Farmers should look at trees

Bay of Plenty farmers and Maori land owners are being encouraged to attend a free Trees on Farms workshop in Ohope next Wednesday.

The day-long workshop, hosted by the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association and funded by the Sustainable Farming Fund, is aimed at anyone who wants to learn about the profitable growing of trees.

Project manager Ian Nicholas has so far this year run seven regional workshops throughout the North Island, attended by nearly 500 people. Each was adapted to the needs of the local community.

Mr Nicholas said the workshop series was unique in that it took a "whole farm" approach, encouraging farmers to plant trees as part of long-term, inter-generational land use.

He said the Ohope workshop will highlight the opportunities for maximising marginal land and will also target owners of Maori land. It includes a field trip to Ngati Awa farm, which has been growing trees for a number of years.

"We want to generate discussion and make it as interactive as possible," said Mr Nicholas. "We have 40 people registered already and are hoping for quite a few more." He said most New Zealand farms contained land that was difficult to farm.

"In these situations, trees can provide better returns than traditional farming, as well as creating an on-farm asset that, when mature, will provide farmers with a range of real financial options," he said. "However, farmers need more information."

All workshop participants will receive a hard copy of the presentations by all five speakers, as well as a DVD containing interviews with local farm foresters, electronic handbooks of the major farm tree species and relevant regional council information.

The workshop is at Ohope Hall, Bluett Rd from 9.30am to 3.30pm and lunch is provided. Please register in advance by phoning 027 4505 904 or emailing Mr Nicholas at i.nicholas@clear.net.nz