A number of suckler farmers who are participating in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) have contacted Agriland to express their concerns regarding the level of difficulty of the SCEP training.
SCEP participants are required to complete mandatory SCEP training. This action can be completed by attending one of the in-person training events or by completing the training online.
The courses can be completed in one day or over different days but must be fully completed by November 15, 2024.
Some of the suckler farmers who completed the SCEP training at home have told Agriland that the layout of the course is challenging for farmers who may not be overly ‘tech savvy’ and that the structure of the exam at the end of each module makes the modules very difficult to successfully complete.
The Irish Farmers’ Association’s (IFA’s) livestock committee chairperson Declan Hanrahan has advised farmers to have the scheme terms and conditions read in advance of the training or on hand when completing the course.
He said: “There’s some farmers who have had found it difficult to complete and other farmers have had to get a family member or a friend to assist them with completing the training.”
Where attending the in-person training, farmers must register in advance and be in attendance for the full duration of the in-person training, which will last approximately five hours, including signing in and out of the training.
The table below includes the times and locations of some of the upcoming in-person training events:
Venue Date Start time End time Ennis: Treacy’s West County Hotel, Limerick Road Wednesday, November 6 9.30am 2.30pm Bantry: The Maritime Hotel, The Quay Thursday,
November 79.30am 2.30pm Killarney: The Brehon Hotel, Muckross Road Friday,
November 89.30am 2.30pm Carrick On Shannon: The Bush Hotel, Main Street Monday,
November 119.30am 2.30pm Tuam: Ard Ri Hotel, Milltown Road Tuesday,
November 129.30am 2.30pm Navan: Ardboyne Hotel, Dublin Road Wednesday, November 13 9.30am 2.30pm
According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), failure to attend the training courses by November 15, 2024 will result in removal from the programme and monies paid under the programme will be recouped.
According to figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), as of Thursday, October 24, just over 3,000 suckler herds participating in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) have yet to record eligible cow and calf weights as part of the scheme.
The ICBF has encouraged scheme participants to complete the course “as soon as possible”.