A new Teagasc proposal could require part-time farmers to do more work in order to achieve the Green Cert and become a certified trained farmer.

If the proposal is passed, such farmers will have to earn more credits and increase their study time by 25% in order to obtain the Green Cert. Teagasc has proposed that the Level 6 Advanced Cert in Agriculture should become the new minimum education qualification for trained farmer status.

Currently, farmers who complete the Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farming, known as the Green Cert, qualify for this status.

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There is no proposal to increase fees arising from the change, according to Department of Agriculture documents seen by the Irish Farmers Journal, and current Green Cert holders who have achieved trained farmer status would not be impacted.

The new proposal stems from a review of agricultural education in 2018.

Department of Agriculture documents on the proposal show that changing the education standard would result in a number of changes:

  • Part-time farmers would be required to achieve 70 additional credits than they currently do, an increase from 50 to 120 under the advanced cert.
  • There would be approximately 25% additional study time required over the programme duration.
  • The advanced cert would be customised for part-time farmers to include credits for experiential learning, such as practical work.
  • The programme content would be updated in relation to the environment, biodiversity, etc.

    • Consultation

    The documents state that “it is accepted that a transition period and appropriate consultation would be necessary before any change could be contemplated to the minimum agricultural education for trained farmer status.”

    Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the Department has stated “it is not considered that the timing is appropriate” to make changes to the current Green Cert.

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