Private farm advisor cost

Farmer2024

Hi all,

I'm a young part time farmer and have completed my green cert. I have a herd number and approx 20 acers that I have some beef cattle on but am not in any scheme/getting any subs etc (I do not have any entitlements).

I tried to join Teagasc to get an advisor but was told they are not accepting clients.

I want to apply for BISS for the 20 acers and any other suitable schemes, if I were to get a private advisor is there anything I should be looking for in terms of qualifications and what roughly do you think it would cost?

Thanks,

Farmer2024

Siamsa Sessions

Re costs: check the Teagasc published charges - https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/about/farm-advisory/teagasc_advisory_charges_summary_Sept_2023-v1.pdf

It'll give you a ballpark figure.

Re qualifications of advisor: Maybe formal qualifications matter, but I'd be looking more for how experienced he or she is, and how easy it is to talk to him/her. Others will have a different view, but advisors to me are about paperwork and schemes. There's plenty "how to" knowledge freely available online and there's a world of it on this forum here. Just ask.

lmk123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058344656/private-farm-advisor-cost

well you’re off to a good start anyway by avoiding Teasgasc, maybe put up what part of the country you’re in and somebody will PM you a suggestion, I did exactly that 18 months ago and got a very good advisor, I’d rather plant trees or burn the farm before I’d ever deal with Teasgasc again. Regarding costs mine is €340 / year, I’d advise you to go with someone good for a year or 2 just to get set up properly, after that you might be able to do it yourself.

epfff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121967028#Comment_121967028

Plus 1 on burn the place before I'd go back near Teagasc. No accountability represents everything wrong with civil service.

I have guy easy work with in the west if want name no pm me

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121967098#Comment_121967098

Civil service has no idea how hard people have to work nowadays.

Westmeath Co Council are after ''mislaying'' half a million euros since the new year ….. there'll probably be no accountability about that too.

You couldn't make it up

Water John

More farmers are now clients of private advisors than Teagasc. That tells a lot.

Water John

https://aca.ie/

Didn't stick

massey 265

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121967098#Comment_121967098

I agree on steering clear of Teagasc advisors.I was leasing some entitlements from a teagasc client last week and i coudnt believe how clueless his teagasc advisor was when it came to completing the paper work on leasing the entitlements.As a rule entitlements are 50% of biss value to lease and this teagasc buck was calculating them as 50% of biss plus eco plus criss value making them twice the price.Teagasc guy also hadnt informed his client that a 20 % clawback will be in play for anyone selling entitlements next year.Mad stuff.

Siamsa Sessions

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121967211#Comment_121967211

The standard required in the civil service, including Teagasc, is “sure, do your best”. They shrug their shoulders then at 4.30pm and head for home.

The private advisor has to work to a higher standard and is accountable when something goes wrong. His reputation and the roof over his head depend on it.

There will be exceptions at individual level but it’s a completely different mindset and attitude towards the farmer

mr.stonewall

Have a chat with a few locals around and a few names of a few independent advisors could be drawn up. A quick chat with local mart or auctioneers could put you on the right track as some of these would be dealing with land transfers, leases trading of entitlements.

+1 for going with an independent advisor

Water John

There are private advisors that also offer specialist services. Some might specialise in maximising your payments. That may be more important, considering your acreage. Heard of a guy recently in my part of the country, who specialises in getting you and your farm, ready for Bord Bia inspection. Depending on the quality of the land and your own interests, 20 acres might mean looking at some alt enterprise, eg pedigree breeding.

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121968411#Comment_121968411

It's not good enough that those with that attitude aren't thrown out on their ears. There's a local nurse here that only goes to work less than half the time and I believe that even when she's there she only does harm, also our last Teagasc sheep advisor wouldn't hold meeting or run the discussion group resulting in it being dissolved now. public servants are wasting more money now than ever and the politicians having to take the blame. we're a sad country because of them now.

As someone said here The politicians are only passing through but the rot is here all the time

Farmer2024

Thanks for all the feedback guys, that is really useful. I didn't realise that so many people used private advisors although I suppose reading many of the replies it makes sense.

I'm based in North Meath if anybody has any recommendations I'd really appreciate it.

Seadin

I would never deal with Teagasc again after my experience. A Teagasc advisor did my application for my entitlements in 2022 after a herd number transfer. He made a mistake on one of my parcels of land and I lost €750 as a result. I never spotted it until it was too late. When I tried to resolve the issue with the department and Teagasc both gave me the two fingers. The department saying the deadline was gone and when I discussed the issue with the teagasc advisor and regional manager I wad told where to go. I won't read any articles that Teagasc write going forward. Half of them don't know their arse from their elbow. Just useless. I have a private advisor now and he is A1.

lmk123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121972286#Comment_121972286

they’re an absolute joke, I almost lost out on getting any entitlements only I double and treble checked what he was saying, a few months after that I spent 9 weeks trying to get an answer to a phone call / emails / call back to a very simple query, I emailed him in the end telling him what I thought of the service, he went frantic, was well able to call and email then and even call to the house when I ignored him the way he ignored me. They told 2 friends of mine before Christmas to go to a private Advisor to do the ACRES application because they didn’t have time to do it, 2 Teasgasc advisors from the same office rang me that same week asking if I wanted them to do my application even though I left them 12 months previous. They’re a law to themselves, best thing I’ve done since taking over the farm is leaving them.

Nobbies

Anyone know what has to be done to change your advisor to another one to act as your agent with department.

epfff

Very little

It's an option on agfood just change there. The new advisor will do it in 30 seconds.

Lime Tree Farm

If I'm remembering correctly, we had to finform teagasc that we were moving from them to the new agent. I think the new agent requested same, but it's been a while ago.

lmk123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121977422#Comment_121977422

I didn’t inform them when I moved anyway, although I would have with a smile on my face if I had to.

Farmer2024

Thanks for all the advice guys, very useful - I emailed a few of the local guys on the official list but didn't get any response. I got a recommendation through a friend of a friend and got taken on straight away. I'm happy with what I'm getting and don't think I'll bother trying to get in with Teagasc in the future.

Farmer2024

Hi guys,

Thanks again for the advice.

I found somebody and got my application in and got the first ANC payment recently which was great.

Just out of curiosity, my bill came to approx €700 euro incl vat for applying for BISS, ECO, CRISS, ANC, and Young Farmers for a first time application on about 25 acres.

I met the advisor for an hour and received a follow up call to clarify some points from them.

€700 seemed more than I was expecting (although was glad to get it done) - what do you guys think is it about right or on the expensive side?

Lime Tree Farm

To me it seems very high - unless you had a lot of meetings and a farm visit. For comparison a link to Teagasc advisory charges.

https://www.teagasc.ie/about/farm-advisory/advisory-services/advisory-charges/

Tileman

that seems very high. Would expect to pay around 250€ for that. You can do all that applying yourself online. It’s really very simple now that your set up on the system.

Farmer2024

Thanks, I think it's high too.

I suppose I don't have a choice now post fact but will request a quote next year in advance and potentially do it myself if subsequent years will be similar.

Lime Tree Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122648166#Comment_122648166

I'd go for Teagasc, their basic charge is based on numbers in the herd. Plus you get all their advisory leaflets, Today's Farm magazine and invites to farm walks etc