Farm leaders call for extension and overhaul of KT scheme

A FURTHER 2,500 farmers have signed up to vets for the Knowledge Transfer (KT)scheme, but farm leaders have warned of growing disillusionment with the programme.

Conor Geraghty of Veterinary Ireland urged farmers to sign up this week to complete their herd health plan, with just 12,500 linked to a vet ahead of the July 31 deadline.

“If they leave it too late it will be very difficult to get it done,” he said.

Some 20,000 farmers are due a yearly payment of €750 for participation in the scheme over a threeyear period.

ICMSA spokesman Patrick Rohan said it was clear the terms and conditions of the scheme along with the paperwork were proving a disincentive.“It is very hard to envisage the required work being completed within that timeframe,” he said, adding a further extension should be considered as the KT scheme had been hit by computer difficulties.

The IFA’s Joe Brady said farmers were seeing other professionals getting a big percentage of the monies under the KT scheme. He said the overall payback to farmers should be increased.

The ICSA’s John Brooks also felt many were getting disillusioned with the scheme and said it may be time to rethink the complexity of rural schemes.

He said the KT scheme promises €750 but the net financial gain for farmers is closer to €210 when Teagasc costs of €290 and €200-250 for the herd health plan are factored in.

Mr Brooks said a similar scheme in Northern Ireland saw consultancy fees covered, no cost for a herd health plan and soil sampling is also covered free of charge.

“The payment for the scheme is £60 sterling per meeting attended, with a minimum of six meetings and maximum of eight,” he said.

Northern farmers get between £360-£480 sterling (€410-€550) in net payments. He added that it was “most notable” that Northern farmers are paid £600 (€684) to host a meeting on his farm.