To Thin or Not To Thin with Conor Daly
Download MP3To Thin or Not to Thin - that's the subject of todays podcast and joining me to talk it through is Conor Daly, Director at The Forestry Company. In this chat we discuss the pros and cons of thinning Irish plantation forests with a strong emphasis on our two main timber growing species - Sitka and Norway Spruce. Conor explains the silvicultural, economic and biodiversity benefits thinning delivers. Then we get into the practical considerations and we tease out the many different factors that are weighed up in each forest when deciding if, when and how often to thin your crop. Finally we discuss Conors involvement with SEEFA - SEEFA are the Social, Economic Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland. Conor explains SEEFA's priorities for increasing farm forestry across Ireland and what they are urging Government to do to increase planting rates.
This podcast is supported by the Irish Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. If you're thinking of planting a new forest or if you want information on financial and technical supports to manage your existing forest then go to
This podcast is supported by the Irish Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. If you're thinking of planting a new forest or if you want information on financial and technical supports to manage your existing forest then go to
About Conor:
Conor Daly is the Managing Director of The Forestry Company. Conor is a graduate of the English National Forestry College with a Higher Diploma in Forestry. He has a depth of experience within the private forestry sector with over twenty years’ experience in the industry.
Conor runs his own farm so he knows just how forestry can work alongside the farming industry. He is based in Kenmare, Co. Kerry.
Key Points:
- Silvicultural benefits of thinning
- Operational considerations for thinning
- Legal and licensing requirements
- Economic benefits of thinning
- Biodiversity and environmental impacts
- Role of professional foresters
- Forest policy and regulations
- SEEFA's role in Irish forestry
Quotes:
- "Time is the biggest issue in thinning."
- "If you don't thin the plantation, you're pushing your clear fell out by ten years nearly."
- "If you're making money out of thinning, something's wrong"
- "Thinning allows light to reach the forest floor and boosts biodiversity"
- "The one thing I'd say to farmers is go away and get a felling license. If you have that in the drawer, at least you have you have a piece of paper. It's like having the insurance policy in the back drawer."
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Follow the Guest on:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conor-daly-the-forestry-company-b6924850/
The Forestry Company Website: https://www.theforestrycompany.ie/
Other Links of Note:
SEEFA - Social, Economic Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland: https://seefa.ie/
Teagasc Guide to Harvesting Including Thinning: https://teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/advice/timber-harvesting/
Follow the Forestry Now Podcast on:
Website: https://forestrynow.eu/
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForestryNow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestry_now_podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestryNowPodcast/
Contact Dermot:
forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
Or at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/
Follow the Guest on:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conor-daly-the-forestry-company-b6924850/
The Forestry Company Website: https://www.theforestrycompany.ie/
Other Links of Note:
SEEFA - Social, Economic Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland: https://seefa.ie/
Teagasc Guide to Harvesting Including Thinning: https://teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/advice/timber-harvesting/
Follow the Forestry Now Podcast on:
Website: https://forestrynow.eu/
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForestryNow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestry_now_podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestryNowPodcast/
Contact Dermot:
forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
Or at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/
Chapters:
00:00 Show introduction: To thin or not to thin?
01:12 Introducing Connor Daly and his forestry career
03:16 Felling licences, forest roads and preparing for harvesting
06:27 The silvicultural benefits of thinning and improving timber quality
13:06 Thinning, wind stability and the challenges of harvesting machinery
17:31 The economics of thinning and what forest owners can expect
20:16 Thinning versus clearfelling: a real-world financial comparison
24:08 Tree growth, timber volume and wind risk
27:34 Biodiversity benefits and assessing whether to thin
31:06 Access, soil conditions and assessing a plantation
34:30 Differences between Sitka spruce, Norway spruce and broadleaves
39:31 Choosing the number of thinnings and considering continuous cover forestry
42:26 Practical advice for forest owners and SEEFA’s priorities for Irish forestry
51:00 Final advice for forest owners and closing remarks
01:12 Introducing Connor Daly and his forestry career
03:16 Felling licences, forest roads and preparing for harvesting
06:27 The silvicultural benefits of thinning and improving timber quality
13:06 Thinning, wind stability and the challenges of harvesting machinery
17:31 The economics of thinning and what forest owners can expect
20:16 Thinning versus clearfelling: a real-world financial comparison
24:08 Tree growth, timber volume and wind risk
27:34 Biodiversity benefits and assessing whether to thin
31:06 Access, soil conditions and assessing a plantation
34:30 Differences between Sitka spruce, Norway spruce and broadleaves
39:31 Choosing the number of thinnings and considering continuous cover forestry
42:26 Practical advice for forest owners and SEEFA’s priorities for Irish forestry
51:00 Final advice for forest owners and closing remarks
