Deutz-Fahr (part of the SDF Group) have gain worldwide reputation for reliability and fuel efficiency have now launched a new semi-active cab suspension system at the recent SIMA show in Paris, France. First seen on an R8 Series tractor from sister brand Lamborghini R8 at the Italian EIMA exhibition, the system is expected to cost between €2,000 and €3,000.

The system employs a variable damping mechanism, which adjusts the ride and degree of travel to match changing ground conditions. How does this work? In practice, the sensitivity of the system is adjusted by sending an electrical current to a magnetically-reactive liquid. This liquid is best described as oil with very small steel balls suspended therein. The behaviour of these balls affects the viscosity of the liquid. The current is sent from a sensor, which monitors cab movement.

In other SIMA news, Deutz-Fahr has revamped its Agrovector telescopic handler line-up. Complementing the recently introduced 40.8 and 40.9 models and replacing the former 30.7 is the new 35.7. The two larger models (40.8 and 40.9) will lift a maximum of 4t to a height of 8m and 9m respectively.

Displacement

Key features include a new load-sensing hydraulic system with a variable displacement pump (rated at 132 litres/min). The powershift transmission sports four shift-on-the-go forward and three reverse ratios. Top speed is 40kph. Both now benefit from a new "heavy-duty" industrial chassis and can be equipped with a front axle levelling system.

The newly added 35.7 has a lift capacity of 3.5t — higher than its predecessor — and features a new load sensing hydraulic system; the standard gear pump (a variable displacement pump is optional) delivers a maximum flow-rate of 102 litres/min. Like the two bigger machines in the family, this too benefits from the new cab layout. In addition, the air-conditioning system has been completely redesigned to address previous criticisms.

Combustion

Under the hood, the new Deutz TCD 2012 four-cylinder engine supposedly delivers improved combustion, whilst also complying with stricter TIER III regulations.

So why do we continue to fund forestry on an annual rather than a long-term basis and thus perpetuate the stop- start attitude to funding which has plagued forestry in the past?

The IFA farm forestry section has recently addressed these issues and has come up with a number of suggestions, including the following:

1. Pay woodland owners annually by means of a Green Forest Payment for the wide range of non-timber benefits that their forests provide.

2. Remove the Replanting Obligation under the new Forestry Bill.

3. Relax the restrictions on further afforestation in certain areas in recognition of the excellent current Forest Service Environmental Guidelines, The Code of Best Forest Practice and the National Forest Standard.

A Green Forest Payment of €250/ha/yr for all conifer forests, with a supplement of 30pc for broadleaf forests, would have an immediate effect on planting figures. The Kyoto protocol provides no mechanism to reward woodland owners for the positive environmental benefits provided by their forests. A Green Forest Payment should be paid to woodland owners because the services their woods provide are of no economic benefit to the owners themselves.

In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return.

The ancient Egyptians worshipped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a blazing disk in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from the illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death.
Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called the Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.

In Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.

Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.

It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims's second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out "pagan mockery" of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event." In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued until the 19th century, when the influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy.

In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable-not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree had arrived.

By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.

The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.

Canada

German settlers migrated to Canada from the United States in the 1700s. They brought with them many of the things associated with Christmas we cherish today-Advent calendars, gingerbread houses, cookies-and Christmas trees. When Queen Victoria's German husband, Prince Albert, put up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1848, the Christmas tree became a tradition throughout England, the United States, and Canada.
Mexico

In most Mexican homes the principal holiday adornment is el Nacimiento (Nativity scene). However, a decorated Christmas tree may be incorporated in the Nacimiento or set up elsewhere in the home. As purchase of a natural pine represents a luxury commodity to most Mexican families, the typical arbolito (little tree) is often an artificial one, a bare branch cut from a copal tree (Bursera microphylla) or some type of shrub collected from the countryside.
Britain

The Norway spruce is the traditional species used to decorate homes in Britain. The Norway spruce was a native species in the British Isles before the last Ice Age, and was reintroduced here before the 1500s.
Greenland

Christmas trees are imported, as no trees live this far north. They are decorated with candles and bright ornaments.
Guatemala

The Christmas tree has joined the "Nacimiento" (Nativity scene) as a popular ornament because of the large German population in Guatemala. Gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning for the children. Parents and adults do not exchange gifts until New Year's Day.
Brazil

Although Christmas falls during the summer in Brazil, sometimes pine trees are decorated with little pieces of cotton that represent falling snow.
Ireland

Christmas trees are bought anytime in December and decorated with colored lights, tinsel, and baubles. Some people favor the angel on top of the tree, others the star. The house is decorated with garlands, candles, holly, and ivy. Wreaths and mistletoe are hung on the door.
Sweden

Most people buy Christmas trees well before Christmas Eve, but it's not common to take the tree inside and decorate it until just a few days before. Evergreen trees are decorated with stars, sunbursts, and snowflakes made from straw. Other decorations include colorful wooden animals and straw centerpieces.
Norway

Nowadays Norwegians often take a trip to the woods to select a Christmas tree, a trip that their grandfathers probably did not make. The Christmas tree was not introduced into Norway from Germany until the latter half of the 19th century; to the country districts it came even later. When Christmas Eve arrives, there is the decorating of the tree, usually done by the parents behind the closed doors of the living room, while the children wait with excitement outside. A Norwegian ritual known as "circling the Christmas tree" follows, where everyone joins hands to form a ring around the tree and then walk around it singing carols. Afterwards, gifts are distributed.
Ukraine

Celebrated on December 25th by Catholics and on January 7th by Orthodox Christians, Christmas is the most popular holiday in the Ukraine. During the Christmas season, which also includes New Year's Day, people decorate fir trees and have parties.
Spain

A popular Christmas custom is Catalonia, a lucky strike game. A tree trunk is filled with goodies and children hit at the trunk trying to knock out the hazel nuts, almonds, toffee, and other treats.
Italy

In Italy, the presepio (manger or crib) represents in miniature the Holy Family in the stable and is the center of Christmas for families. Guests kneel before it and musicians sing before it . The presepio figures are usually hand-carved and very detailed in features and dress. The scene is often set out in the shape of a triangle. It provides the base of a pyramid-like structure called the ceppo. This is a wooden frame arranged to make a pyramid several feet high. Several tiers of thin shelves are supported by this frame. It is entirely decorated with colored paper, gilt pine cones, and miniature colored pennants. Small candles are fastened to the tapering sides. A star or small doll is hung at the apex of the triangular sides. The shelves above the manger scene have small gifts of fruit, candy, and presents. The ceppo is in the old Tree of Light tradition which became the Christmas tree in other countries. Some houses even have a ceppo for each child in the family.
Germany

Many Christmas traditions practiced around the world today started in Germany.
It has been long thought that Martin Luther began the tradition of bringing a fir tree into the home. According to one legend, late one evening Martin Luther was walking home through the woods and noticed how beautifully the stars shone through the trees. He wanted to share the beauty with his wife so he cut down a fir tree and took it home. Once inside he placed small lighted candles on the branches and said that it would be a symbol of the beautiful Christmas sky. Hence, the Christmas tree.
Another legend says that in the early 16th century, people in Germany combined two customs that had been practiced in different countries around the globe. The Paradise tree (a fir tree decorated with apples) represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The Christmas Light, a small, pyramid-like frame, usually decorated with glass balls, tinsel, and a candle on top, was a symbol of the birth of Christ as the Light of the World. Changing the tree's apples to tinsel balls and cookies; and combining this new tree with the Light placed on top, the Germans created the tree that many of us know now.
Today, the Tannenbaum (Christmas tree) is traditionally decorated in secret with lights, tinsel, and ornaments by the mother and is lit and revealed on Christmas Eve with cookies, nuts, and gifts under its branches.
South Africa

Christmas is a summer holiday in South Africa. Although Christmas trees are not common, windows are often draped with sparkling cotton wool and tinsel.
Saudi Arabia

Christian Americans, Europeans, Indians, Filipinos, and others living here have to celebrate Christmas privately in their homes. Christmas lights are generally not tolerated. Most families place their Christmas trees somewhere inconspicuous.
Philippines

Fresh pine trees are too expensive for many Filipinos, so handmade trees in an array of colors and sizes are often used. Star lanterns, or parol, appear everywhere in December. They are made from bamboo sticks, covered with brightly colored rice paper or cellophane, and usually feature a tassel on each point. There is usually one in every window, each representing the Star of Bethlehem.
China

Of the small percentage of Chinese who do celebrate Christmas, most erect artificial trees decorated with spangles and paper chains, flowers, and lanterns. Christmas trees are called "trees of light."
Japan

For most of the Japanese who celebrate Christmas, it's purely a secular holiday devoted to the love of their children. Christmas trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns, and wind chimes. Miniature candles are also put among the tree branches. One of the most popular ornaments is the origami swan. Japanese children have exchanged thousands of folded paper "birds of peace" with young people all over the world as a pledge that war must not happen again.

– Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.

- In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.

- Between 1887-1933 a fishing schooner called the Christmas Ship would tie up at the Clark Street bridge and sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.

- The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington.

- The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition began in 1933. Franklin Pierce, the 14th president, brought the Christmas tree tradition to the White House.

- In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony now held every year on the White House lawn.

- Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family.

- Most Christmas trees are cut weeks before they get to a retail outlet.

- In 1912, the first community Christmas tree in the United States was erected in New York City.

- Christmas trees generally take 6-8 years to mature.

- Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.

- 100,000 people are employed in the Christmas tree industry.

- 98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms.

- More than 1,000,000 acres of land have been planted with Christmas trees.

- 77 million Christmas trees are planted each year.

- On average, over 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre.

- You should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace. It can contribute to creosote buildup.

- Other types of trees such as cherry and hawthorns were used as Christmas trees in the past.

- Thomas Edison's assistants came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees.

- In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lit until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.

- Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons.

- In the first week, a tree in your home will consume as much as a quart of water per day.

- Tinsel was once banned by the government. Tinsel contained lead at one time, now it's made of plastic.

- In 1984, the National Christmas Tree was lit on December 13th with temperatures in the 70s, making it one of the warmest tree lightings in history.

- 34 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced each year and 95 percent are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms.

- California, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina are the top Christmas tree producing states.

- The best selling trees are Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and White Pine.

Good quality genetic material is vital for the grower and landowner, according to Junior Minister for Agriculture, Mary Wallace.

Such material provides the right start for farmers and others getting involved in forestry and will bring rewards in higher yields and better quality timber, added Minister Wallace, who officially launched the COFORD report on sustaining and developing Ireland's forest genetic resources.

Minister Wallace added that COFORD, UCD and her Department in co-operation with Coillte and Teagasc are working hard with the forest nursery sector to ensure that growers have top quality plants, based on the right genetic material to get forests off to the right start.

The Minister of State outlined that there are a number of strands involved in providing high quality plants for new forests and in conserving native trees.

Failure to tackle it can result in slower and uneven establishment and increased costs associated with the replacement of failures and having to carry out vegetation control over a longer period.

But anyone who has clawed up and down hills, with a knapsack sprayer on their back, scrambling over mounds and open drains, knows that this is also one of the most unpleasant aspects of establishing a plantation. Anything that can help to reduce this burden is, clearly, to be welcomed.

The Mini-Mantra spraying lance, manufactured by Mantis in Germany, looks like it could provide the answer.

This sprayer, which is designed primarily for spraying undiluted Roundup, consists of a rechargeable battery, used to drive a segmental atomiser, and the chemical gravity flows to the spray head via a proportioning valve. For this reason, reasonably accurate and steady walking pace is important in order to get the best results. The spray head has a cowl fitted, to prevent drift, which results in a 30 centimetre (1 ft) spray band, ideal for forestry.

The spray container holds a quarter of a litre of Roundup which, at the correct forward speed, should last for one hour and cover 1,250 square metres (a strip one foot wide and two and a half miles long). The obvious advantage of this machine is that it is well balanced and light, weighing only 2 kilos.

When working in remote areas it can be a big plus since no water supply is required and the amount of Roundup to be taken to the site is quite small. This should also ensure that running costs are quite low.

Murphy Bros, Ferns, Co Wexford (054-66133) are the Irish agents for this machine which costs ¯300 plus VAT. Larger, wheeled Mantis sprayers are available but these are of more interest to Christmas tree growers, nurserymen, etc.

Murphy Bros also stock a Greentec CDA (controlled droplet application) sprayer, at a cost of ¯200 plus VAT, which may be of interest to forestry growers. This has a small, 5 litre knapsack with gravity flow to a battery powered spinning disk spray head.

Doing a lot of pruning ?Foresters who do a serious amount of pruning/shearing/shaping on their broadleaf trees regularly complain that they end up very tired and with blisters on their hands, even when using a good quality secateurs. Those (very few) with over ¯1,000 to spend may be interested to know that you can get an electrically power assisted secateurs which will take all the pain out of this job. The unit can be operated for 10 hours, powered by a battery pack worn like a belt around the waist and weighing 3 kilos. This pack is recharged over night.

It can cut branches up to one and a half inches in diameter and is a dream to work, but then it would want to be at that price. However, a range of other attachments, such as long handled pruning shears, can be run off the same basic pack, which makes it more attractive.

Cashing in on thinningsFrom now on, an increasing number of farmers with forestry plantations will be taking first and second thinnings out of their plantations. With the exception of stakewood, the current price for thinnings ranges somewhere between poor and dreadful so farmers may be tempted to postpone thinning, or not carry it out at all. This temptation should be resisted.

One possible option, for farmers who are operating reasonably close to a large urban area, is to go into the firewood/kindling business. Fuelwood Ltd, Warwick, have a range of machines, run off the hydraulics of a tractor, for cutting logs into suitable sizes, and matching bagging/netting attachments are also available. At ¯4,750 sterling plus VAT, these machines do not come cheap but the company maintains that small nets, containing 6 – 7 blocks, now wholesale at 50p – 60p each and retail at 90p – ¯1 sterling. It just might be worth considering.

The poster entitled Our Native Trees, illustrates trees native to Ireland including oak, ash, elm, birch, aspen, alder and rowan. The Minister launched the distribution of the posters to mark National Tree Week, Seachtain Náisiúnta na gCrann, which runs from 4th-10th March.

Presenting the posters to a number of schools in her constituency, the Minister highlighted the role of teachers in educating students on the many benefits of trees. She emphasised the need to promote an understanding and an appreciation in young people of the important roles that trees play in our lives. The Minister went on to point out some of the social and recreational benefits of forestry and said it was important that children understand and enjoy the natural environment in which they live.

Trees will also play a significant part in these students' futures. The Minister stressed the fact that trees play a key role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and improving the air that we breathe. Trees planted today will provide a better future for all of us.

Minister Wallace said "I want to encourage and foster a tree and wood culture in Ireland and to promote a wider understanding of the many benefits of trees and woodland, especially amongst children".

By entering into a Farm Partnership with Coillte, you retain ownership of your land and will receive a tax-free income for the life of the crop as well as an advance payment of up to €635|£500 per hectare (€254 (£200) per acre). You benefit from Coillte's management and marketing skills throughout the life of the crop and you receive the larger share of the clearfell profits.

The key features of the scheme are as follows:
The farmer retains ownership of the land.
An advance payment of up to €635|£500 per hectare is made at the start of the scheme.
A Forest Premium is paid by the Forest Service for 20 or 15 years depending on the landowner's qualifications (Farmer/Non-Farmer).
The farmer receives 80% of thinning profits. This amount will be paid annually from the time the premium payments cease until year prior to clearfell. This is known as the thinning annuity.
The farmer receives 55% of clearfell profits.
Alternatively you can increase your annuity by bringing forward part of your clearfell profits.
Professional management for the life of the crop.

Thousands of farmers could lose some or even all of their Single Farm Payment (SFP) entitlements in 2007.Over €8 million in entitlements could potentially be lost where a farmer has not used all of his/her entitlements during the first three years of the Single Farm Payment system (2005 – 2007).The unused entitlements are automatically lost to the National Reserve. The biggest group at risk are the 3,500 farmers who only activated their entitlements in 2005 but never sought payment on them and who did not apply to transfer those entitlements with lands to another farmer.To save these entitlements valued at €6 m the only option they now have is to submit land on their 2007 SFP application form to use their entitlements. This is likely to lead to increased demand in the already overheated land rental market. Many more thousands of farmers face losing low value entitlements that they have not yet claimed. In most cases this arises when a farmer has more entitlements than land.With a view to addressing this situation, the Department is setting up a system whereby farmers will have to nominate the unused entitlements to be paid first in 2007. This would prevent entitlements being lost to the National Reserve.There are also other options for farmers who wish to avoid losing their entitlements;Consolidation – where the farmer does not have enough land because of the loss of a lease or rented land, he/she can opt to consolidate the entitlements on the reduced land area. This is also possible where land was sold due to a CPO or put into forestry. Bear in mind that in order to be successful under this measure, you must continue to hold at least 50% of the area that you farmed in the 2000 – 2002 Reference period.Rent additional land – A farmer can rent additional eligible land and declare this land on the 2007 SFP application to drawn down the extra entitlements. This may also lead to an increased demand in the land rental markets in 2007, and have a knock-on effect on price.
Sell unused entitlements – Another option is for farmers to sell their unused entitlements.
This is only possible where the farmer got paid on at least 80% of his/her entitlements during the last two years. Farmers selling entitlements without land will however be subject to a 15% claw back (down from 30% in 2006) as well as capital gains tax of 20%.i
These factors have reduced the market for sale of entitlements in the last two years. However the risk of losing entitlements completely, will force some farmers to sell their unused entitlements.

The increased grant rates will be paid in respect of new planting completed after September 1, 2006 and will be of benefit to those planting in the autumn/winter planting season. The Minister said that the successful outcome to this application for an increase in the planting grants, and the agreement at the Partnership Negotiations to increase premium rates by 15% for both new and existing claimants was evidence of the Government's ongoing commitment to Forestry. The Minister welcomed the provision for these financial incentives in the Minister for Finance's Budget.

Minister Wallace also welcomed recent figures from her Department that show that the level of applications for approval to plant has remained constant in 2006, and expressed her confidence that these grant and premium increases allied to with the other associated benefits of forest planting should result in an increase in such applications in 2007.

Funding for the rural development proposals involves a major commitment on behalf of the Government. Out of the €6.8 billion, Exchequer funding for the farming measures in the next seven years will total €4.7 billion. This compares to €2 billion in the current round – a 135% increase. The proposals will also attract €2.1 billion from the EU and modulation

The major elements of these proposals include:-

A 17% increase in payments under the Rural Environmental Scheme (REPS);
An 8% increase in Disadvantaged Areas Scheme payments benefiting 100,000 farmers;
An 15% increase in Forestry Premium rates;
An 55% increase in Installation Aid rates bringing it to €15,000;
A new Early Retirement Scheme with a maximum payment rate of €15,000; and
A new scheme for the Suckler Herd.
Speaking at the conclusion of the discussions, Minister Coughlan said:"This €6.8 billion package is clear evidence of this Government's commitment to farmers and to rural life in Ireland. This unprecedented increased in exchequer funding has a dual aim. Firstly, it will assist competitiveness in the agriculture, food and forestry sector. Secondly, it will help to ensure respect and enhancement of the environment. It is fully in line with the EU rural development framework and is fully consistent with our vision for the future of farming and the agri-food sector in Ireland, set out in the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan. The additional Exchequer funding is, indeed, concrete recognition of the pledges set out in that plan."

Details of the actual proposed support measures will be released for consultation in the coming days. They will address the twin aim of competitiveness and sustainability.

The Minister stated that she looked forward to working with the farm organisations and other relevant stakeholders to finalise the package of support measures in the new Rural Development Programme. She pointed out that it was in everyone's interest to work diligently on this with a view to the requisite EU approval and implementation of the new programme in early 2007.

The Minister also expressed the wish to finalise with the social partners the agriculture chapter of the partnership agreement – Towards 2016 – over the next few days.

" The present inspection system has now descended into the realms of pure farce with the strong possibility of different teams of inspectors falling over themselves as they all descend on farms demanding immediate attention and the presence of the farmer The Department of Agriculture and Food, alone, has multiple inspection systems, then we have County Councils, the Fisheries Board, Health and Safety Authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment. We have examples where individual farmers have had to deal with two separate inspections from different agencies on the same day with both teams of inspectors inspecting the very same issues. The system simply could not be more wasteful and pointlessly time-consuming", stated Mr Cahill

"The oft-quoted core principle of Mid-Term Review of CAP was "Freedom to Farm" and we were given to understand that the phrase would signal the way forward. It is now very clear that the direct opposite is the case: the Department of Agriculture and Food are drawing up another raft of detailed rules on Cross Compliance for 2007, which will give rise to yet another generations of inspections. Political direction is required to restore some semblance of sanity and confidence to the system. Irish agriculture does not – and cannot – exist to give multiple and overlapping teams of civil service inspectors a chance to pull on their Wellingtons at the same time as they 'pull rank' on ordinary farmers. Farmers are asking who will 'rein in' this pointless and never-ending stream of bureaucratic demands?" asked Mr Cahill.

"ICMSA has already proposed a format that would meet all the requirements in a much more logical and streamlined fashion. Our suggestion is simply this: the whole battery of current farm inspections would be replaced by a simplified system within the Department of Agriculture and Food and be staffed by people who are competent and who have knowledge of the practicalities of farming. All the other public agencies would immediately cease to carry out any on-farm inspections and would instead rely on the Department of Agriculture to carry out that work. The proposal has the obvious merits of being an efficient way forward for both farmers and the various agencies to do their work and substantially reducing the cost to the exchequer. If the Government chooses to fly in the face of common sense on this matter, ICMSA, on behalf of all the farmers in Ireland, will want to know the reason why they persist in a system that is so manifestly inefficient and unfair to farmers. Commissioner Fischler Boel struck a chord with ordinary farmers when she stated that she wanted a system that eased the insane burden of paperwork and endless inspection on ordinary farmers. It's time that action followed those sentiments", concluded Mr Cahill.

"I am delighted to say that advance payments will be issuing next week to the vast majority of 2006 Single Payment Scheme applicants" the Minister said. She recalled that the early release of these payments was made possible by the recent agreement at EU level to Ireland's request for advance payments under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme. "These payments are being made at a rate of 50%, with the balancing payments scheduled to commence on 1 December", the Minister explained. "These advance payments are worth in the region €500 million in total and will initially be paid to approximately 113,000 farmers" she added.

The Minister explained that advance payments would continue to issue over the coming weeks, as individual cases are cleared. "I would urge all farmers to respond to any correspondence from my Department, in order to facilitate payment" the Minister said. "Where there are unresolved issues relating to individual applications, advance payments cannot issue" she explained.

"These payments under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme incorporate both the third and final instalment of the increase in the Dairy Premium and also the sugar beet element" the Minister stated. Continuing Minister Coughlan said that, "While the task of incorporating the sugar beet element into the Single Payment is quite involved, a large number of the farmers concerned will receive this as part of the advance payments. However, where this is not possible, the farmers concerned will receive the advance based on their existing entitlements where their application is fully processed".

The Minister noted that these payments follow the payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, which began two weeks ago. "To date, over €230 million has been paid out under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, to in excess of 94,000 farmers" the Minister noted, adding "Payments continue to issue as cases are cleared. The high level of payments made under both Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and Single Payment Scheme reflect both the success of the processing systems within my Department and the commitment of the staff involved as well as quality and accuracy of the applications submitted by farmers".

"In order to facilitate those farmers with specific queries relating to their payments, I have had dedicated Lo-call numbers allocated" the Minister explained.

The Lo-call numbers are as follows:
1890 252 242: Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Waterford and Wicklow;
1890 252 243: Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Monaghan, and Sligo;
1890 252 244: Donegal, Dublin, Offaly and Wexford;
1890 252 235: Clare, Cavan, and Limerick;
1890 252 236: Cork, Westmeath;
1890 200 502: Galway, Kerry, Mayo, Meath, Tipperary and Roscommon.

Tree Day, which takes place this year on Thursday, 12 October, is dedicated by many schools throughout the country to studying trees, with the aim of promoting a wider understanding of trees and woodland especially amongst children. It is organised by the Tree Council of Ireland with funding from Tetra Pak, the Department of Agriculture and Food, and ENFO.

The Tree Council of Ireland has forwarded a resource pack to all primary schools around the country detailing over forty topics on trees. Over 120 woodlands have been designated for primary schools to bring their pupils to learn more about the environment and trees.

During her talk to the pupils and teachers at the school, Minister of State Wallace highlighted some of the many benefits of trees and woodlands to society including creating employment and the production of raw materials for thousands of end uses. Referring to the theme of this year's Tree Day – 'Bliain na Fuinseoige' or 'Year of the Ash', she reminded the children that "while ash has a number of uses of ash, we are all familiar with it as the wood that hurleys are made from".

The Minister of State also launched the 'Irish Tree Trivia' booklet printed by Aisling Books in association with the Tree Council. The booklet contains 100 pieces of information about trees. Minister of State Wallace noted, from the booklet that, in relation to ash, the theme of this year's Tree Day, "the tallest native tree in Ireland is an ash near Clonmel, Co Tipperary, which is 40 metres tall".

The Minister of State thanked the Tree Council of Ireland for giving all primary school children the opportunity to learn more about out trees and woodlands as it is important to encourage public awareness of trees and forestry.

The nationwide forestry campaign, 'Forests for a Bright Future', is a joint initiative between the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Irish Forest Industry Chain (IFIC). The purpose of the campaign is to highlight the income, employment, energy, environmental and amenity advantages of forestry to farm families, rural areas and the national economy. The launch in Mullingar for the Longford/Westmeath region is the latest in a series of regional launches that have been taking place over the past few months.

During her address, Minister Wallace quoted a recent study carried out by UCD which found that for every 100 jobs created in the forestry sector an extra 90 full time equivalent jobs are created elsewhere. The Minister said that the same study also suggests that the total contribution of forestry to the economy is of the order of €1.6 bn annually.

The Minister went on to say "Forest cover in Ireland is just over 10% of total land area. This is low compared with the European average of around 35%. Longford has almost 8,000 hectares of forests which is close to 8% of the land area. Westmeath has over 12,000 hectares or just over 7% of the total land area of the county under forests. Clearly, possibilities exist in this region for increased afforestation".

The Minister sees forestry "as a 'real' alternative land use option, which will become increasingly important over time as the pattern of traditional Irish agriculture and land use changes".

The Minister urged all farmers in the area to seriously consider the forestry option and concluded by stating that "forestry can support the maintenance of viable farm households and the wider rural economy".

Minister Wallace reiterated the Government's commitment to forestry as a critical, long-term, land-use alternative. "The current package of supports is the most attractive that has ever been offered", she said, pointing to the availability of 100% grants and substantial, tax-free, annual premiums. The evidence shows that farmers could significantly boost their income by converting part of their land to forestry.

While farmers need to get their applications in as quickly as possible to be sure of approval under the current Programme, the Minister emphasised that an attractive afforestation scheme would be at the core of the new forestry programme running from 2007-2013. She urged farmers to talk to the experts and look at the possibilities for forestry on their own farms. "The important thing now is for farmers to get their applications in", the Minister said. "If we can approve them under the current programme, we will, if not, they'll be top of the list for approval under the next programme."

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The Minister also announced the commencement of payments to farmers under the 2006 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS).

"These payments are worth in the region of €250 million and are payable to in excess of 100,000 farmers", the Minister explained. "I expect that a very significant proportion of eligible farmers will receive their payments in the coming days. However, there are some who appear ineligible under the stocking provisions; these farmers can submit appropriate evidence to my Department's Portlaoise Office, following which their payments will then be released" the Minister continued. "In order to facilitate those farmers with specific queries relating to their DAS payments, I have had dedicated Lo-call numbers allocated" she explained.

The Lo-call numbers are as follows:

1890 252 242: Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Waterford and Wicklow;
1890 252 243: Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Monaghan, and Sligo;
1890 252 244: Donegal, Dublin, Offaly and Wexford;
1890 252 235: Clare, Cavan, and Limerick;
1890 252 236: Cork, Westmeath;
1890 200 502: Galway, Kerry, Mayo, Meath, Tipperary and Roscommon.

The Minister explained that the 2006 DAS payments are being further supplemented by funds collected under the Modulation process of the Single Payment Scheme. Under the Modulation rules, Member States were re-allocated particular sums, based on specific criteria. While it is obligatory that Modulation be deducted from all Single Payments, those in receipt of less than €5,000 under the Single Payment Scheme are entitled to a full refund. "These refunds, worth in the region of €14 million, were already made to all eligible farmers" the Minister said. "The pool of funds remaining after this refund is available at Community level for redistribution. In our case, the sum involved for 2006 is €18.5 million and I have decided to allocate this by way of a top-up to the 2006 DAS payments. However, it is my intention for 2007 and subsequent years to explore further appropriate avenues for the re-distribution of this additional funding", the Minister explained.