NEWS & VIEWS • SEPTEMBER 2025 7 Acacia decurrens planted to replace E. dunnii Matthew’s outlook on silvicultural practices is not set in stone. He is open to trying various planting espacements to see how the trees will grow and what the quality and yield of the timber will be at rotation. To this end he has changed his rotation age on his GxN’s to between five and six years depending on the site quality so that he is able to supply a local pole-processing plant with smaller diameter fencing and building poles. He is also looking at various ways of managing his harvesting trash, trying not to burn on sensitive sites as shown above. Historically this compartment was severely damaged in a wildfire that destroyed the humus and organic matter layers which was a concern to Matthew for future rotations. A decision was made not to burn the harvesting trash, instead Matthew left it as is and replanted it to Green Wattle in the hope that the decomposing material and the Green Wattle, being a legume, will add nitrogen to the soil therefore improving the quality of the soil. In a recently planted GxN2107 compartment Matthew planted a small area to the new GxN311 clone so he can compare the growth, stem form, yield and susceptibility to pest and disease outbreaks during the rotation to see if this is the new clone for Fairfield Estates. The harvesting operations are carried out by a local contractor who has been working on the farm since Matthew’s father’s time using the old tried and tested motor manual harvesting system. Trees are left to dry in tree lengths, which reduces the cracking and only when they are ready for extraction sized for the various pole lengths and diameters. The extraction is under Matthew’s control ensuring that every pole is a handed load. No Bell three-wheelers are used infield to minimise stump damage ensuring a high coppice percentage is achieved. GxN2107’s harvested for the fencing and building pole market GxN2107’s harvested for the fencing and building pole market Pole sorting
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