New South Wales Tree Farmers of the Year 2008
Rod and Marianne Stanford

Property: Old Bonalbo, New South Wales

Rod and Marianne Stanford's integrated grazing and tree farm forms a major part of their self-managed superannuation fund. Their 111ha property is at Old Bonalbo in the Upper Clarence River catchment of north-eastern NSW.

Their 24ha plantation establishment program commenced in 1998 and was completed in 2003. Rod and Marianne have concentrated on three species, Eucalyptus acmenoides, E. resinifera and E. siderophloia with the aim of carrying out pruning and thinning to produce high value poles and sawlogs within a 25 year cycle. While not the fastest growing, the selected species are likely to attract a premium price.Permanent inventory plots have been established to record diameter and height measurements, tree form and general plantation health. The early plantings have been thinned and used for firewood. Selected trees have also had two to four pruning lifts to an average height of 8.5m. The 2003 plantings are being pre-commercially thinned and second lift pruning will follow. All plantings have been assessed for pruned stand certification.

Cattle grazing occurs on 30ha of cleared land and in the more mature parts of the plantation, which have been established with shade tolerant pasture species. This capacity to graze livestock not only improves economic production, but also forms an integral part of the property's fire protection strategy by maintaining a short, green palatable understory.

More than half the Stanford's property (56ha) is native forest, which was previously logged in 1986. An inventory has shown that a high proportion of the standing timber is unmerchantable or suitable only for posts. Rod and Marianne have recently commenced a woody weed control program, which will give them access to thin the forest using a stem injector.