Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. today announced that “the deadline for applications under advisor registration of Knowledge Transfer Groups would be extended until 11 September”.  He added that “Department approved facilitators should register their proposed Knowledge Transfer Groups on the Department’s on-line facility for the dairy, beef and equine sectors”.

Knowledge Transfer is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and will involve the formation and administration of knowledge transfer groups across a range of sectors.  Funding of €100m under the Rural Development Programme has been allocated for 27,000 farmers participating for 3 years in Knowledge Transfer Groups across the dairy, beef, equine, sheep, tillage and poultry sectors.

The measure is co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The on-line registration process provides the opportunity for DAFM approved facilitators to apply to run dairy, beef and equine Knowledge Transfer Groups. Minister Coveney said that “since the registration process opened, interest levels in the Knowledge Programme has been considerable”. This he added “reflects the intent of advisors and farmers alike to improve on-farm profitability and sustainability through farmer meetings run by advisors and involving the exchange of information and best practices”.

Minister Coveney added that “facilitators and vets will also assist participating farmers in the completion of a tailored Farm Improvement Plan that will address issues such as profitability, sustainability, animal health and welfare and farm safety.” Detailed scheme conditions are available on the Department’s website at

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/knowledgetransferprogramme/

Note for Editors:

The Knowledge Transfer Group application process will result in the approval of advisors to run Knowledge Transfer Groups under the sectors for which they have successfully applied. Following the approval of advisors detailed Scheme Terms and Conditions will be made available and farmers will, at that stage, be able to contact approved advisors from a list published on the Department’s website with the intention of joining a group to participate in Knowledge Transfer. The full Terms and Conditions and list of approved advisors will be made available as soon as possible after the 11^th September closing date for the receipt of Knowledge Transfer Group applications. Farmer information meetings will also be held at this time.

View Press Release as a PDF:  DAFMPR 146/2015 (pdf 413Kb) 

Date Released: 14 August 2015