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The deadline for submission of data for farm improvement plans under the Knowledge Transfer (KT) programme has been extended until 21 August 2017 for the 20,000 farmers participating in the scheme.
The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, made the announcement earlier this week, as the original deadline for submission of the plans of 31 July looked increasingly difficult to meet, with two thirds of plans not completed.
The latest figures from the Department of Agriculture show that to date, approximately 6,200 farm improvement plans have been submitted by KT facilitators.
Approximately 8,100 plans are currently in progress.
Herd health plans
Meanwhile, 6,600 animal health measures have been completed by vets in conjunction with farmer participants in the Knowledge Transfer (KT) programme, as part of the farm improvement plan.
Minister Creed said: “This extension will enable advisers and vets to benefit from extra time to finalise actions for their KT groups and to progress the outstanding work carried out to date under the scheme.
“In turn, this allows farmers to derive maximum benefit from the Knowledge Transfer programme.”
The 31 July deadline for holding meetings of KT groups remains in place.
"Farmers are urged to get in contact with their vets to complete their plans ahead of the extended deadline of 21 August.
Vets
Some 20,000 farmers will receive an annual payment of €750 for attending KT group meetings and submitting a farm improvement plan.
Conor Geraghty of Veterinary Ireland said that more farmers are continuing to come to him to complete their plans.
“We’re urging farmers to contact their vets to complete their plans now, instead of leaving it to the last minute.”
Meanwhile, the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) has welcomed the deadline extension and that it will take some of the pressure off consultants.
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