The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) closed for applications on 22 May with over 20,000 farmers applying to join. One of the conditions for getting the SCEP money, as set by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is that participants must also become certified members of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) by 16 October 2023.

However, Bord Bia estimated that 40% of SCEP applicants are not currently certified to SBLAS. These 8,000 herds will need to be certified before the 16 October deadline in order to qualify for the SCEP.

The good news is that there is still just about enough time for farmers to get into SBLAS but action to join needs to be taken immediately. The whole process can take up to three months so any farmer who has applied to the suckler scheme, who isn’t already a member of SBLAS, needs to make contact with Bord Bia immediately.

While the process may seem like hassle for farmers who are not among the tens of thousands who are already members, in reality it is quite straightforward.

Keep reading on for a step-to-step guide to making an application.

Inspection and closeout

The purpose of the audit is to check that the farm meets the SBLAS standard, not to look for issues or to find fault.

The vast majority of farmers pass their audit without any issues being raised on the day. During the audit, the auditor will inform the farmer if any areas do not comply with the requirements of the standard. Any issues identified as non-conformances are explained by the auditor.

The farmer then has a period of up to 28 days to provide evidence of corrective action to fix any non-conformances found and “closeout” the audit. This closeout approach means that a farmer will not fail on the day of audit if issues arise. For example, if the auditor observed an unfenced lagoon, they would request a photo of that same lagoon made safe within 28 days.

Farmers can text, email or post evidence to the Bord Bia helpdesk (01 5240410) who will assist with closeout. Farmers can also closeout themselves by logging on to the Bord Bia Farm Portal (farm.bordbia.ie). A farmer can also nominate a representative such as a son or daughter, or neighbour, who can assist them during this process, which helps those who may not be able to do so themselves.

How to join

The Bord Bia helpdesk is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm. The helpdesk will take applications, explain the requirements of the SBLAS, and help farmers prepare for the audit.

1. Call 01 524 0410 to speak to the helpdesk.

2. The helpdesk will take your application over the phone.

3. You will receive a member pack containing:

  • The SBLAS standard, ie the requirements of SBLAS.
  • A farm usage book to help you document animal remedies records, feed, etc.
  • An audit checklist.
  • Information on ‘closing out’ your audit (if any issues arise).

    • 4. The auditor will contact you to choose a suitable time and date for your audit.

    Farm documents required

  • Herd register and dispatch dockets.
  • Animal remedy purchase and usage records.
  • Animal health plan.
  • Feed purchase records.
  • Pesticide usage.
  • Farm safety risk assessment.
  • A Sustainability Survey (this can be completed online at farm.bordbia.ie or you can complete it over the phone with the helpdesk).

    • Market benefits

    The number of farmers participating in the Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme has grown steadily in recent years, from approximately 40,000 10 years ago to over 54,000 as of this year.

    As a result of the SBLAS, the Irish beef sector has secured access to over 100 of the EU’s top retail and food service customers, who will only buy beef which is quality-assured.

    In international markets, SBLAS is valuable in securing market access, while also providing reassurances to customers around traceability, quality and sustainability.

    Membership of SBLAS qualifies the beef to meet the highest specifications and sell in the highest value beef markets in the UK, EU and beyond.

    Member supports

    Bord Bia provides free resources to farmer members to help them to farm more sustainably and efficiently. These include the Farmer Feedback Report, which is available to beef and dairy farmers following their audit, and the Farm Sustainability Learning Hub.

    The feedback report is an individual farm sustainability report provided to members after the audit. The report can be used as an optional farm management tool and includes the following information:

  • Your farm’s carbon footprint.
  • Your farm’s grass-fed calculation.
  • The percentage share of farm carbon emissions, as a result of different farm activities.
  • Advice on how to reduce farm emissions.
  • Graphs and tables summarising farm management activity.

    • The Farm Sustainability Learning Hub provides optional, free, short, online modules across a range of sustainability topics such as water quality, soil health, greenhouse gases and farmland biodiversity.

    More than 6,000 farmers have already signed up for the hub, which was recently awarded Best Sustainability Initiative at the National Dairy Awards.