New Forest Technology Scheme Not Fit for Purpose – IFA
IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton has criticised the new Innovative Forest Technology Scheme highlighting the small budget and saying that the scheme is not fit for purpose. This scheme was created to encourage and incentivise the use of specialised equipment for the harvesting and extraction of forestry. This equipment will help to decrease […]
Tipperary Based ‘Lisheen Bioeconomy Scaleup Initiative’ Receives Fund of €5 million for Bioeconomy Demonstration Project
The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue and his colleagues at the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications have announced €10 million in funding to be divided between two new bioeconomy demonstration projects one of which is in Tipperary. Bioeconomy refers to the production, application, conservation […]
Budget 2025 Cut a Further Setback for Farm Forestry – IFA
IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton has expressed his dissatisfaction at the 17% decline in funding for the forestry sector in Budget 2025. “This cut in funding sends a really poor signal to the forestry sector at a time when confidence is already at an all-time low,” he said. The forestry sector has been allocated […]
CCAC Report Puts it Up to Government on Climate Support for Farming – IFA
IFA President Francie Gorman has reacted to Climate Change Advisory Council report saying it reaffirms the IFA’s position that the Government need to provide more support for farmers. Mr. Gorman said that farmers are committed to producing food in a sustainable way but that they must be supported to continue doing so. ‘Farmers […]
Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme Another Missed Opportunity – IFA
IFA National Farm Forestry Chair Padraic Stapleton has expressed his disappointment at the detail of the new Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme launched by the Department of Agriculture. “This is another missed opportunity by the Department of Agriculture. The scheme overall is very disappointing especially for commercial forests where a setback will apply, and […]
Tipperary Man Elected Chair of IFA Farm Forestry Committee
Padraig Stapleton from Upperchurch, North Tipperary has been elected as the new chair of the IFA Farm Forestry Committee. Upon his election, he thanked his predecessor, Jason Fleming, for the work he has done in his time as chair and said he looks forward to representing farmers with forestry. “The reality is that many […]
Tipperary Company Scoops Second Major Award
Tipperary Based McHale Plant Sales have been presented with a major award from Swedish company Komatsu Forest organisation. The ‘Dealer of the Year’ award was presented to McHale Plant Sales for its contribution to the marketing and sales of their timber harvesting equipment in Ireland. Timber harvesters marketed by McHale are used to fell […]
Minister Must Act Now & Introduce Temporary Suspension on Timber Log Imports
IFA Farm Forestry Chair Jason Fleming said following the finding of the monetary pine bark beetle, the first non-native bark beetle to be found in Ireland, Minister Pippa Hackett must act now and suspend the importation of unprocessed timber while a full review of biosecurity measure is undertaken. “Farmers have seen the devastation caused by […]
New Forestry Programme a Lost Opportunity – IFA
Following the EU Commission’s approval of the afforestation scheme under the new Forestry Programme today IFA Farm Forestry Chair Jason Fleming has described it as a lost opportunity. “The funding for the scheme is very strong but unfortunately the way the scheme is constructed will turn many farmers off the programme. It is a […]
