The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency will use new government funding to develop a formal presence in Saskatchewan.
The agency hopes that opening a satellite office in Saskatoon and hiring three field representatives in Yorkton, Swift Current and Saskatoon will beef up age verification and other traceability initiatives in the province. Field reps will work with producers, auction markets, industry groups and government to ensure CCIA services are readily available in Saskatchewan.
The $1.25 million from Growing Forward will be spent over four years.
“Opening an office creates more of a presence here in the province and it gives the producers someone to contact locally,” said Brian Anderson, field rep for the new Saskatoon office, which doubles as the satellite office.
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He said most of the work will involve educating producers about how to use the CCIA’s database, age verification, premise identification and traceability systems.
CCIA chair Steve Primrose said it’s reasonably easy to age verify if producers are computer savvy and not on dial-up internet service.
“You’ve got to have another way to get your cattle age verified and those numbers sent into the system,” he said.
“As a Saskatchewan producer, I think it’s nice to know that if you’ve got a problem with technology, you’ve got a phone number and someone to talk with in Saskatoon, Yorkton and Swift Current.”
He said many producers don’t realize age verification adds value by providing market access.
Added Anderson: “The countries that are importing our beef request age verification, so that way we have access to more markets…. I imagine that there will be a price differential if your cattle are not age verified.”
