Alberta: Age Verification Key to Unlock Markets
ALBERTA - More than 30 additional staff from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) and 30 part-time staff from Livestock Identification Services (LIS) are now available to assist producers in age verifying their 2008 calf crop.
30 September 2008
2 minute read
“Alberta faces intense competition in the domestic and international marketplace for livestock products,” said George Groeneveld, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Age verification is a key component of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Strategy and key to accessing markets. Together with LIS and the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA), I am pleased to be able to reinforce government’s commitment to both our producers and to reinvigorating this important industry.”
The addition of dedicated ARD staff supports the Government of Alberta’s commitment to assist producers with the traceability requirements under the Alberta Farm Recovery Plan (AFRP) II announced in June. Under the plan, all producers must update or apply for a premise ID number by December 31. Primary producers must also enter animal birth date information for their entire 2008 calf crop into CCIA database by the same deadline.
“LIS will be assigning 30 additional staff part-time to assist with age verification,” said David Moss, Chief Operating Officer of LIS. “We welcome this opportunity to assist producers in age verifying their 2008 calf crop and have provided training to over 30 LIS staff across the province to provide this service.”
The additional staff from both ARD and LIS, who have recently completed comprehensive training by CCIA's mobile field representatives, are available immediately to producers who require assistance entering their age verification information. Assistance is provided over the phone or in person. Interested producers can contact the AgInfo Centre, toll free at 310-FARM, for their closest field representative.
LIS is an industry owned not-for-profit company that is committed to providing a broad range of valued services to the livestock industry in Alberta.
The Alberta Livestock and Meat Strategy and its initiatives are part of the Government of Alberta’s plan to help industry obtain a competitive and sustainable future.
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