Agricultural Consultants Association

What Agricultural Consultants Association does

The Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA), founded in 1979 and structured as a Company Limited by Guarantee (ACA Member Services CLG), is the sole representative body for private agricultural consultants and advisors in Ireland. The association aggregates a network of 165+ member offices operating across all 26 counties, employing approximately 280 Agricultural and Environmental professionals and a further 200 administrative and technical staff. According to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) statistics cited by ACA, the network provides independent advisory support and knowledge transfer services to over 55,000 Irish farmers and holds dominant market share across the principal government agricultural schemes: 80% of TAMS applications, 76% of Nutrient Management Plans and Nitrates Derogation applications, 58% of Basic Payment Scheme applications, 52% of Knowledge Transfer Programme groups, and approximately 70% of recent ACRES and Organic Farming Scheme applications.

Name

Agricultural Consultants Association

Legal name

ACA Member Services CLG

Website

https://aca.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) is the sole representative body for private agricultural consultants in Ireland, coordinating 165+ member offices employing ~480 professionals who serve 55,000+ farmers with scheme applications, farm planning, and environmental/forestry advisory services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Consulting Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Whole-Farm Business Management & Budgeting Advisory (AFACAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Supply Chain, Marketing & Contracting Advisory (Grain/Livestock Marketing) (AFACAJAH), Asset, Fleet & Maintenance Management Advisory (Equipment/Facilities) (AFACAJAJ), Farm Risk Management & Insurance Advisory (AFACAJAD)

Keywords

• Agricultural consulting services
• Farm advisory services
• Agricultural scheme applications
• Farm planning consultancy
• Forestry advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tralee

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: ACA members (private agricultural consultants) provide fee-based advisory services to farmers including farm planning, scheme applications, environmental consultancy, farm accounts, and technical advice. Revenue is generated through professional service fees charged to farmer clients.
2. Membership Fees: ACA operates as a professional association with member offices paying membership fees. Members must have minimum level 8 qualification, Professional Indemnity insurance, and comply with annual Continuous Professional Development requirements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACA is the sole representative body for private agricultural consultants and advisors in Ireland, providing professional farm advisory services through a nationwide network of 165+ member offices. Its offerings span environmental consultancy, EU and Irish government agricultural scheme applications (TAMS, ACRES, Basic Payment Scheme, Knowledge Transfer, Nutrient Management Plans), farm accounts and taxation, farm planning, farm management, technical advice, forestry consultancy, expert witness services, land valuations, laboratory analysis, and project management, supporting over 55,000 Irish farmers.

Product overview

The Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) is the sole representative body for private agricultural consultants and advisors in Ireland, operating as a professional association rather than a software product company. ACA provides a comprehensive portfolio of consulting services through its network of over 165 member offices employing approximately 280 agricultural and environmental professionals. The services include core offerings such as Environmental Consultancy, EU and Government Related Schemes, Farm Accounts and Taxation, Farm Planning, Farm Management, Farm Technical Advice, Forestry Consultancy, and Project Management. The organization also delivers specialized services in Organic Farming Advisory, Forestry Advisory, and ACRES Advisory, with associated educational events including Farm Walks, Webinars, and training materials. ACA is the largest provider of farm advisory services in Ireland, supporting over 55,000 Irish farmers across various agricultural schemes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Consultancy Environmental consultancy services including preparation of Environmental Impact Statements, integrated pollution control licence applications, waste management, planning, engineering and land surveying for dairy, drystock, bloodstock, tillage farmers and the wider industry.
• EU and Government Related Schemes Advisory Advisory and support services related to European Union and Government agricultural schemes including ACRES, TAMS, Basic Payment Scheme, Knowledge Transfer Programme, and Nutrient Management Plans.
• Farm Accounts and Taxation Full farm accounts service including advice on Income Tax, PAYE, VAT, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance and Gift Tax, with specialization in farm company and partnership structures and farm finance sourcing.
• Farm Buildings and Yards Layout and Planning Consultancy services for farm buildings and yards layout and planning.
• Farm Management and Consultancy Management strategies and consultancy services to keep farms productive and profitable, including advisory support for agricultural enterprises and environmental compliance.
• Farm Planning Whole Farm Planning services providing five-year-plus documents covering land and stock management, financial planning, capital expenditure, succession and estate planning.
• Farm Technical Advice Technical advisory services covering all areas of farming.
• Forestry Consultancy, Acquisitions, Planting and Management Forestry services including acquisitions, planting, management, and consultancy for farmers.
• Insurance Claims and Expert Witness Services Professional expert witness reports and business plans for dispute resolution and business assessments, including court attendance as expert witness in agricultural matters, for the legal profession, insurance companies, banks, and governmental authorities.
• Laboratory Analysis of Agricultural Products and Inputs Laboratory analysis services for agricultural products and inputs.
• Land Valuations Land valuation services.
• Project Management and New Business Set-Up Services Project management services for on-farm, farm-related and community rural development projects, including business plans, planning submissions, grant applications, and project delivery.
• Public Authority, Government and Local Government Land Acquisition Services Assessment and negotiation services for public authority, government and local government acquisition of lands and property.
• Organic Farming Advisory Services Specialized organic farming advisory services including Organic Farm Walks, Organic Newsletters, Organic Webinars, and support for organic scheme applications.
• Forestry Advisory Services Specialized forestry advisory including A-Z Forestry Guide, Forestry Farm Walks, Farm Forestry and Agroforestry Booklets, and Forestry Policy Papers.
• ACRES Advisory Services Advisory support for ACRES (Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme), Ireland's €1.5 billion flagship agri-environment scheme under CAP Strategic Plan, including video resources on tree planting, riparian zones, and NPI applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55,000+ farmers served with independent advisory support
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA members facilitate DAFM agricultural schemes including TAMS (80% of applications), Nutrient Management Plans (76%), Knowledge Transfer Programme (52%), and Basic Payment Scheme (58%). DAFM statistics confirm ACA's market share across these schemes.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IFAC (Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative): IFAC is an Irish farm-focused accounting and financial advisory co-op serving farmers with accounts, tax, and farm business services. It directly competes with ACA members' Farm Accounts and Taxation service line and serves a similar SMB farmer customer base across Ireland.
• Teagasc: Teagasc is Ireland's state-funded agricultural and food development authority, providing farm advisory, education, and research services to Irish farmers. It is ACA's most direct competitor in farm advisory, though publicly subsidized, and serves overlapping farmer segments across all 26 counties.

Others

• AgriLand: AgriLand is an Irish digital agricultural news and information platform covering farming news, scheme updates, and technical content. It serves the same Irish farmer audience as ACA and competes for farmer attention, though it is an information provider rather than an advisory services competitor.
• Bord Bia (Irish Food Board): Bord Bia is the Irish state agency promoting Irish food, drink, and horticulture exports and overseeing quality schemes. It is an adjacent ecosystem participant whose Origin Green and quality assurance programs intersect with ACA members' advisory work on sustainability and compliance.
• Irish Farmers' Association (IFA): The IFA is Ireland's principal farming representative body, advocating for farmer interests with government and EU bodies. While not an advisory provider, IFA's policy work directly shapes the CAP and DAFM scheme environment that drives ACA member demand.
• DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine): DAFM is the Irish government department administering all major agricultural schemes (TAMS, BPS, ACRES, Knowledge Transfer) that ACA members process applications for. It is the regulator and counterparty whose scheme design directly drives ACA's 55,000-farmer advisory demand.
• ICOS (Irish Co-operative Organisation Society): ICOS is the umbrella body representing Irish co-operatives across dairy, livestock, and rural services. While not directly an advisory provider, it shapes the policy and co-op landscape within which ACA member offices and their farmer clients operate.

Regional players

• FRS Network (Farm Relief Services): FRS Network is an Irish farmer-owned co-operative providing farm relief, forestry, fencing, and rural services across Ireland. It overlaps with ACA on forestry and farm labour support services and shares the same Irish farmer customer base.

Emerging players

• Organic Trust: Organic Trust is Ireland's other main organic certification body, employing ACA Organic Specialist Julian Pawlowski as Certification Manager. It overlaps with ACA's organic farm advisory line and serves the same Irish organic and transitioning farmer segment.
• Irish Organic Association (IOA): The IOA is one of Ireland's two main organic certification bodies and provides organic training and certification services. It overlaps with ACA's Organic Specialist advisory services (Mary Lynch serves as a part-time IOA inspector) and shares the same Irish organic farmer customer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aca_services
• Facebookfacebook.com/agriculturalconsultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Agricultural Consultants Association