New Native Tree Area Scheme

Was thinking of this too, will only be able to do 1HA as I think all along river bank is SAC here which rules out 2nd HA. Also if your land is deemed good from diversity point of view you wont be allowed plant there ( replacing one with another ) as far as I'm aware

There’s a grant to plant it at the beginning

Well on a per hectare basis, 1,100 trees @ €2.5/3, plus €2 for guard and bamboo/stake. About €5K. Get a dibble bar to take some of the backache out of setting them. Establishment grant €6,700. Not a lot for your labour.

Land ceases to be agricultural I presume. €2,200/Ha annually versus €1,360/Ha annually from Acres. As a farmer, I'd be reluctant to change the land designation. If that doesn't bother you, fine.

Will anyone ever be allowed to harvest them eventually.

A government TD said a few years ago that all grant aided trees would only be used in furniture or construction.

That was the very point mentioned.

I believe its classified as forestry same as if you put in big plantation - will be able to thin in time but has to remain as forestry. They are trying to push agroforestry ( can claim BPS, agroforestry, organics all on the same land). You can plant a few different ways now to improve use of land under agroforestry ( 10m gap between rows, or trees bunched in small groups)

Is it true that you loose all rights to carbon offsets/credits if receiving grant aid for purchase / installation of equipment to do so?

No real agroforestry scheme available TMK. What Jim McAdams had in NI proves that one could have spaced rows of trees without affecting the crop in the field. That would clearly be the way to go, but this clash between Dept of Ag and Forestry on land designation needs to end.

I thought the distance between the rows should be 24m, but maybe I have that figure wrong. I was looking at a 3m mower having 8 runs between tree rows.

A square Ha 100m x 100m, at my spacing one gets five lines, at your spacing minerleague 11 lines, 33 trees in each line. 33 x 5 = 165 trees, 33 x 11 = 363 trees. The lines are planted North - South. One could have a crop of hazelnuts, cherries or apples, plus carbon sequestration, without affecting output of grassland. It certainly would create a different landscape and habitat.

So below is the most important part to work out, if you use "deer shelters" you can get away with planting 465 trees per hectare, now is a deer shelter just one of those plastic tubes? if so then happy days, these shelters would also seem to work for the below section with regards to protection against grazing. you want to be able to graze your sheep in the section you have planted, i have been planting my land with trees for years and sheep do zero damage as long as the tree and protective cover are tied to a stake.

find the wettest hectare on your land and go with scenario 2

"Alder (50%), birch (30%), oak (15%) and other native species (5%). Alder and birch to be planted in pure groups (30-40 trees), with groups interspersed alternately. Oak to be planted in small pure groups, focusing on the dryer parts of the plot. (Changes + or – 25% for each species will be accepted.)"

So increase the alder by 25% so it's 62% alder, alder will grow in very wet/**** ground and will noticeably improve it over time.

"2.10.2 Protection Against Grazing Sites must be fully protected from the time of planting. All existing fences and boundaries must be to a standard which excludes domestic stock and protects the emerging forest. Additionally, sites must be protected from other grazing animals, including deer, feral goats, rabbits and hares, as required. The fencing requirements for this scheme are the same as those applied to the Afforestation Scheme and specified in the Forestry Standards Manual. However, given the small size and linear perimeter area ratio of the NTAS interventions deer fencing will not be eligible for grant aid. The use of tree guards will be more appropriate for the NTAS. As well as protecting against grazing, tree guards also highlight the location of individual trees, for follow-up maintenance. All protective measures should be inspected on a regular basis, with maintenance carried out, as required. "

"2.6 Tree Planting Rate and Layout The tree species mix and composition are defined by two Native Tree Area Scenarios. A minimum tree planting spacing of 3 m x 3 m is required, giving a planting density of 1,100 trees per hectare. Where the installation of deer shelters is necessary a minimum tree spacing of 4 m X 4 m is required giving a planting density of 465 trees per hectare."

It would be limited, with the wide spacings most trees would be slow to grow and will grow outward as well as up

This scheme has me interested although I don't know the ins, outs and ramifications. I reckon most livestock farmers (including ourselves) could afford to set aside a hectare. I've just downloaded DAFM T&C's and will have read through them over the next few days.

2.5 acres or 5 acres, would be a big ask on a lot of farms I'd imagine. If you could plant trees in existing hedges, or around yard, that would be ideal

The Teagasc forestry advisory service is free to all, not just paid up clients

Oh I know yes. But don't know if that works in this particular scheme

The option I'm doing by a stream includes setting 10 trees on 2ha and excluding animals. I lose my organic payment on that ground but not my BISS or ANC.

Anyone confirm if you can join if land is currently in the acres scheme?

Don't know funkey, but the Agroforestry Scheme FT8 might be of interest. Wasn't aware myself it was available in the ROI. 400 trees/ha.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61a610ae5835c558c10704d7/t/650d8b707285100efa1e41e6/1695386480420/New+forestry+rates+%281%29+%281%29.pdf

Conference on it this week in Bantry, which I missed as I hadn't heard of it. Have heard Jim McAdams speak. He's the most knowledgeable person on it. TMK you plant the rows North - South. Cannot remember the distance in width or apart. That density of planting shouldn't affect grass growth. Great option for carbon neutral farming.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/watch-agroforestry-is-climate-positive-for-farming/

Not in this scheme (maybe when 10 years up and you have it thinned you could?)

Not land in extensively grazed plots/low impact plots ( maybe you can reduce areas in these- not sure on that) dont want you planting on species rich land

Confused in the example, Case 1 shown on the Agriland link I posted above. The CRISSS and ANC seem to be reduced but the script indicates Agroforestry should not have a negative impact on other schemes. Not sure?

In the Case 1 example BISS is not lost.

Pretty sure you can continue to graze if you have the tree guards on