 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
FARM FORESTRY/AGROFORESTRY A PRODUCTION DRIVEN APPROACH TO LANDCARE NORTHERN RIVERS LANDCARE FORUM ~ MARCH 1998. TIMBER PRICES UPDATED OCTOBER 2000. "Farm Forestry" is not necessarily the commonly held perception of industrial plantations of trees stretching from fenceline to fenceline with an emphasis on the production of cubic metres of timber per hectare. This situation may suit absentee landholders with a source of off-farm income but not farmers dependent on the land for a regular income. Rather, farm forestry can be about incorporating commercial tree growing including the management of regrowth forest areas, into farming systems so that it becomes just one component of the overall farm operation. For example it might be integrated with soybean cropping, beef cattle grazing, horticulture, bush foods, cut flowers, tea tree for oil, rabbits and so on. If this is done farm forestry can offer North Coast landholders opportunities for income diversification and major long term income through timber production, while providing some annual cash flow from the other farm activities which in turn can help to offset the long term nature of timber income. Importantly trees grown and managed for timber can also provide shade, shelter, land rehabilitation and environmental benefits i.e. a production driven approach to landcare. LANDCARE/FARM FORESTRY BENEFITS
HOW CAN LANDCARE FARM FORESTRY BE IMPLEMENTED? It is imperative that wood supply systems suit landholders needs and circumstances. This can be achieved by adopting a whole farm planning approach to land management and utilising farm forestry models which integrate timber production with existing and future agricultural enterprises as well as the needs of the land. Property planning for farm forestry involves many considerations including the other enterprises, topography, soils, land capability, land class boundaries, drainage, prevailing winds, fencing, aesthetics, matching site conditions with appropriate tree species, and so on. Just one planning mechanism of merit is shown below: Soil fertility, slope and erosion potential are important considerations in deciding strategies to conserve and manage farm trees. 
Source: Think Trees, Grow Trees (1985) Click Here to view a larger picture.
FARM FORESTRY/AGROFORESTRY MODELS Farm forestry models include growing trees in plantations and woodlots; alley farming; tree belts; wide spaced trees for agroforestry; and managing native regrowth forests. "Agroforestry" is, strictly speaking, the production of a timber product and an agricultural product from the same parcel of land. However, all of the models listed above can be broadly viewed as forms of agroforestry, particularly when integrated with other farm activities via the medium of a property management plan.
Probably the most common way timber trees are perceived as being grown. Row spacing on the North Coast is usually four (4) metres apart with trees three (3) metres apart along the rows. Land capability, land degradation problems and other farm activities will be major considerations in the farm planning process of allocating plantations and woodlots to certain sections of the farm. Strategically located plantations can greatly assist in the control of surface runoff, soil erosion, salinity , waterlogging and mass movement. Also many of our noxious weeds do not grow well in shade under trees. Consequently plantations have the potential to greatly reduce the considerable time and cost involved in ongoing weed control operations on weed infested lands. Tree rows and ripping are best located on the contour for control of soil erosion. Particularly on steep slopes and with highly erodible soils such as sands, granites and dispersible soils. There is the option of pasture improving the inter-row between the tree rows with shade tolerant legumes and grasses to provide improved pasture for rotational grazing of cattle i.e. agroforestry. The Department of Land and Water Conservation can provide shade tolerant pasture species recommendations for the Northern Rivers Region of NSW.
Weaners 10-12 months old with a liveweight around 250 kilograms are the recommended class of cattle. Pasture in the plantation not only provides grazing but assists greatly in both the control of soil erosion and weeds. As well the green and grazed nature of pasture significantly reduces fuel loads and provides fire control benefits.
This is a farm forestry model where trees are grown in belts ranging from 2-11 rows, strategically located on the property, preferably by means of a farm plan. Locations may include along property boundaries, main access roads, watercourses, ridgelines or soil and land class boundaries and to protect against prevailing winds. For farmers this is often a preferred farm forestry option as it leaves more open country on which to pursue traditional farming and grazing pursuits. A consideration is the increased length of fencing entailed although property planning will often see internal fence lines follow the natural features mentioned and these fences can be utilised. Tree belts may be placed on high quality land resulting in highly profitable timber production. Tree belts play important roles in protecting riparian zones from soil erosion and sedimentation, providing wind protection for crops and pastures as well as shade and shelter for livestock, and acting as wildlife corridors.
Alley farming is another farm forestry model where trees are grown in a number of rows with alleys of pasture or crops between them. Imagination is needed to tailor alley farming to the individual farm and the number of tree rows could vary markedly as can the width of the pasture "alley". On sloping country tree rows and alleys should preferably be located on the contour. This is particularly important on erodible soils to reduce erosion risk
Design variables are alley width, tree belt width, tree density within the belts and orientation of the rows. Rows are orientated mostly north-south to retain maximum sunshine for agriculture, however existing internal fence layout may need to be utilised and along with contour cultivation will influence row orientation. Alley farming has been successfully used in Western Australia to combat salinity problems. As well it has obvious potential to provide wind protection for crops and pasture, shade and shelter for livestock and corridors for wildlife movement. Alley farming retains flexibility of land use by allowing pasture, crop or fodder production in the 'alley' but adds trees as a source of major long term income. It is one system that has application for high quality land and this can make timber production highly profitable.
Trees grown in wide spaced plantations display good diameter growth but excessive branching necessitating pruning. The obvious advantage is the potential to grow pasture for grazing or crops under the trees. Pasture also provides ground cover which assists in the control of surface runoff and associated soil erosion while the trees provides shade and shelter for livestock. Cloned Radiata Pine have been developed in the Southern Highlands of NSW bred to grow straight with minimal branching when grown at wide spacings. However, for the North Coast such genetic improvement in locally suitably species is generally not available so pruning labour inputs would appear obligatory for quality timber products (as opposed to wood chip).
The retention of native regrowth forest has obvious advantages over growing trees in terms of land disturbance, potential for soil erosion and preservation of native vegetation and associated ecology. However, most privately owned native forests are generally in poor condition having been picked through over numerous logging operations with only poor quality trees left. As a result they are not contributing a great deal to on farm income or environmental values. They have been traditionally managed on an ad hoc basis for some random timber production and winter grazing for beef cattle. Better silvicultural management is considered necessary in those forests including thinning and/or gapping to remove suppressed trees, stimulate regrowth and generally revitalise the forest. In this way increased returns from timber sales can be enjoyed through regular logging cycles (eg approximately every 10 - 15 years for dry forest) and in turn help to pay for further best practice forest management. Such management although production driven can lead to improved forest health and environmental values. An option for dry regrowth forest is pasture improvement with shade tolerant legumes and grasses to provide improved winter grazing returns and annual cash flow while spelling open cleared country. THE PRODUCTION ASPECT - WHAT IS TIMBER WORTH? Traditionally private property timber has sold below the market price set by State Forest rates. However, NSW Government reforms which have reduced the public resource have created an increasing demand for private property timber. As a result the price gap is narrowing. Private forest growers could reasonably expect to negotiate hardwood timber prices based on the following 2000 market prices: Product Price per m³ Sawlogs (40cm centre diameter under bark or greater ) $55-$60 Small sawlogs $25-$30 Salvage logs $10-$15 Poles (export/domestic) $30-$100 Girders $120 Veneer logs $40-$80 Pulpwood $3-$10 (tonne) depending on geographical location
Resource Officer Agroforestry Department of Land and Water Conservation Grafton |
