Forestry is a hugely emotive issue for Leitrim farmers. Climate change experts, as well as certain banks and other farm gurus, often say more of the county should be planted as much of it is not conducive enough to high-output livestock farming.This does not sit well with the people of the county home to the shortest coastline in Ireland.
Forestry is a hugely emotive issue for Leitrim farmers. Climate change experts, as well as certain banks and other farm gurus, often say more of the county should be planted as much of it is not conducive enough to high-output livestock farming.
This does not sit well with the people of the county home to the shortest coastline in Ireland.
Well, The Dealer was informed of a scenario in Aughnasheelin last week where a parcel of land had been sold for forestry. A local farmer who has land adjoining the forestry had tried to buy the 16.5 acres but lost out.
The process had started in turning it into forestry but a group of local farmers last week staged a protest to block the trees being planted. This protested resulted in negotiations involving the forestry company and the farmer who originally lost out on the land. It all ended amicably and the farmer bought the land for approximately €4,500/acre.
The protest, as well as the negotiations were led by Pat Gilhooley, who is the former IFA Leitrim county chair and current vice chair of the association’s rural development committee.
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