FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – Alberta producers want to know why the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency increased the amount of money it collects on every radio frequency ear tag to 60 from 20 cents.
During an Alberta Beef Producers zone meeting in Fort Macleod, Larry Sears of Stavely questioned the need for the extra money.
“I don’t think at this time in the industry we need to support these kind of costs.”
He said the 20 cent surcharge had covered the agency’s costs since it was formed 11 years ago, but a new direction in the last 15 months has seen expenses rise, particularly a significant increase in staff, including a full-time lawyer.
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CCIA board member Jack DeBoer said the increase should have been made in increments over time. The extra money was needed to support additional services the agency now provides.
“At 20 cents that organization would probably be bankrupt,” he said.
Maintaining a full database on individual animal identification, age verification, premise identification and full traceability comes with higher costs that government will not fund, he added.
“Sixty cents just balances the budget going forward,” he said. “It feels like a big increase, but on a per head basis it is a third of a pound on a calf that is $1.10 or $1.20 per pound.”
The CCIA includes about six office people plus field staff across the country. As well, value-added programs or work provided for other species will have to pay extra.
“If they want a certain service, there will be a fee,” DeBoer said.
