Suckler farmers participating in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) or their advisors now have access to amend the 2025 (year three) SCEP yearly reference number, should they wish to do so.

This can be done through the participants' AgFood account.

Participants in SCEP set their programme reference number at the application stage in the period March-June 2023.

This remains in place for the duration of the programme. However, as allowed for in the CAP Strategic Plan, participants can amend their yearly reference number each year of the programme during the amendment window.

Participants can reduce their 2025 yearly reference number by up to 20% of their 2024 yearly reference number.

Alternatively, participants can increase their 2025 yearly reference number by any number back up to their programme reference number set at application stage, where the farmer or their advisor had reduced their yearly reference number in 2023 and/or 2024.

Any changes made to the 2025 yearly reference number (either increases or decreases) will have an associated impact on the requirements/actions to be carried out by the participant and on the maximum payment that the participant will be eligible to draw down later in 2025.

Once an application to amend the 2025 yearly reference number is submitted online, no amendments can be made.

To avail of the maximum payment in 2025, participants must have at least enough determined eligible forage hectares under their 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application to match their 2025 maximum payable area (MPA), and ensure that they are fully compliant with all the eligibility requirements and actions under the programme.

Where a participant does not wish to amend their 2025 yearly reference number from their 2024 yearly reference number, then no action is required.

Their 2024 yearly reference number will automatically roll over to 2025 if no amendment is submitted.

The window to amend the 2025 yearly reference number is open until midnight on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.