The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) closed for applications on May 22, with over 20,000 farmers applying to join the programme.

One of the eligibility conditions of the SCEP, as set by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), is that participants must also become certified member of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) by October 16, 2023.

Speaking about this requirement, Damien Murray, Origin Green producer liaison and co-ordinator, said: “Bord Bia anticipates that 40% of SCEP applicants are not currently certified to SBLAS.

"This means the farmer needs to have applied to join SBLAS, undergone the audit, and achieved certification before that date.

"This process can take up to three months. Applicants to SCEP that have not yet made contact with Bord Bia need to act now, in order to register and arrange their audit as soon as possible.”

Bord Bia operates a helpdesk for farmers, which is open Monday to Friday, 9:00a.m to 8:00p.m. The helpdesk will take applications, explain the requirements of the SBLAS, and help farmers prepare for the audit.

Damien continued: “The purpose of the audit is to monitor standards, not to penalise farmers.

"The vast majority of farmers pass their audit without any issues being raised on the day. The audit is arranged at a time and date that suits both the farmer and the auditor, giving the farmer plenty of notice and time to prepare.”

The audit verifies the standards required in SBLAS. During the audit, the auditor will inform the farmer if any area does not comply with the requirements of the standard. Any issues identified as non-conformances are explained by the auditor.

The farmer has a period of up to 28 days to provide evidence of corrective action to fix any non-conformances found and ‘closeout’ the audit.

This closeout approach means that a farmer will not fail on the day of audit if issues arise. For example, if the auditor observed an unfenced lagoon, they would request a photo of that same lagoon made safe within 28 days.

“Farmers can text, email or post evidence to the helpdesk who will assist with closeout or farmers can closeout themselves by logging onto farm.bordbia.ie," Damien added.

"Farmers can also nominate a representative such as a son or daughter, or neighbour, who can assist them during this process, which helps those who may not be able to do so themselves."

How to join:

Call 01 524 0410 to speak to the helpdesk;
The Helpdesk will take your application over the phone;
You will receive a member pack containing: The SBLAS Standard, i.e. the requirements of SBLAS; a Farm Usage Book to help you document animal remedies records, feed etc; an audit checklist; information on ‘closing out’ your audit (if any issues arise);
The auditor will contact you to choose a suitable time and date for your audit.

Steps involved in the audit:

The Bord Bia auditor contacts you to arrange a date and time that is convenient for you;
The audit begins with a brief opening meeting, requesting your consent to be audited. You will sign an opening declaration;
Next, the auditor inspects your herd for general stock health, welfare and tagging requirements;
Your farm infrastructure – yard, pens, sheds etc. – are inspected to ensure they are reasonably neat, tidy and fit for purpose;
The auditor will access if there is any pollution or environmental risks or any safety hazards;
Next, the auditor will ask to see your farm documents. For new applicants, all records required under the scheme must have been correctly maintained for a period of at least six months prior to the audit;
The audit ends with a closing meeting in which the auditor will inform you of any issues that need to be corrected, if applicable. You will be asked to sign an exit declaration. Before final certification, an inspection report goes to the inspection body;
On successful completion of the audit you receive your certification letter via post and your Farmer Feedback Report with your carbon footprint.

Farm documents required:

Herd register and dispatch dockets;
Animal remedy purchase and usage records;
Animal Health Plan;
Feed Purchase Records;
Pesticide Usage;
Farm Safety Risk Assessment;
A Sustainability Survey (this can be completed online at farm.bordbia.ie or you can over the phone with the Helpdesk).

For further information, click here.