Following complaints from farmers about certain of the regulations surrounding the KT scheme, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has asked the Department of Agriculture to look into the possibility of farmers participating in more than one KT group across two sectors, while at the same time avoiding extra payment for farmers.

As currently constituted, participation in more than one KT group across sectors is not permitted. This is largely due to potential double funding which could arise from the completion of more than one farm improvement plan for a single farming enterprise. Farm improvement plans are discussed at KT meetings and the farmer is then supposed to implement them. Since the completion of the farm improvement plan is one of the main factors to trigger funding under the KT, the Department has so far resisted calls for changes to be made to the participation rules.

Reacting to the news that the Department is now considering a proposal to allow farmers with joint enterprises participate in more than one group, Flor McCarthy, IFA Rural Development Committee Chairman, said: “IFA welcomes that the Minister is looking at this measure. The KT scheme needs to be flexible, given the mixed enterprise nature of Irish farms."

However, the chairman added that the Department should also consider the possibility of an extra payment to farmers for participating in more than group, saying it would be "justified" in this instance.

As the rules currently stand, farmers will receive €750 for each of the three years of the programme. Costs of the group's facilitator will be covered by the Department, but farmers will be expected to cover the cost of an animal health plan, with initial suggestions this could cost €150 to €200 in year one and €100 to €150 to update in years two and three.

Knowledge Transfer

The KT programme was launched in April by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney. It is part of a range of measures included in the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme. The programme is similar to the previous Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP) in that an approved facilitator registers the proposed beef, dairy or equine group, all of which will be established in 2015. Poultry, tillage and sheep groups will be established in 2016.

The lack of flexibility for joint enterprises was one of the sticking points for farmers, as we reported one week before the scheme closure deadline. Farmers with mixed enterprises were not happy with the rule that said they could only participate in one group.