The aim of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme is to provide support to beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of their herd, and overall, the national beef herd to help Ireland achieve its climate action targets.
The scheme aims to do this by improving the genetics of the Irish suckler herd and reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of beef production.
The scheme aims to build on previous schemes like the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP).
This structure of the scheme will consist of two measures, Measure A and Measure B, operating over a 5-year contract. Note: A suckler farmer can only be in either Measure A, or B.
Measure A will be for those participants who participated in the Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP) on the 1st of June 2021 and Measure B will be for those participants who were not previously in BDGP, or where they were participating in BDGP and were not in BDGP on 1st of June 2021.
Participants in both Measure A and Measure B will have to complete 4 mandatory actions to complete within each year of the Scheme. These actions include ensuring a replacement strategy is in place, data recording, weighing, and genotyping. However, participants can opt to select two complementary actions, if they so wish.
Note: Complementary actions must also be carried out each year by the participant.
The complementary actions are the same for Measure A and B. These actions are forage quality and faecal egg testing.
Given the scope of farm deaths caused by livestock on Irish farms, every participant will be required to complete a half day livestock handling course before the end of year 2.
To participate in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme scheme applicants must:
- Have submitted an online BISS application in a reference year and continue to submit an online BISS applications on which all their lands are declared for the duration of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme.
- Have beef breed animals born annually in the herd in each scheme year of the measure.
- Be a member of Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme.
Financial Support
When open, applicants will be presented with their suckler cow calving data from 2016 to 2021. The best three years from which an average is given, and this will be the scheme reference figure for the participant. In the case of young farmers or farmers with no data from 2016 to 2021, they will be regarded as ‘new entrants’ and applicants will provide a target figure for 2023 at the application stage.
If a farmer has previously participated in the previous BDGP scheme, then there will be scope to reduce numbers without penalty to the farmer. Where a farmer reduces their Suckler Cow numbers, this lower number will now become their new Reference Number for each year of the scheme, and they will be paid on the lower number going forward. The Reference Number may only be revised downwards and not upwards.