Cattle producers taking part in a Verified Beef Production (VBP) workshop now have until Dec. 31 to apply for funding to purchase equipment via the Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program.
The federal agriculture department has extended the deadline to allow more producers to take advantage of the funding available, according to a release Monday from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
The funds help producers pay for equipment eligible under the program, such as chutes with neck extensions or shoulder restraints, animal health software, hand-held RFID readers or calibration equipment for medicated feed.
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“Although the purchase of this equipment is not a requirement of the VBP program, it may assist routine procedures at the farm level,” the CCA said.
Producers will want to make sure the eligibility of the equipment they intend to buy is assessed before they buy it, the CCA said. Also, to qualify for the funds, producers are required to participate in a VBP program workshop.
Copies of equipment purchase invoices must be submitted to the producer’s VBP provincial coordinator no later than Dec. 31, the CCA said.
Producers who are buying equipment in December and are pressed for time this fall may take part in a workshop in January 2009. To take advantage of this option, a producer must make arrangements in advance with his or her VBP provincial co-ordinator, the CCA said.
