Cowal HIDB Farm and Forest Survey 1988 and 1950
The leaflet is courtesy of Glenbranter Forest office staff with particular thanks to Ian Adams who has stored these old files for many years.
This is and interesting piece of repeated research first carried out in early 1950s and again 1n 1985 to compare the size, number and stock types in the farming units in part of the Cowal area. There were significant changes in the farm structures, numbers and the number of people supported with large areas of hill land being converted to forestry.
The report teases out the changes in people numbers, in stock types and numbers along with the rise in employment of the forestry sector. The effects of mechanisation and productivity are examined in light of decreased land areas and changes in farming practices.
There is a separate section on forestry in the Cowal area including a breakdown of the timber production quantities, new planting and restocking annual totals by Forestry Commission and the Private sector. A table also charts the totals planted as at 1947, 1955 and in five year bands until 1985.
The section on employment in the forestry sector lists a total of 248 employees in the local area broken down by Forestry Commission, Private Sector, Contractors/Hauliers and Sawmill/Processing. It estimates the ratio of employment in establishment: maintenance/harvesting as 20:80 and as the bulk of the woodlands are 25 years or younger the potential for future jobs in harvesting is considerable. The net gain in employment over the loss of land from farming to forestry appears to have resulted in an estimated gain somewhere between 0-22 people but with the prospects of a significant lift in later years as the timber harvesting programme increases.
It would interesting to see the results of another survey about 2020 a further 35 years on from the last and to judge the effect of further mechanisation trends, increases in productivity per worker and the not inconsiderable reductions in the labour force. Of course since 1985 the sawmilling/ processing sector in Cowal has closed and the direct employee numbers have given way to the hiring in of greater numbers of contractors as and when required.
Any further thoughts are very welcome.
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry Records, Booklets and Reports