FFORNE has undertaken many research projects to benefit the members and wider Farm Forestry industry. Please click below for some of the research projects FFORNE has been involved in.

Climate and Soil Based information for Farm Forestry open here

Mid rotation fertiliser trials open here

There is an urgent need for ongoing research with native hardwood species to assist private forestry in Victoria.

As the climate becomes drier there is more work needed to identify ideal species for Victoria’s many different regions.
It is concerning that the few research sites around Victoria appear to be languishing and there is no budget to obtain important data that is needed by private forestry.
Around Victoria there are several farm forestry trial plots testing various native hardwood species.
This testing is to find the most suitable species for various areas in order to be able to recommend the most suitable trees for quality timber for the end market.
It is concerning that these trials are struggling to attract ongoing funding to keep up the research and supply answers to some basic questions the industry desperately needs.

An example has been provided by Andrew Lang, the Chairman of SMARTimbers.

The sugar gum seed orchard near Lismore is one of about five in Victoria (others near Horsham, Hamilton and Bendigo) that were established by the Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group (ALRTIG) in 2000 and 2001. This group was a conglomerate which included CSIRO. While ALRTIG still exists it is not active in managing the seed orchards which are of five species and are in a number of states.

The situation in Victoria is that the ongoing monitoring, management and seed harvest was in the hands of sections of the DPI which have been absorbed or closed down (including the 2 person farm forestry research group at Hamilton).

The situation now is that a number of private forestry businesses are jockeying to take over the management and seed harvesting. This may result in better management than they otherwise appear likely to get, but will also mean that the seed is priced higher and may be not available to regular nurseries and growers.

In additon to sugar gum other species in ALRTIG sites include red iron bark (E.tricarpa), spotted gum, and swamp yate (E.occidentalis). Possibly Sydney blue gum (E.saligna). There are at least another 8-10 species that should be getting similar attention.

Different strains of the same sugar gum (E. cladocalyx) species - note how some naturally shed their lower limbs - this is an advantage for sawlog plantation forestry. Photos taken at Lismore February 2007.

A closer look at two strains of sugar gum (E. cladocalyx), the difference is interesting and needs more research.