The first research results from the Trees on Farm initiative were presented at the program’s inaugural seminar last week.

The seminar was held at the UniSA Mount Gambier Campus and provided information for farmers and landowners who may consider exploring farm forestry.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven said the seminar was very well received.

“It was about bringing together experts in the field who can talk about some important research that was being presented at the seminar around Trees on Farm and primary producers were able to be there to hear about that,” she said.

“The seminar provided extra information for landholders to determine whether small plantations are appropriate for integration into their own farming businesses as an additional crop.

“By working collectively through such initiatives as Trees on Farm we can pave the way for a future where agriculture and forestry thrive in harmony.

“It has a real potential to be very useful for farmers, but also go some way in helping to address the timber shortage we are experiencing here in Australia at the moment.

“This is not about changing a whole lot of farmland into plantation forestry, this is about integrating plantation forestry in a small way into existing agricultural businesses as an additional crop, not a replacement.

“Integrating trees on farms can provide landholders and farmers with many environmental and economic benefits including soil protection, shade, and shelter for livestock plus as a source of income diversification initially from carbon credits and finally through wood sales.”

The seminar was jointly hosted by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and Primary Producers SA and featured results from five research projects.

The projects covered topics including plantation models, forestry-based carbon farming, planning, and tax considerations, will help landowners make decisions on plantation establishment and carbon farming opportunities.

“There was also a red map deigned to help landowners see where the best returns could be made from investments in plantations,” Minister Scriven said.

These latest research outcomes will also assist PIRSA to further understand the barriers to farm tree plantations to support activities that better target interested producers.

The Trees on Farm initiative was launched in March 2022 and is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian Governments.

Key components of the program are being delivered in partnership with the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub.

The initiative aims to grow and develop the on-farm forest plantation sector, particularly in the Green Triangle region.

Minister Scriven said farming and forestry play vital roles in well-being, economy, and sustainable land management.

“Trees on Farms is an exciting initiative with tremendous scope to benefit both industries,” she said.

“The release of this research will further enhance South Australia’s reputation as a leader in sustainable management of farm-based forest plantations.”

South Australian Forest Products Association (SAFPA) chief executive Nathan Paine said the SAFPA strongly congratulates the South Australian and Federal Governments for the incredibly important Trees on Farm Program.

“In the South East, we have seen the plantation estate contract over the last decade and the Trees on Farm program will see more trees being planted meaning more trees sequestering carbon from the atmosphere as well as locking in the fibre benefit which will support thousands of timber processing jobs into the future,” he said.

“As an industry, we are working ever closer with other landscape users to develop stronger partnerships that will see trees providing diversified income streams as well as much needed carbon credits for farms.

“COVID taught us the importance of sovereign capability of fibre supply and the great work of the State Government on driving the Trees on Farm program will go a long way to ensuring that we will have the fibre to build houses for our children into the future.”

Visit www.pir.sa.gov.au/trees-on-farms for further information on Trees on Farm, including the latest research findings, resources for farmers and how to get involved.