"The best time to plant trees is yesterday," according to Wynyard-based senior private forest advisor Stephen Clarke.
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He's on the lookout for farmers with an eye to the future, who want to grow more trees on their property, and he is particularly interested in dairy farmers.
"They stand to benefit from improved farm productivity," he said.
Mr Clarke is leading a new project from Private Forests Tasmania, the government and primary producers, aimed at finding demonstration farms that show how well commercial tree stands can support the land.
The successful farmer(s) would get a grant for seedlings and fencing, plus specialist support while the trees were growing.
"We are talking about a combination of shelter belts and smaller wood lots," Mr Clarke said.
"We want to make sure that plantings are commercially viable so we have set a 10-20 hectare minimum."
Private Forests CEO Penny Wells said the scheme aimed to help farmers raise productivity.
"Many people think if I take out a hectare and plant trees, that's a hectare less for cattle or pasture.
"We want to show how to integrate the trees, so you're not taking away land but planting out areas which may not be suitable for other crops, or planting which enhances other activities like a shelter or windbreak.
"This is focussed on plantings for future wood resource so they have to have a commercial capacity."
Mr Clarke said the scheme would benefit the farmers and society, by improving water efficiency.
Expressions of interest in the Private Forests Tasmania grant program close on June 30.
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