I welcome the announcement that the deadline for herd health and farm plans under the Knowledge Transfer Scheme has been extended to the 21st August. But the extended deadline must not be used as an excuse to delay payments to farmers. It is another indication that there is far too much red tape involved with these schemes for the payments that are involved. For example farmers who want to qualify for the payment of 750 Euro under the Knowledge Transfer Scheme have to go to meetings, pay substantial sums for a herd plan and for a planner. Even at that planners and advisors are struggling to meet deadlines and the Department will have to hold a thorough review of these schemes and the terms and conditions for farmers into the future.
