Green cert. Is it worth doing? (in my case)

PatL23

So I'm due to start the green cert soon but I believe it isn't going to benefit me much from both a financial and educational point of view.
We've a relatively small farm, 35-40 acres in suckler/beef with a small payment.

Something tells me I'd learn just as much from attending farm walks, reading the farmers journal and attending discussion groups??
I done agricultural science for the leaving cert and still have my notes and one or two books from which Iv retained a good bit of knowledge. The only real thing I believe I'm missing is proper nutrition based learning, not sure if it's done in the green cert or not.

Its a possibility of that I'll be gaining a full time job soon to help pay for a part time course(not green cert) iv spent way too long working at a dead end minimum wage job. Ill be starting part time course that'll lead me to job I actually want to do and I feel ill be happy with.

So it's either start the two courses and stick with min wage job, start green cert and gain full time, or start my part time course and gain full time job. I can't do all three at same time, not able for it as the part time course will be tough learning .

Also the green cert is 2.5 years which is far too long as I feel it'll tie me down.

I could be thinking of this all wrong or not I'm unsure

I'm stuck and I really need your advice. Please help

AP2014

PatL23 wrote: »

So I'm due to start the green cert soon but I believe it isn't going to benefit me much from both a financial and educational point of view.
We've a relatively small farm, less than 35 acres in suckler/beef with a small payment.

Something tells me I'd learn just as much from attending farm walks, reading the farmers journal and attending discussion groups??
I done agricultural science for the leaving cert and still have my notes and one or two books from which Iv retained a good bit of knowledge. The only real thing I believe I'm missing is proper nutrition based learning, not sure if it's done in the green cert or not.

Its a possibility of that I'll be gaining a full time job soon to help pay for a part time course(not green cert) iv spent way too long working at a dead end minimum wage job. Ill be starting part time course that'll lead me to job I actually want to do and I feel ill be happy with.

So it's either start the two courses and stick with min wage job, start green cert and gain full time, or start my part time course and gain full time job. I can't do all three at same time, not able for it.

Also the green cert is 2.5 years which is far too long as I feel it'll tie me down.

I could be thinking of this all wrong or not I'm unsure

I'm stuck and I really need your advice. Please help

Not worth your while for 35 acres, it's not rocket science. Anything you need to know you will get an answer from online and an experienced neighbour.

Milked out

When you say we is it you own it or is it your parents? With the way things are going the benefit of the green cert is becoming a qualified farmer in order to be able to use any tax exemptions or gain entry to grant schemes etc so it may be worth your while doing it. Perhaps talk to an advisor

PatL23

AP2014 wrote: »

Not worth your while for 35 acres, it's not rocket science. Anything you need to know you will get an answer from online and an experienced neighbour.

Thanks for the reply. What about from a future grants or topups point of view?

My parents want me to do it but for all we have it isn't worth it. It's hard to convince them. They'll think I don't want to farm. But I do want to take over and carry on the tradition

PatL23

Milked out wrote: »

When you say we is it you own it or is it your parents? With the way things are going the benefit of the green cert is becoming a qualified farmer in order to be able to use any tax exemptions or gain entry to grant schemes etc so it may be worth your while doing it. Perhaps talk to an advisor

Farm is my parent but I'll be getting it down the line. My course is starting tomorrow so I'll have to talk to an advisor then

4odh4n

i am starting the course soon too, working off similar acres. in my case i have been advised that the savings i will make from the transfer of the land into my name will pay for the course (is it stamp duty that is reduced if transfered to qualified farmer?), if i dont do the course i will still be out the money in stamp duty when it comes to being sorted, so i might as well get something out of it.
i cant see it doing any harm in the long run, i would imagine it will have an affect in future grant applications etc for young farmers.
Few handy bits tagged on too from what i can see, have heard it covers the new sprayer regs that are coming this year, which is going to be needed to buy/use sprays etc

think i am looking forward to it!, its a pretty big commitment tho if working as there are 15 fridays and 4 saturdays of attendance for the year, bit more that i had expected if i'm honest!

Nettleman

One lad I did the green cert with told one of the tutors one morning that the rubbish they were teaching was babyschool (not elite farming) and this green cert sham was all about keeping civil servants in jobs and fancy pensions. he wanted them to teach us about saving money on vets fees or medicines, or how to make our own feed rations, but he was issued with detention and 5 page essay titled "how to obey those who must be obeyed" !!!

AP2014

Nettleman wrote: »

One lad I did the green cert with told one of the tutors one morning that the rubbish they were teaching was babyschool (not elite farming) and this green cert sham was all about keeping civil servants in jobs and fancy pensions. he wanted them to teach us about saving money on vets fees or medicines, or how to make our own feed rations, but he was issued with detention and 5 page essay titled "how to obey those who must be obeyed" !!!

Sums it up, keeping lads like teagasc in jobs and treating farmers like idiots. Detention and an essay, the arrogance of the dinosaurs.

AP2014

PatL23 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. What about from a future grants or topups point of view?

My parents want me to do it but for all we have it isn't worth it. It's hard to convince them. They'll think I don't want to farm. But I do want to take over and carry on the tradition

Who knows about future grants and top ups? No one so how can you do an expensive course and give up your time based on that. Invest your time in the job and course that you can make a living on. Not top ups and handouts no one is sure of.

I carried on the tradition and enjoy it and make a side profit. Convince your parents without wasting your time and money, go through the books with them.

Nekarsulm

You always get a tutor or two who are less "practical" in any college, but the carry on you describe, with 5 page essays handed out, is national school stiff. Choose a different college.

traineeacc

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, can I use my green cert through a company which I control? Thanks

Nettleman

but your pen name is trainacc, maybe short for trainee accountant...you should be telling us maybe!!!!!
by the way, I was only joking about the detention and the 5 page essay...Sorry

traineeacc

Ha ha i wish I knew the answer nobody I have asked seems to be able to clarify for me

Nettleman

Like a lot of expenses, its potentially tax deductible if its wholly and exclusively incurred in the carry on of that trade.