Updates to Beef Cattle – Assurance System Producer Program
By Kari Burnett, PAg, Agriculture Programs Specialist, Swift Current
The Assurance System Producer Program supports producers to increase participation in biosecurity and animal welfare initiatives. The program is delivered by the Ministry of Agriculture under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership suite of programs. The program provides beef cattle producers with a rebate for veterinarian assessment, Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) audit and approved eligible expenses that improve biosecurity and animal welfare practices. Effective April 1, 2020, maximum rebates for eligible expenses have been removed with the exception of the basic weigh indicator on livestock scales which will continue to be rebated to a maximum of $550.
There are still two streams for the program:
Training Stream:
The training stream provides up to $2,500 in rebates for equipment purchases. To apply for a rebate after completing only the VBP+ training a producer will:
- Take the VBP+ training online or in-person at a training session, and;
- Have a licensed Saskatchewan veterinarian conduct an on-farm assessment and complete the equipment recommendation report.
Certification Stream:
The certification stream provides up to $15,000 in rebates for certification, veterinarian assessments and equipment purchases. To apply for a rebate after completing the VBP+ certification a producer will:
- Take the VBP+ training online or in person at a training session,
- Complete the VBP+ on-farm audit and certification, and;
- Have a licensed Saskatchewan veterinarian conduct an on-farm assessment and complete the equipment recommendation report.
Photo Credit: Saskatchewan.ca
Other program criteria will stay the same, applicants must:
- Be a Saskatchewan beef producer;
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- Demonstrate a minimum gross farm income of $50,000 in Saskatchewan; and
- Have a Saskatchewan Premises Identification (PID) number.
The maximum rebate an applicant may receive over the life of the program is $15,000, for all species of livestock. Complete program eligibility is available online. The deadline to submit applications for Assurance System Producer Program rebate is December 31, 2022.
For more information on VBP+ training or VBP+ audits, contact the Saskatchewan VBP+ provincial coordinator at 306-859-9110 or SK@verifiedbeef.ca.
For clarification regarding eligibility, related applicants or shared livestock facilities, contact your nearest agriculture program specialist or the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
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