He who pays the piper calls the tune, as the old saying goes, but when it come to the Knowledge Transfer groups, it may be that farmers will not like the melody very much.

The Knowledge Transfer programme was being viewed as a way to get a few bob into farmers’ pockets while also providing all the benefits of discussion group participation. However, the fear now is that the money will be diluted all over the place.

The total value of the programme is €1,250 per participant for each of the three years of the programme. It seems the system will see the facilitator, who must be an approved planner, receive a €750 payment on behalf of each farmer participant. When this money has been paid out, and only then, the facilitator will receive a €500/farmer payment for themselves – nice going. This payment is to cover costs associated with drawing up a farm plan, including a required breeding plan, and also utilising both the profit monitor and carbon monitor tools – a not insignificant amount of work, duly recompensed.

The real kicker emerging now is that farmers will also need to shell out to their vet for an animal health calendar plan. A fee of as high as €150 is being mentioned. This would leave the farmer with €600 – less than half the original €1,250 carrot.

It’s little wonder that the IFA ise sending letters expressing concern to Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney. The IFA wants the payment to be made directly to the farmer, who would then pay the facilitator, rather than the other way around.

The organisation also deems the involvement of a vet in the herd health plan as being “unacceptable”.The next step will see the announcement of the list of approved planners, expected soon. It seems another scheme is going to have a difficult birth.