SHORT ROTATION FORESTRY - AN AGRICULTURAL CASE-STUDY OF ECONOMIC-FEASIBILITY

The economic feasibility of short rotation forestry was studied assuming growth on agricultural land in central France. The annual discounted average gross margin was used as a criterion of comparison between short rotation forestry and traditional annual agricultural crops (wheat, maize, sunflower). Using average assumptions concerning cost, yield and selling price, short rotation forestry is not competitive with the other crops studied. In the present economic conditions, even if some of the inputs and initial assumptions (fertilization, selling price) are modified, the results remain unchanged. Some suggestions are made concerning agricultural policy at the state or community level.