teagasc again

whelan1

i got my bill for next year, 470 euro... i am part of the dairy discussion group and advisor fills in my sfp etc..... now some of the lads in my group seem constantly on the the advisor for this or that- now not saying that i know everything and dont need to ring him:rolleyes:- i find if i want to know i ask on here first and if i dont get an answer then i will ring teagasc, apart from the discusssion group meeting on my farm the advisor wasnt out here ... so my question is do you use your advisor much and do you have many on farm visits?

1chippy

ours just does enough to get paid and that can be a struggle (calls out once a year and talks sh*te about anything bar farming). our btap instructor has been far more beneficial to us, i'm going to ask if we can change advisors to the instructor just for convenience sake.

reilig

Advisor is our BTAP instructor and handles our reps. He made changes to maps for the last couple of years for DAS and I made the applications online. I think we are to get a new reps planner in the coming months as he concentrates on BTAP. He is on farm at least twice a year - 3 or 4 times in 2012 as we were host for BTAP one evening. Find him really good for a flow of info and advice - I'm on his email list and he forwards anything he gets and he sends out regular text messages. He doesn't know everything, but is quick to research answers.

He is young and interested in what he does. He has ambition and this is reflected in the quality of his work. He is with Teagasc, but even if he was private, I'd be using him. From reviews on here, I think that his type are rare around the country.

funny man

My advisor is quite good and works for Teagasc. He helps with the E-Profit monitor, does all the comparisons for the group. He fills out the sfp, nitrates/derogation forms, updates farm plan, did financials for bank loan application and always can give any technical data when requested. most private consultants use Teagasc information anyway. Just cause your not on to him all the time doesn't mean anything more than your at a different level. you may need your advisor more when you start your expansion plans.

Timmaay

I've a very good advisor also! While 470e is a big chunk of money, esp given the year we have had with tight cashflow etc, I know for certain without him and the discussion group there are many thing that I wouldn't have done properly or at all! I've used mine for helping with 1stly the partnership paperwork with my dad (which was a nightmare!), then sfp, which I had big hassle with also, DES, silage and soil testing, grassland measuring.

God knows what a private chap would have changed me in total ha!

hugo29

470 seems expensive, mine was 390 for all including btap, have to say advisor who is also btap instructor is very good, always at end of phone and will visit site any time you ask

razor8

Know probably a silly question but what does BTAP stand for?

LivInt20

razor8 wrote: »

Know probably a silly question but what does BTAP stand for?

Beef Technology Adoption Programme

tabby aspreme

Pay tesgac 320, they fill out Sfp and Reps forms and very little else, only farm visit was for Reps 2 and forestry a few years ago, not great value I reckon

6480

i gave up on them years ago after i had them out on where to put up the milking parlour , the man could not see or understand my idea where i wanted to build it at the time , i put it up in my spot after and he took the huff a bit , 3 or 4 years after he sent 2 lads to look at my set up ,

thetiredfarmer

tabby aspreme wrote: »

Pay tesgac 320, they fill out Sfp and Reps forms and very little else, only farm visit was for Reps 2 and forestry a few years ago, not great value I reckon

I have to pay €345 this year (inc.BTAP)
I find my adviser very straight forward and easy to deal with.I know that every question I ask,he must have answered 20 different ways to 20 different people and has to take in to consideration my situation with his reply.
I think Teagasc are only as good as the use you make of them.When it comes to straightening out SFP and AEOS and REPS their true worth can be revealed.

lefthooker

You guys seem to be getting off very lightly, my fees (still haven't paid) are €880 for filling out SFP and REPS and DEP attendance. For what is done I don't think it justifies the charges:(

whelan1

lefthooker wrote: »

You guys seem to be getting off very lightly, my fees (still haven't paid) are €880 for filling out SFP and REPS and DEP attendance. For what is done I don't think it justifies the charges:(

jeeny mac:eek:

funny man

lefthooker wrote: »

You guys seem to be getting off very lightly, my fees (still haven't paid) are €880 for filling out SFP and REPS and DEP attendance. For what is done I don't think it justifies the charges:(

Has to be private as Teagasc has set fees!

hugo29

lefthooker wrote: »

You guys seem to be getting off very lightly, my fees (still haven't paid) are €880 for filling out SFP and REPS and DEP attendance. For what is done I don't think it justifies the charges:(

my god how much, for that id expect him to help on the farm as well, i think its time to shop around my friend

lefthooker

funny man wrote: »

Has to be private as Teagasc has set fees!

No its a Teagasc contract. Broken down as:
- Disc. Group Contract €260
- REPS Support Contract €620

I'm getting value out of the monthly discussion group meetings but all REPS involves is a yearly meeting to do up meal and fertiliser dockets.

So the DEP payment just about covers the charges

hugo29

lefthooker wrote: »

No its a Teagasc contract. Broken down as:
- Disc. Group Contract €260
- REPS Support Contract €620

I'm getting value out of the monthly discussion group meetings but all REPS involves is a yearly meeting to do up meal and fertiliser dockets.

So the DEP payment just about covers the charges

left hooker i think you are being ripped off, Im sorry but there is no way REPS support can cost that much

I pay €230 for both SFP and REPS support, and €160 for BTAP

Ask him for a breakdown on REPS support and when he lists Farm Visits ask how can a yearly meeting cost that, Ask him why its so much more expensive than the rest of the country and then tell him you want a rebate

st1979

lefthooker wrote: »

No its a Teagasc contract. Broken down as:
- Disc. Group Contract €260
- REPS Support Contract €620

I'm getting value out of the monthly discussion group meetings but all REPS involves is a yearly meeting to do up meal and fertiliser dockets.

So the DEP payment just about covers the charges

I am same about 810. In reps and dep. and get sfp done. and i know others paying same all teagasc clients. is it acreage based or what. all of us are dairy farmers with 150acres or more. its way too much. I think i should get a rebate.

whelan1

lefthooker wrote: »

No its a Teagasc contract. Broken down as:
- Disc. Group Contract €260
- REPS Support Contract €620

I'm getting value out of the monthly discussion group meetings but all REPS involves is a yearly meeting to do up meal and fertiliser dockets.

So the DEP payment just about covers the charges

then you have to take in the time you take off farm to go to these events and fuel costs, dep just about pays for it

Timmaay

For me only starting out at this game, I see the Dep as free education, I really can't see myself having bothered to weight heifers or go out and measure grass this year other than having to do it as part of it, that was a great kick up the hole to get some of my priorities right!

but then again, its purely down to if you want to get anything other than the incentive payment outa it, I know afew who go and afterwards say its aload of rubbish.

lefthooker

st1979 wrote: »

I am same about 810. In reps and dep. and get sfp done. and i know others paying same all teagasc clients. is it acreage based or what. all of us are dairy farmers with 150acres or more. its way too much. I think i should get a rebate.

It must be area based. REPS is charged at the 50+ hectares rate for me. Looking back at the contract I have two advisors listed but all I ever see of them is when I go in to fill out the SFP and when we do the nitrates for REPS or when I go in to take soil samples. No farm visits worth mentioning.
Paying way too much for way too little:mad:

http://www.teagasc.ie/advisory/Advisory_Charges_March_2012.pdf

hugo29

Timmaay wrote: »

For me only starting out at this game, I see the Dep as free education, I really can't see myself having bothered to weight heifers or go out and measure grass this year other than having to do it as part of it, that was a great kick up the hole to get some of my priorities right!

but then again, its purely down to if you want to get anything other than the incentive payment outa it, I know afew who go and afterwards say its aload of rubbish.

i agree that it has been invaluable and I dont mind if the payment only covers the costs, its all about learning and improving

but €620 for REPS is in my opinion a rip off no matter what the size of farm involved, in the current climate that is a good weeks wages and do you think the planner spends a week on each individual client REPS plan

razor8

mines 525 incl vat, way too high for what i get, its based on acreage

i do the SFP myself online and he does the REPS and record sheets and visits to collect this info which is only visit each year


i must have a word with him this year