SCEP mandatory training course deadline November 15 2024
Are you one of the over 5,000 Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) participants yet to complete the mandatory training element? Beef Specialist at Teagasc, Catherine Egan reminds farmers of the upcoming deadline to have training completed and the implications of non-adherence.
As part of SCEP, participants are required to complete the mandatory online training course on programme actions and animal handling by November 15, 2024.
Failure to complete the course by November 15, 2024 will render participants ineligible to remain in the programme and monies received will have to be repaid. Completion of all the course modules will be verified by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
With the November 15 deadline looming, over 5,000 participants have yet to complete the course and are at risk of the monies received having to be paid back and thus becoming ineligible to remain in the programme.
Course material
The course consists of a brief explainer video and seven online course modules. The course is accessible online using the pin number provided in the information letter being issued by post by the Department over the coming days. This will also be accessible through the Agfood accounts of SCEP participants. The Department is reminding farmers that they do need a valid e-mail address to gain access to the training material.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has also organised a further and final series of in-person SCEP training events. Details of which are contained within table 1 below.
Table 1: Locations and dates of in-person SCEP training events
| Venue | Date | Start time | End time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ennis – Treacy’s West County Hotel, Limerick Road | Wednesday, 06 November | 9.30am | 2.30pm |
| Bantry – The Maritime Hotel, The Quay | Thursday, 07 November | 9.30am | 2.30pm |
| Killarney – The Brehon Hotel, Muckross Road | Friday, 08 November | 9.30am | 2.30pm |
| Carrick On Shannon – The Bush Hotel, Main Street | Monday, 11 November | 9.30am | 2.30pm |
| Tuam – Ard Ri Hotel, Milltown Road | Tuesday, 12 November | 9.30am | 2.30pm |
| Navan – Ardboyne Hotel, Dublin Road | Wednesday, 13 November | 9.30am | 2.30pm |
Registration
To attend any of the above, farmers must register in advance with the Department and be in attendance for the full duration of the in-person training, which will last approximately five hours. SCEP participants cannot nominate someone to attend in their place and must bring photo ID with them to verify their attendance.
To register to attend one of the in-person training events or raise queries on any aspect of SCEP or SCEP training, participants should email: scep@agriculture.gov.ie or call the DAFM Helpdesk at 057 8674422.
Farmers can also complete the training online through DAFM’s SCEP Learning Portal.
Also read: Staying SCEP compliant to maximise your payments
Diary date - Teagasc National Beef Conference
The Teagasc National Beef Conference 2024 takes place on Tuesday, 19 November at 5pm in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 N9W4.
The theme of the conference is 'Sustainable Beef Farming: Pathways to a greener future'