The Green Cert - A course with many benefits
Type Media Article
By Brendan Garry, Teagasc Ballinrobe
Students are in a fortunate position nowadays with many routes and course options in the area of Agricultural Education. One of the most popular courses that farmers enrol on is commonly known as the Green Cert and such courses are available nationwide through the network of Teagasc Regional Education Centres, Agricultural Colleges and other providers.
Within Teagasc and its network of providers, there are three options available to students wishing to complete the Green Cert.
- Full time two year course in Agricultural Colleges across Ireland;
- A Part-time option available to over 23 year olds;
- A Distance Education option available for students who hold a level 6 or higher non-Agricultural Award.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the completion of the Green Cert course meets the training requirements of qualified trained farmers for the purposes of current Revenue and Department of Agriculture (DAFM) schemes.
The benefits of completing the Green Cert are numerous. Throughout the course, participants will be exposed to the latest farming methods and technologies to equip young trained farmers to successfully run and manage their farming enterprises. Furthermore there are many financial benefits to completing the course, including potential exemption from stamp duty if the qualified farmer is under the age of 35 at the time of the farm transfer or property purchase and fulfils all other requirements.
Under TAMS 3, there is a suite of schemes and measures that young trained farmers may be eligible to achieve for the first five years of their farming career up to the age of 40 subject to fulfilling the various terms and conditions. Furthermore under TAMS, a measure known as the Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme provides an incentive to women farmers to upgrade their agricultural buildings and equipment by providing them with an increased level of support to meet the considerable capital costs with establishing their enterprises. The scheme is open to farmers aged 18 to 67 years of age. Any women farmers who were named on the herdnumber and submitted a 2022 BPS will not require an agricultural qualification however if it was after 2022 an agricultural qualification will be required.
Young qualified farmers can also avail of financial incentives under the National Reserve (NR) and the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF scheme). One common requirement is that the agricultural education element must be completed prior to application.
Education is a key consideration when planning the transfer of the family farm. Other financial benefits from completing the course include assisting applicants to meet criteria for a range of taxation measures including enhanced stock relief, consanguinity relief and for agricultural relief. Furthermore a requirement of the Succession Farm Partnership tax credit is that agricultural education has been completed by the successor.
These reliefs can have a major impact on tax liability at the time of farm transfers. Farm transfers are complex processes involving a number of stakeholders and we recommend discussing your situation with your Accountant, Solicitor and Farm Advisor at your earliest opportunity. Booking has now opened for the Teagasc Transferring the Family Farm clinic being held in Knockranny House Hotel, Westport which takes place on the 9th October starting at 10 am and further details on this event can be got on www.teagasc.ie.
Whichever course option suits your requirements, students who complete the Teagasc Green Cert course are introduced to a wide range of farming issues, they visit top performing farms and carry out a range of husbandry tasks throughout the course whilst developing friendships which last for life.
Variables such as farm size, student-farmer age, and time spent farming along with duration of official farming career, plus other factors all impact the extent to which students can benefit from the Green Cert qualification so consult with your advisor or consultant if in doubt. Further details on these DAFM schemes and TAMS measures can be accessed on www.agriculture.gov.ie
Teagasc Mayo are hosting a Green Cert information meeting in Balla Resource Centre, Balla, Co Mayo (F23 A303) on Friday 20th at 7.30pm. On the night information will be provided to attendees on the various course options available locally here in Co Mayo. Attendees will hear about the many benefits of completing the course. These courses are expected to start in the Autumn/Winter of 2024 and for more information please contact Teagasc Ballinrobe on (094) 9541125 or e-mail cora.owens@teagasc.ie. Alternatively please contact your nearest Teagasc Advisory Office or Agricultural College for more information on Agricultural Education courses or check out www.teagasc.ie. Be sure to visit the Teagasc stand on Block 2, Row 12, Stand 201 at the National Ploughing Championships in Laois if attending this year’s event.