Farmers, vets agree on fees
Vets have now agreed to go ahead with the issue of certificates to farmers, accepting that payment will be made by the farmer directly to the vet.
Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh has said a new round of herd certification will proceed this month, after Veterinary Ireland’s decision to participate. But farming organisations continued to strongly oppose any national charge or levy for the scheme, and insisted on direct negotiations between the farmer and his vet on fees, independent of the Department of Agriculture.
Dairy also insist that vets carry out certification during the annual herd test, at or for a nominal fee.
But vets originally wanted a set fee for the certification to be centrally collected by the Department, and were understood to have proposed a mechanism for this to the Department.
The Dairy Herd Cert has been extremely controversial since it was first introduced almost five years ago. Some vets insisted on a flat rate fee plus a fee per animal inspected.
Others charged only a nominal flat rate, and some didn’t charge at all for certification.
Jackie Cahill, Deputy President, ICMSA, said, “We would be totally opposed to another levy on farmers to pay for the Dairy Herd Certification. It is a matter for negotiation between the farmer and his vet.”
