The Saskatchewan and federal governments will jointly put up over $1 million for staff and office space to help livestock producers in that province with age verification and other traceability work.
The funding is to go to the Calgary-based Canadian Cattle Identification Agency to help open a new satellite office in Saskatoon and hire three producer support reps stationed across the province.
CCIA, the agency overseeing national standards for individual animal ID, has already named its three new Saskatchewan field reps: Dee Valstar, based in Yorkton, Darren Steinley in Swift Current and Brian Anderson in Saskatoon.
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The three producer support representatives will be responsible for travelling throughout their regions to network with producers, auction markets, industry groups and government to ensure CCIA’s services are “available for all industry stakeholders.”
“The new CCIA representatives will act as liaisons with industry and staff for the purpose of increasing awareness of CCIA programs and technologies,” CCIA chairman Steve Primrose said in a joint federal/provincial release Tuesday.
“They will be available to assist with the use and selection of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers and software and help with value-added programs such as age verification. In addition, they will help organize and facilitate producer meetings and ensure ongoing producer education.”
“A strong traceability system will help Canadian producers get the premium prices their top quality products deserve around the world,” Saskatoon area MP Brad Trost said in the release. “This investment is another step towards reaching our goal of a national traceability system for livestock by 2011.”
