More than 50,000 farmers in the Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme are due for re-audit and will be audited to the revised Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme.

Ahead of the audit, farmers are being asked to complete a sustainability survey.

Answers will not influence the outcome of your audit, but Bord Bia has confirmed that farmers are required to complete the survey to be considered for certification.

Each question on the survey relates to a specific section of the Sustainable Beef, Lamb or Dairy Assurance Schemes.

The auditor will use this form to formally record the information afterwards, off-farm, reducing audit time.

Questions on the survey include manure spreading details, predominant sheep feeding regimes and water use on the farm.

Fertiliser use, pesticide use and economic sustainability are all also included in the survey.

To complete the survey, farmers are advised to:

  • Base all your answers on the last calendar year.
  • Complete all sections prior to audit.
  • For existing members, some sections may be pre-filled based on information provided at the last audit. If correct then no action is required.
  • If information is no longer accurate, farmers are asked to use a blue pen and correct where necessary.

    • Background to sustainability survey

    The survey was introduced by Bord Bia in 2011 to gather information in relation to the sustainability performance of member farmers.

    This information can be used in conjunction with the Bord Bia/Teagasc Carbon Navigator to set targets to increase efficiencies on a farm.

    The sustainability survey also allows a carbon footprint to be generated for each participating farm.

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