Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP)

About this scheme

SCEP aims to improve the environmental sustainability and genetic merit of Ireland's national suckler herd, building on gains from the earlier Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP). Each applicant's Maximum Payable Area (MPA) is set using their best 3 years of eligible suckler cow numbers from 2016-2021 (averaged, then divided by 1.5 — e.g. a reference number of 10 gives an MPA of 6.66 ha); this reference number can be reduced but not increased once set. To qualify, an applicant must be 18 or over, hold an active herd number with Herd Owner Status, submit a yearly BISS application declaring all land parcels, have been an SBLAS member before 16 October 2023, calve at least 50% beef breed animals of their reference number each scheme year, and complete a mandatory SCEP training course and animal handling course. Participants must deliver 5 main actions annually (bull/AI selection, female replacement strategy, genotyping, weighing with ICBF submission, and calving details/surveys). Applications are made online via agfood.ie, directly or through an approved FAS advisor.

Who can apply

• Applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date the application for participation is submitted
• Must be the holder of an active herd number with Herd Owner Status (Herd Keeper status is not acceptable)
• Must be farming a holding for which a valid BISS application is submitted yearly, with all land parcels declared
• Must have been a member of SBLAS before 16 October 2023 and continued participation for the duration of the programme
• Must calve at least 50% beef breed animals of the yearly reference number between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023, and every scheme year thereafter
• Must attend the mandatory SCEP training course and an animal handling course (stated deadline: 15 November 2024); failure to complete the online training results in removal from the programme and full recoupment of payments received to date
• Payment is €225 per hectare for the first 15 hectares and €180 per hectare for the remainder up to the applicant's Maximum Payable Area (MPA); full payment requires forage area matching the MPA, with payment scaled down if forage area is 80-99% of the MPA

How to apply

1. 1Register for the Department's online services at agfood.ie if not already registered.
2. 2Submit the SCEP application online via agfood.ie, either yourself or through an approved FAS advisor authorised to act on your behalf, within the application window (stated as opening 20 March 2023 and closing 23:59 on 22 May 2023, with late applications accepted for 25 days subject to a 1% per working day payment deduction in the first programme year only).
3. 3Complete the mandatory online SCEP training course and an animal handling course by the required deadline.
4. 4Deliver the programme's 5 main actions each scheme year: Action 1 (Eligible Bull/Eligible AI), Action 2 (Female Replacement Strategy), Action 3 (Genotyping), Action 4 (Weighing and Submission of Weights to ICBF), and Action 5 (Calving Details and Surveys).
5. 5Ensure sufficient determined eligible forage hectares are declared under your annual BISS application to match your Maximum Payable Area (MPA), to receive full payment directly to your bank account.