Livestock Equipment Funding Extended to 2009

Alberta beef producers who want to take advantage of the livestock equipment funding initiative provided through the Verified Beef Production (VBP) program now have until March 31, 2009.

Medicine Hat, AB (PRWEB) May 8, 2008 -- Alberta beef producers who want to take advantage of the livestock equipment funding initiative provided through the Verified Beef Production (VBP) program now have until March 31, 2009.

"The deadline has been extended in order for more beef producers to take advantage of the livestock equipment offer," states Eileen Leslie, Alberta provincial coordinator for the Verified Beef Production program. "Alberta beef producers who have participated in VBP workshops over the past several years are all eligible for this federal funding program."

Funding is provided through the Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program - On-Farm Implementation Fund by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and is taxable.

Alberta beef producers who participate or have participated in a Verified Beef Production workshop are eligible for 50% of the cost up to a maximum of $750 for various pieces of livestock equipment including: chutes and headgates that facilitate neck injections, hand held RFID tag readers, computer software to track medication withdrawals, scale/calibration device for medicated feeds, and a disposal container for used medical bottles.

"The workshops are ongoing," says Leslie. "Producers can attend a scheduled workshop or request that one be set up. Interested producers should contact us."

For more information and to find out if you are eligible for this funding, please call Eileen Leslie at 1-866-242-7404 or go to www.beefsafety.ab.ca. Verified Beef Production is Canada's recognized on-farm food safety program for beef - a program designed to uphold consumer confidence in the products and good practices of this country's beef producers.. This program is similar to food safety programs being implemented in other agriculture commodities, as part of the Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Program.

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