Farrelly Bros, based in Kells, Co Meath, have launched their 2009/10 promotional campaign for the growing of willow. They see willow as a crop that can help supply their growing needs for high quality woodchip for the commercial and industrial sectors. Woodchip is still less than half the price of oil and the demand that these sectors have for a renewable and carbon neutral fuel like willow, is such that Farrelly Bros could plant over 1,000 acres each year and still not meet the demand. In short, demand exceeds supply – a rare thing in modern agriculture.
One of the biggest attractions that willow has for many farmers is the reduction in labour requirement and while there is a cost to establish it, once it is established it lasts up to 30 years.
Willow will provide a very valuable and much needed alternative farming enterprise. It will also provide the local economy with a reliable and guaranteed Irish supply of locally grown wood chip – a renewable fuel - that will replace expensive imported fossil fuel.
Willow is a crop that every farmer should consider – it will cut their labour, cut their overheads, and finally give a decent profit from farming.
For more information log on to www.timberpro.ie
