Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has announced that participants in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) now have access to amend their 2026 yearly reference number if they wish to do so.

Participants in SCEP set their programme reference number at application stage in the period March to June 2023, and this remains in place for the duration of the programme.

However, participants can amend their yearly reference number each year of the programme during the amendment window.

The window to amend 2026 yearly reference numbers is open from today (Thursday, January 22) until 23.59p.m on February 12.

Participants can reduce their 2026 yearly reference number by up to 20% of their 2025 yearly reference number.

Alternatively, participants can increase their 2026 yearly reference number by any number back up to their programme reference number set at application stage, where the farmer or their advisor had amended their yearly reference number in 2023, 2024 or 2025.

Any changes made to the 2026 yearly reference number (either increases or decreases) will have an associated impact on the requirements and actions to be carried out by the participant and on the maximum payment that the participant will be eligible to draw down later in 2026.

Once an application to amend the 2026 yearly reference number is submitted online, no amendments can be made.

Farmers who suspect, or know now, that not enough of their cows are going to calve by June 30 to meet the minimum 50% calving down requirement of their 2025 yearly reference number are advised to reduce their 2026 yearly reference number to allow for that.

Failure to do so could result in removal from SCEP and clawback of any monies already received under the programme.

To avail of the maximum payment in 2026, participants must have at least enough determined eligible forage hectares under their 2026 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application to match their 2026 maximum payable area (MPA), and ensure that they are fully compliant with all the eligibility requirements and actions under the programme.

Where a participant does not wish to amend their 2026 yearly reference number from their 2025 yearly reference number, then no action is required.

Their 2025 yearly reference number will automatically roll over to 2026, if no amendment is submitted.

Minister Heydon commented: "I am pleased to advise that the facility is now open for SCEP participants to amend their 2026 yearly reference number on their Agfood account.

"This flexibility supports famers who wish to alter their commitments under the programme requirements to meet their individual needs or changing circumstances," the minister added.