Teagasc has increased its charges to farmers by up to €50 in a mid-year change to its billing structure.

The cost of some Club or Technology contracts have increased by €10 to €35 per farmer, while farmers who use Teagasc for some TAMS II work will pay €50 more.

The Teagasc Club support package includes limited phone contact, office assistance with annual farm review consultation (includes basic BPS application if required), and invitations to events, newsletters and the publication Today’s Farm, but no farm visits.

Increases

The Club charge has been increased by €20 to €230 annually for farmers with 101 to 300 income units. Charges for other income brackets are unchanged.

The cost of the Technology package, which adds one farm visit to the Club package, has been cut by €10 to €205 for farmers with less than 50 income units. However, it has been hiked by €10 to €25 annually for farmers in all other income brackets. They will pay from €265 to €365 each.

Derogation planning

Teagasc clients who require derogation planning will generally pay €10 to €35 more for that service.

Derogation farmers on the Teagasc Technology package will pay €315 to €475 annually.

Farmers with more than 50 income units will have to pay €20 to €35 more than last year.

A Teagasc derogation plan now costs €10 more at €360.

TAMS II applications for large project planning in the area of animal welfare, safety and nutrient storage are up €50 from €750 to €800.

The Young Farmer Capital and Organic Capital TAMS II applications will cost €50 more at €800.

A Teagasc spokesman said the new charges were implemented from 1 June 2017.

He added that 92% of its 27,500 Club clients would see no change in advisory charges and 5,500 clients of the 13,000 Technology clients would receive a discount of €10 to incentivise one farm visit.

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