An elderly farm couple are losing their forestry premium because a sheep farmer persists in putting his animals on to their plantation. “We can’t stop a neighbour breaking the fences and putting in the sheep,” the farmer said. “We’ve told the Department of Agriculture and they don’t want to know about it. But when they inspect the forestry they won’t give us our premium because there’s stock on the land and under the rules that’s not allowed.

“It’s a pure headache. We’re an old couple now and we thought that forestry would be a wonderful investment and we wouldn’t have any big maintenance issues.”

The couple still keep cattle and sheep but bought 47ha of land in south Tipperary to plant and use the premiums as their pension. The issue has been ongoing for seven years and the couple are frustrated and disappointed that the Department won’t help them to solve the matter.

On top of this, the couple feel intimidated by the farmer who persists in putting sheep on their land. “He takes walls down and brings a trailer full of sheep and puts a bar up blocking the gap again. The forestry company have fixed the fences so many times they’re sick of hearing about it.”

A Department of Agriculture spokesman said it does not comment on individual cases and the farmer should make direct contact with Department to discuss any issues related to the site.

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