Retired farmer, John Reardon from Caherconlish, Co. Limerick said he has been left with a “tree graveyard” since ash dieback started taking its toll on his plantation six years ago.
In 1990, Reardon planted an area of up to 20ac beside his farm with approximately 20,000 ash plants. Speaking to Agriland, he said he first noticed the canopy disappearing about five or six years ago.
He initially decided to plant this section of the farm for economic reasons as it wasn’t ideal for grazing or cutting silage. While spruce would have yielded the “best economic return”, following soil tests, the plant was unsuitable.
As part of his business plan for the ash plantation, Reardon was able to take out some hurley butts up until three years ago when the hurley maker rendered the butts unsuitable for hurlers due to staining on the inside.
Reardon said the disappearing of the canopy “deteriorated hugely” in the past two years. While lesions weren’t obvious on all trees, foresters which he had asked to inspect his plantation all agreed that it was suffering from ash dieback.
Ash dieback
The Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023-2027, as it stands at the moment, is “unworkable”, he said. Under the scheme, affected forest owners can avail of a €2,000/ha site clearance grant and replanting grant rates.
Reardon said the undergrowth which has arisen due to the canopy disappearing is now up to two metres high and keeps worsening. Quotations for clearing the site which he had requested from contractors started at €5,000/ha.
The clearance grant offered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) would therefore leave him with a shortfall of €20,000-€30,000, the retired farmer told Agriland.
“My option at the moment, if I don’t replant it, is to leave it as it is. It is effectively a tree graveyard and it will stay that way. I have no other option,” Reardon said.
“If the department would cover the cost of clearing the site directly with the contractors, that would be a help. Otherwise, they need to increase the clearance grant to €7,000/ha,” he said.
The Climate Action Performance Payment (CAPP) of €5,000/ha, which is paid in three installments, should be paid upfront, Reardon said and added that there also needs to be financial help to keep the undergrowth back.