Farm Tree$ Planning Service

Aim of the Service

The Victorian Government sought to actively encourage and educate landowners to incorporate the establishment and management of trees into their particular farm landscape. The Government initiated the Farm Tree$ Planning Service to contribute toward the State Private Forestry Strategy at the time, which aimed to treble the commercially focused tree plantings on private land by the year 2020.

The Farm Tree$ Planning Service provided landowners with professional advice to assess the possibilities of commercial tree growing on their own land. The service aimed to assist landowners to make better informed decisions based on specific on-site evaluation. It also aimed to encourage increased tree establishment to complement and enhance existing agricultural productivity.

It was envisaged that the service would increase the extent of private land planted for commercial timber leading to, and encouraging, the development of value adding opportunities in rural areas. Strategic and well-planned tree establishment also has the potential to provide environmental benefits.

Nature of the Service

A suitably qualified and experienced forestry consultant visited the farms of successful applicants to inspect, analyse and then develop a detailed management plan. These plans provided recommendations and information which included the following:

• commercial tree species and associated site capability;
• potential products and market considerations;
• planting locations and orientations;
• potential environmental and agricultural benefits;
• plantation establishment procedures;
• on-going management procedures;
• anticipated costs;
• contact details for establishment and management contractors;
• an indicative financial analysis; and
• map/s of proposed plantation area.

Conditions and Criteria

Successful applicants demonstrated enthusiasm and interest in tree growing, and a commitment to the pursuit of variations to management in order to ensure long-term property viability. Suitable participants were those whose properties had soils, topography and climate suited to commercial tree production.

Successful applicants were required to contribute a non-refundable $400 fee for the provision of the service, which is estimated to be worth between $1500 and $2500 per property.

Preference was given to landowners who:

• owned at least 10 hectares of cleared agricultural land available for planting
• had completed a Farm$mart course, or similar
• had prepared a whole farm plan for their property
• had considered the establishment of commercial species likely to be appropriate to their area
• were members of a Farm Forestry Network