonstration

Thursday October 21, 2010 - Conference Centre, Camphill Ballytobin, Callan, Co. Kilkenny

Download a brief report from the National Forestry Producer Group Conference by Frances McHugh, Teagasc (194 KB). You can also download the presentations by visiting the Conference Programme below.

Download the Conference Brochure (258 KB).

There are now over 330,000 hectares of private forests in the country involving almost 16,000 growers – primarily farmers. Many have either reached or are approaching first thinning stage.

Growers have little tradition and experience in managing, utilising and marketing their timber crops. This situation is further complicated by the large number of small plantations (< 8 ha), often fragmented, with difficult road access, distance to markets and mixed quality crops.

To achieve economies of scale and realise an economic return to growers the organisation of individual growers into local forest or timber producer groups may be critical and help build confidence in the wider private forest sector.

There are several such Farm Forest Owner Groups around the country at various stages of development. These groups, supported by Teagasc and Local Development companies are striving to achieve a greater understanding of the potential of an individual forest and how to achieve this potential through cooperation with other growers.

“Cooperating to Compete” a National Forest Producer Group Conference and Demonstration organised by Teagasc, in association with the Forest Service, addressed a range of issues pertaining to the running of a successful producer group. The emphasis for this year’s event will be the sharing of ideas and experiences between producer groups.

In the afternoon, a field trip took place based around the benefits of a local value chain in the marketing of timber and the cooperation within a local community to achieve shared goals.

Conference Programme
8.45 am	Registration and Coffee
Session 1	Forestry Producer Groups, ‘the big picture’ Chairperson: Peter Cafferkey, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
9.10 am	Forestry Producer Groups, a quick tour (4.5 MB) Frances McHugh, Teagasc Forestry Development Department
9.30 am	Setting up and managing forest owner groups – the Belgian experience (2.2 MB) Stef Vanlommel, Forest group coordinator of the Kempense Heuvelrug
10:00 am	Best practice in establishing Forestry Producer Groups – The International Experience (1 MB) Karsten Raae, Danish Forestry Extension
10.30 am	Q and A
10:40 am	Coffee and Producer Group Poster Session
Session 2	“Getting down to Business” Chairperson: Dr. Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, Head of Teagasc Forestry Development Department
11.30 am	Timber sales dispatch system for private timber growers (223 KB) Donal Whelan, Technical Director, Irish Timber Growers Association A full step-by-step outline of this sales system (208 KB) can be downloaded from the ITGA website. These standardised sales dockets in docket books are available to member growers at a low cost from the Irish Timber Growers Association. For contact details of the ITGA, click here.
12.00 pm	Plan for Success (1.1 MB) Paul McCarthy, Rural Business Specialist, Teagasc
12.30 pm	Maximizing the Potential for local Wood Energy economies (4.9 MB) Patrick Lydon, Camphill Community, Callan
12.50 pm	Open Forum and Closing Address
1.15 pm	Lunch
Session 3	“Local Forest Markets in action” Frances McHugh Teagasc Forestry Development Department
2.15 pm	Forest Visit and Demonstration of Callan Local Timber Supply chain (remember to bring raingear and wellingtons)
4.30 pm	Finish

Further information:

Please contact Frances McHugh.

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Garmin's Loc8 Code: RK2-99-2VJ