Green Cert over 40

Rural Rocker

Hi
I am thinking about doing the Green cert (distance learning). I work full time but will be taking over a small farm from my father. My main reason for doing it is to learn how to farm properly and get all the education I can to do things right.
I am 40 though and I know that I will miss out on a lot of the tax benefits.
I am wondering if there are any benefits (apart from knowledge) still available to me?
I am trying to weigh things up and justify the €3,000 fee.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Granted I haven't done it, I wouldn't do it. I don't think the "knowledge" gained from Teagasc etc, is something you need to pay for, there's a ton of info online for free, a lot of it I believe will be harmful anyway (chemicals and their effect on soil and soil life).

I inherited a farm as a going concern a couple of years ago, the stamp duty was €500 less than the Green Cert fee (minus your time, travel and other investment costs).

Unless getting serious financial benefit from it I wouldn't go near it.

Dinzee Conlee

Would tend to agree with Herd above.

Teagasc have a one size fits all on most things. I did the online green cert a long time ago now, and to be honest I didn't learn much if anything. I did it for tax reason, which was grand - but aside from that I wouldn't recommend.

kk.man

Agree Teagasc is a one size fits all. Take for example the 'trive' dairy calf to beef programme. There is not a mention about the Friesian Hol bull calf. Its all about the Hereford AA animal. This is wrong as a sizeable amount are going to be Fr and secondly I think there is more profit in the Fr animal. I know its off the topic but it's an example of it's Teagasc way or no way. Employees would say the same.

Rural Rocker

Thanks all for your replies,
I looked into tax incentives and there is nothing there for me.
That along with your advice - I'll put my €3,000 into the farm instead!