A sheep farmer in the northwest, who did not wish to be named, has received demands for two annual Teagasc memberships, totalling €290. Teagasc wrote to him, stating: “Unfortunately, if a member of a group does not have a current contract, their adviser cannot submit their KT application for payment.”

The farmer is refusing to pay and has written to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and Teagasc director Professor Gerry Boyle.

To the Minister, he described the membership charge as “grossly unjust and a complete duplication in my view, with no logic”.

He continued: “Is the Department aware of these charges and that they are holding farmers to ransom? Over the course of the three-year programme, Teagasc would receive an additional €435 on top of the €1,500 the Department is paying Teagasc to facilitate group.

“The scheme was set up to benefit the farmer and the Department shouldn’t be standing back and allowing organisations take advantage. No private consultants are charging these additional fees.”

To Professor Boyle he wrote: “I am not in a position to pay for advisory fees that I don’t need or want.”