A farmer in financial trouble has told the Irish Farmers Journal he has been unable to sell his interest in a forestry partnership with Coillte, illustrating the breakdown in communication the company apologised for before Christmas.

The farmer had more than 30ha planted by Coillte in Co Sligo over 20 years, but needed to get out of this business to raise cash after running into difficulties with his bank.

“Coillte had a right of first refusal on it. I always understood they would buy it if I wanted to get out, but they weren’t interested in it,” the farmer said.

Instead, Coillte offered him the option of buying the company’s share of the plantation before selling it on privately. However, the sum was too high for the farmer to afford.

He declined to have his name or the amount printed for fear of causing further problems.

A private consultant hired to assess the plantation for sale told him that some of the crop was poor.

He added that Coillte had been planning thinnings on his land for more than two years, but there had been no progress since preparations for planning permission for roadways 18 months ago.

The farmer said he initially trusted Coillte as a semi-State body, but had been disappointed.

“You cannot get on to anybody directly,” the farmer said. “It goes on and on, then the person moves on from their position.”

Difficulties

Coillte’s strategy and business development director Bill Stanley acknowledged farmers’ difficulties in talking to Coillte.

“Our level of communication with our partners has not been of a particularly high standard,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Coillte has set up a new dedicated phone line and will review its farm partnerships case by case to ensure “a good balance of benefits” between partners.

IFA forestry chair Pat Collins has advised farmers not to engage with the company until an ongoing review of Coillte’s farm partnerships is complete.

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