Prepared for the IFA Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia by C Neal Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland Prepared for the IFA Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia by C Neal The farm forestry model Why early harvest? Marketing & Sales- SWOT Costs & Benefits for grower Group perspective Going Forward – STG -> Farming Together INTRODUCTION

Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Prepared for the IFA Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia by C Neal Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Forest Certification for Small Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in Southeast Queensland Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland SWOT Analysis Group Strengths Experienced/skilled group members Collective bargaining power Quantitative research Cooperation & Collaboration between similar FF groups Small volumes to niche markets Scale – industry, processors, local markets Weaknesses Photo: Mowbray,N Qld by Carol Neal

Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Prepared for the IFA Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia by C Neal Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Forest Certification for Small Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in Southeast Queensland Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland SWOT Analysis Weaknesses Competition imports, other processors Geographic location Transport costs Access to mills & markets Grower FM knowledge & skills Grower lethargy Infrastructure oversight White wood imports Long term costs Photo: Mowbray,N Qld by Carol Neal

Prepared for the IFA Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia by C Neal Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland SWOT Analysis Opportunities for the Group Can wait until the opportunity arises Price setting capability Value adding - Wide range of products Increasing membership => larger volumes Location to targeted local markets Single-desk management Grower training& Peer mentoring

Prepared for the IFA Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia by C Neal Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland SWOT Analysis Opportunities for the Group Can wait until the opportunity arises Price setting capability Value adding - Wide range of products Increasing membership => larger volumes Location to targeted local markets Single-desk management Grower training& peer mentoring Threats to the Group Low cost and priced imports of other white wood Changes in legislation and regulations

Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Forest Certification for Small Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in Southeast Queensland Member Costs & Income Board Recovery Grower Code Tree Age Log Count Log Volume (m3) Board Volume (m3) Recovery (%) AK01 10 141 15.6 7.8 50 LD01 24 65 19.6 12.19 62 Direct Costs (by the group) Annual fee for marketing & promotion New member due diligence audit by Independent FM Consultant Marketing & Sales Plan, Sales commission Indirect Costs (for the group by Group Administrator) Developing STG management plan and manuals Administration Time attending training and workshops Income (by the group) Potential gross timber sales at $1,500 - $3,000/m3 Operations Costs Code name Harvest Transport Sawmilling Labour Storage Total AK01 - $1,089.00 $4,950.00 $808.50 $852.50 $7,700.00 LD01 $880.00 $5,280.00 $1,348.00 $1,320.00 $8,828.00 Group Member Potential Income at $1.500.00m/3 - $3,000.00/m3 Code name Sawn Board Volume (m3) Gross Income AK01 7.8 $11,700.00 - $29,400.00 LD01 12.19 $18,285.00 - $36,570.00

Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Prepared for the IFA Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia by C Neal Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Forest Certification for Small Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in Southeast Queensland Group Structure Group Management plan developed by Group Individual Planning Workshops & Training developed for Group Members Group Members documentation and practices checked by Independent FM Consultant Independent Forest Management Consultant to verifies commissions on sales, database management.

Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Forest Certification for Small Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in Southeast Queensland Bring it all together Do costs exceed likely benefits? Need more robust Sampling effort for small growers Need more area and more volume to make it work + = A collaboration between Specialty Timber Growers Inc. (Queensland) and the Subtropical Farm Forestry Association Inc. (NSW) Supported by the (Farming Together Programme) which is supported by a $14.934.000 inclusive of (GST) grant auspiced to Southern Cross University to administer the program by the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

Going forward Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Prepared for the IFA Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia by C Neal Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Forest Certification for Small Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in Southeast Queensland Going forward Future prospects are challenging but positive outcomes are achievable

Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Prepared for the IFA Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia by C Neal Will Small-scale Farm Forestry ever be Financially Viable? A Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Early Harvesting for Small-scale Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in southeast Queensland Does Forest Certification Work for Small Growers? Case Study Examining the Costs and Benefits of Forest Certification for Small Rainforest Cabinet Timber Growers in Southeast Queensland