SCEP eligibility issues for farmers arising from new ICBF index addressed 

These flexibilities allow a farmer to buy a SCEP-eligible animal from a non-SCEP herd and assist them in meeting actions one or two of the scheme, helping a farmer remain in compliance and protecting their payments.

Referring to the new changes, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said: "The work carried out by farmers to improve the genetic merit of the national herd has made our suckler herd world leading." Picture: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie

"Additional flexibility" within the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) has been announced by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. 

Under the new arrangements, bulls genotyped as 4- or 5-star on the September 2023 ICBF evaluation, which are no longer 4- or 5-star following the index changes on November 28, 2023, will be considered SCEP eligible in the context of action one in SCEP (eligible bull).