Forestry
'Where are the women?'
During the opening and closing of her address to the recent conference on Irish Agriculture and the EU 50 years on, a journey through 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness posed the question 'where are the women?'
12 November 2023
Overcoming challenges and providing new tools for continuous cover forestry practices
Dr Ian Short of the Teagasc Forestry Development Department tells us of ForestMOOCForChange, a project to help overcome the initial challenges and provide exciting new tools for those who are considering a move to continuous cover forestry practices around Europe.
10 November 2023
Winners of the ‘Trees and Biodiversity’ Category of the 2023 Teagasc Forest Photo Competition Announced
The Teagasc Forestry Development Department announced the prize winners in category one of its forest photo competition ‘Celebrating the New Forestry programme 2023-2027’.
03 November 2023
Sustainable Timber Transport Solutions - the Scottish experience
A recent study tour saw how technological solutions and a collaborative approach are helping Scotland’s drive for sustainable timber transport. Noel Kennedy, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer reports.
27 October 2023
Native woodland ferns of Ireland – the Hart’s tongue fern
In the first part of a series, Rory Newell, Teagasc Forestry Technician, tells us more about the Hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) – one of the most recognisable native Irish ferns.
20 October 2023
New chainsaw safety video launched
A new chainsaw safety video launched by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Farm Safety, Martin Heydon TD has been designed to educate users with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate chainsaws effectively and safely.
19 October 2023
Agroforestry: a new innovation in Irish agriculture
Ian Short & Rachel Irwin tell us that over the last few years, the interest in planting agroforestry, as a climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy, has risen in Ireland, with supports for increasing tree cover on farms available under the suite of forestry grants provided by the Department
13 October 2023
Teagasc - Supporting New Forest Creation
The new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is open for business and provides excellent opportunities for new forest creation on the farm.
09 October 2023
Teagasc launches Annual Forestry Photo Competition with new Junior Category
Teagasc, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine, is delighted to launch its annual forest photo competition to support SPAR National Tree Day.
05 October 2023
Webinar: The New Forestry Programme - New Opportunities for Forest Creation
Teagasc in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) hosted an information webinar on Tuesday, 26 September to promote the exciting forest creation opportunities that are available in the new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027.
01 October 2023
From the shades to the high canopies: The potential of western hemlock in Irish Forestry
Western hemlock is a known shade bearer species with a high capacity to regenerate naturally. Thus, it represents an alternative to diversify our forests while keeping good production rates.
29 September 2023
Why now is the ideal time to plant a farm forest
The new €308m Afforestation Scheme is offering farmers grants of up to €8,555/ha for farm forests. Noel Kennedy Teagasc Forestry Development Officer tells us more.
27 September 2023
ForestMoocForChange - the first free online course on continuous cover forestry
Forests are under increasing pressure today; on one side sees society’s increasing demand for productivity and multipurpose use and other is an increasing pressure from climatic extremes and intensification of disturbance.
22 September 2023
New and exciting opportunities for forestry creation on farms
With the launch of the new National Forestry Programme 2023-2027, there are many new and exciting opportunities for forest creation on farms.
20 September 2023
Soil, Forests and Biochar
The soil is one of our most precious resources. Up to 50% of earths biodiversity depends on the soil and about 95% of global food crops are grown in topsoil. Soils store vast amounts of carbon. Paul Butler tells us how we can protect our soils.
15 September 2023
Ireland’s Forests - Statistics 2023
Forest Statistics is an annual compilation of statistics on the forests and the forest industry in Ireland prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Read some of the highlights of the report here.
08 September 2023
Fungal populations in leaves may give insights into the health of forest ecosystems
Jo Ruane and Niall Farrelly provide an overview of ADAPTForRes, a new research project coordinated by Teagasc, which is an all island research collaboration aimed at strategies to increase the resilience in Irish forests.
08 September 2023
Extension to RDS Irish Forest and Woodlands awards entry deadline
The deadline by which applications must be submitted to the RDS Irish Forest and Woodland Awards has been extended.
02 September 2023
Genetic conservation of elms in Ireland
Since the early 1900s, Dutch Elm Disease (DED), caused by the fungal complex Ophiostoma ulmi Buisman and Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Brasier, has threatened the survival of elms in Ireland and mainland Europe. Karuna Shrestha and Dheeraj Rathore tell us about the efforts being made to conserve elms.
01 September 2023
New forestry forwarder training course launched
Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB), in conjunction with Teagasc Ballyhaise Agricultural College, has launched a new forestry forwarder training course.
29 August 2023
Deadline to enter RDS Irish Forest and Woodlands awards approaching
The RDS Forest and Woodland Awards are Ireland’s national forestry awards. They recognise and reward farmers and woodland owners who are employing the principles of climate-smart agriculture on their properties.
23 August 2023
If you go down to the woods today you just might find a forest school
In a forest school setting, children can run, climb and play in ways that are not always possible in traditional classrooms. This can help them build strength, co-ordination and self-confidence. Michael Somers, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer, found out more.
18 August 2023
Watch: Oak Cleaving - traditional wood crafts
This short video shows the traditional method, used before saws were invented, for cleaving oak posts from large logs. This technique makes use of longitudinal lines of separation in the timber caused by oak shake.
11 August 2023
Forest and Energy Sustainable Living Section at the Tullamore Show 2023
The Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show 2023 is on Sunday, August 13. It is Ireland’s largest one-day show, averaging over 60,000 visitors in recent years.
04 August 2023
Watch: Silvopasture - Farming and growing trees in the same field
Noel Kennedy, Forestry Development Officer with Teagasc discusses how the Silvopasture system of agroforestry allows farming and growing a quality crop of trees to work together in the same field.
28 July 2023
Watch: Timber categories and sales methods - conifer forest management
In this video, Sean Kelly who is the Purchasing Manager with Laois Sawmills explains the difference between different timber categories including pulpwood, stakewood, palletwood and sawlog.
21 July 2023
Take care when working with firewood
Liam Kelly, Teagasc Forestry Advisor, tells us about potential hazards when working with firewood.
14 July 2023
Woodland for Water
March 2023 has seen the establishment of almost 3 hectares of new native woodland and undisturbed water setbacks at Teagasc’s Animal and Grassland Research & Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Co. Cork. John Casey, Forestry Advisor, and Eimear Connery, ASSAP Advisor, tell us more.
08 July 2023
Watch: Selling my Timber, a farmer’s experience
Con Keigher tells us why he considered forestry, and shares some thoughts on how forestry can be made more attractive to farmers.
07 July 2023
Supporting private forest owners and those planting a new forest
Teagasc’s Forestry Development Department provides independent forestry advisory, research and training services to private forest owners in Ireland and to any land owner considering planting a new forest. Frances McHugh, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer, tells us more.
23 June 2023