The ever-popular Tullamore Show will include a special section, highlighting the Forest and Energy Sector, its innovations and its key players on Sunday August 14. The Tullamore show is now the largest one-day Agricultural extravaganza in Ireland with over 60,000 expected to attend this year. Forestry will be well represented on the day. It is now recognised as an important mainstream activity on many farms with almost 22,000 forest owners, 83% being farmers.

This year, 14 Companies and organisations will be on hand to provide information and demonstrations at the dedicated Forest & Energy village. Many have requested larger trade spaces in order to showcase their activities, products and services.

The forest industry will be strongly represented with companies from the afforestation, management, harvesting and products sectors. With recent favourable revisions to the Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020, now is an idea time for landowners to consider forestry as an attractive and complementary enterprise for suitable areas on their farms. The Forest and Energy Section will provide an opportunity to have all your forestry queries answered. Timber prices are excellent this year. There is also a strong demand for timber, with many sawmills actively seeking logs, reflecting the industry’s interest in this year’s show.

The Renewable Energy sector is also well represented by companies from the biomass, renewable heating and energy sectors. Their presence, along with the companies involved in growing trees for fibre and energy use, highlights the interest in sustainable energy utilisation & production.

According to Liam Kelly of the Teagasc Forest Development Department; ‘The Forest & Energy Section’ of the Tullamore Show will be of interest to all existing woodland owners and to all that are considering tree planting. Forestry is well established as a conventional enterprise within agriculture and this is reflected by the diversity of forestry stands booked into this year’s show. The energy and forestry stands truly complement each other, providing a sense of future sustainability and are certainly not to be missed’

The Tullamore show will provide great day out for the family on Sunday August 14. A visit to the Forest & Energy Sector during the show is also highly recommended. It is located on Rows W & X in the main Trade Area of the Tullamore Showground.

Liam Kelly