Changing direction on family farm 20 years ago during BSE crisis 'made sense and still does' - William Agnew
During the BSE crisis, around 20-years ago, William Agnew from Upperlands Maghera, said he decided to try a different route in farming after years of it ‘being one thing after another’.
And the 64-year-old says the decision he took to start supplying firewood has paid off.
“It was a big decision but it has worked out as we supply a lot of wholesalers like Musgrave and two other wholesalers in Newry,” he said.
“It is a good business to be in, but like everything it is hard work.
"We source the firewood from Diamonds sawmills in Coleraine,” he added.
“Firewood is wood that’s not good enough for posts or railings or whatever else. So anything other than what they want would go for firewood and then then all that windblow from the last few storm’s.
"There has been almost a glut of it over the last while.
"This doesn’t bring the price down that much, but has brought it down a bit.”
Mr Agnew now believes he “changed over from being a farmer and lorry driver at the right time”.
"There are definitely other avenues there if you try.
"It is hard at the beginning to make contacts and sales but getting online is a step in the right direction. Having a website took it a step further.
"And with oil being high it is a good time to be in it.
"I started off in 2007 at the time of the last crash and people were looking at firewood as a cheaper option and yet again with the war in Iran people are doing the same.
"I heard recently about an upturn is people buying fire grates which is a sign people are preparing for winter.”
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