Private native regrowth forestry

Farm forestry guides

This series of fact sheets introduces what’s needed to plan, maintain and harvest tree plantations on farms.

Selecting species and sites

For best tree growth, climate and soil type should match the tree species in its natural environment. When selecting species, consider which markets exists and are within your ability to manage.

Farm shelter

High wind speeds and rain lead to chilling of livestock and physical damage to crops. Well-placed and well-managed shelterbelts can be used to increase agricultural productivity.

Plantation establishment timetable

Establish a radiata pine plantation with some basic guidelines and timelines for successful plantings on farmland.

Plan for tree planting

Before planting a tree, you should consider the effects it will have on your farm, its infrastructure and services. A plan is necessary regardless of the number of trees planted.

Plantation establishment summary

Plantation establishment includes site preparation, weed control, planting, fertilising, vermin control and re-planting. Establishment can take up to 12 to 18 months.

Site preparation

Clearing the site of previous vegetation, cultivating the soil and controlling weeds are important steps in preparing your site for tree planting.

Weed control

Weeds compete with trees for water, nutrients and light and can affect the growth of the tree and the profitability of plantations.

Planting

Planting stock may be raised as seedlings or cuttings. Seedlings are cheaper, but for best planting stock, seedlings should be grown from genetically improved seed collected from a seed orchard.

Browsing damage to seedlings

Browsing damage by possums, wallabies, kangaroo, rabbit and deer can affect the growth rate and form of seedlings. Control of browsing animals is essential to successful plantation establishment.

Pests and disease

Trees can be severely damaged or killed by native and introduced pests and disease. Keep an eye on your trees by conducting regular inspections of forest areas.

Pruning

Pruning is the removal of branches from the main trunk of a tree to improve the quality and value of the timber product produced.

Thinning

Thinning is the selective removal of some trees from a stand and reduces competition for light, water and nutrients. Thinning can be either non-commercial or commercial.

Utilisation of farm grown wood

Farm forests have many uses including wood products (firewood, posts and poles, pulpwood, sawlogs, veneer logs) livestock and crop shelter, tourism and aesthetics.

Wattle management

Silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) is a widespread native species in Tasmania that establishes in native forests, plantations, and farmland. Its ability to easily regenerate presents both opportunities and challenges for landowners.

Why choose Radiata pine?

Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) is one of the most widely grown plantation species in Australia — and for good reason. It has become the most widely planted softwood species in the Southern Hemisphere.

Carbon and dairying

This series of fact sheets identifies ways to reduce the carbon footprint of dairying in Tasmania, thanks to DairyTas and funding from the Tasmanian Climate Change Office.

A 10 Step Summary

This fact sheet gives an overview of the 10 steps to reduce the carbon footprint of dairying in Tasmania.

Step 1: Know where emissions come from

This fact sheet helps farmers to calculate emissions from their farms and explains more about emissions from Australia’s dairy industry.

Step 2: Make every cow count

This fact sheet discusses goals for making sure herds can most efficiently convert feed into production over many seasons.

Step 3: Efficient cows are key

This fact sheet explores breeding cows for energy use over cow size, to reduce emissions while maintaining production.

Step 4: Enduring cows

This fact sheet discusses increasing lifetime animal profit through creating longer-lasting, efficient producing cows.

Step 5: Home grown goodness

This fact sheet discusses how farmers can practically reduce emissions on their farm through feed planning and management.

Step 6: Smarter energy use

This fact sheet discusses how to reduce energy use through irrigation efficiencies, maintenance, renewables and energy audits.

Step 7: Be Fert$mart

This fact sheet explores nitrous oxide emissions from farm fertilisers and introduces the Fert$mart Nitrogen Strategy to reduce emissions.

Step 8: Keep cows comfortable plant trees

This fact sheet discusses cow health and emissions, including how animal welfare relates to emissions management.

Step 9: Carbon farming rivers soils and trees

This fact sheet discusses protecting riparian areas and creeks from cows for the health of farms and local catchment areas.

Step 10: Keep learning

­This fact sheet discusses resilience and how farmers can produce the world’s food in an environmentally and ethically sustainable way.