The livestock chair of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA), Michael O'Connell has welcomed the provision of additional Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) in-person training events.
Six additional in-person training events to facilitate farmers who cannot complete SCEP training online have been confirmed by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.
The events will take place in Ennis, Bantry, Killarney, Carrick On Shannon, Tuam and Navan. Attendees must register in advance by contacting the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
O'Connell said the announcement by the minister recognises areas which are predominantly farmed by suckler farmers who are now being facilitated "where they were not in the previous allocation of training courses".
"Our members in certain areas in the west of Ireland had contacted us voicing their concern that they were not facilitated by these training courses, as they were either too far away or they had [no internet access] to complete the course online," he said.
While welcoming the additional provision of in-person training events, the ICMSA livestock chair also issued a reminder for other important SCEP "core requirements".
He reminded farmers that whether they are completing training online or attending in-person events, they must have their training completed by Friday, November 15, to avoid removal from SCEP and loss of any payments already received.
O'Connell also urged suckler farmers who have yet to weigh their cows and calves as part of the weighing core action that it must be carried out and submitted to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) by Friday, November 1.
The weighing component is worth 20% of the yearly payment. Herd owners should ensure cows and calves are weighed on the same day, and weighing must be done before the calf is weaned, the ICMSA livestock chair said.
"Weighing of calves will also give farmers an indication of performance at farm level, the live value of their stock, and allow them to make decisions as to whether sell in the ‘red hot’ autumn weanling sales or as stores in the spring or graze next summer," he added.
The genotyping deadline under SCEP is Wednesday, November 30. Genomic samples will not be accepted after November 30 of each year of the scheme.
The number of animals to be genotyped each year will be at least equivalent to 70% of the SCEP participant's yearly reference number. These animals will be selected by ICBF and the herdowner will be notified, he said.
O’Connell advised farmers to complete the required task within the dates required, but also said the DAFM needs to "keep the closing dates under review and show flexibility if required".