Best Practice Event – Managing Highly Productive Sitka Spruce Forests
Wednesday, 4 September | 10:30am | Co. Roscommon
The Teagasc Forestry Development Department in association with the Forestry Division, DAFM invites forest owners to an important outdoor event focusing on the thinning management of conifer forests to improve timber quality while maximising future financial returns.
Click here to register for the event!
Event Focus
Many farmers with older forestry plantations are at a crossroads – Do they consider thinning? Are the benefits from thinning worthwhile? Thinning presents an opportunity for growers to take control of the production process to influence forest growth and maximise the production of higher quality and more valuable timber
Many Sitka spruce forests are approaching second or third thinning stage with the potential to produce increasing volumes of valuable commercial timber. This event will focus on how research guides the best thinning practice of highly productive Sitka spruce. This approach also promotes timber quality, protects crop stability and grows future financial returns.
The event will take place in a Sitka spruce forest that was planted in 1995 and which to date has been thinned three times. The thinnings have been carried out as part of Teagasc research trials which has been ongoing since 2010.
Event details
Date: Wednesday, 4 September 2024
Time: 10.30am | Duration: 2.5 hours
Location: Co. Roscommon
Click here to register for the event!
Please note:
Attendance is free but online registration is required.
You will be informed of the meeting point on registration.
Attendance is limited to 80 attendees so early registration is advised.
Please bring raingear, wellington boots. Light refreshments will be provided.
Programme
Teagasc forestry advisors and researchers will discuss a range of important thinning topics including:
- Planning for thinning
- Thinning regimes
- Thinning plot measurements
- Modelling thinning impact on future crop growth
The session will be led by Dr Niall Farrelly who will discuss the results of thinning research and guide participants through the process of thinning for the production of high quality sawlog.
This event is worth 15 CPD points to those registered with the Society of Irish Foresters CPD Programme.
Further information
Contact: Noel Kennedy, Forestry Advisor Teagasc