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AFRP II Frequently Asked Questions: What Do I Need to Do to Receive My Second Cheque? | |
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AFRP II Second Payment
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1. Who will receive a second AFRP II payment?
All livestock producers that have already received an initial payment or who are still eligible for the first payment will receive a second cheque if they comply with new Premise Identification requirements.
In addition, in order to be eligible for the second payment cow-calf producers must also enter birthdates for all calves born in 2008 in the CCIA database in order to meet age verification requirements.
2. When will I get my second AFRP II payment?
Once the all requirements are met, cheques will arrive in early 2009.
3. How is the second payment determined?
As with the first payment, the second cheque is based on the average number of opening and closing 2006 inventory, multiplied by a feed proxy for the specific animal type.
4. What animals are covered under this program?
AFRP II is available for all Alberta livestock producers. While all livestock qualifies, supply managed livestock, among others, have zero feed proxies (eg. bees, chickens, dairy, ducks, emu, geese, ostrich, rhea, turkeys) and will not receive any funding under AFRP II.
5. I am not in the CAIS program and/or didn’t receive my first AFRP II payment. What do I need to do?
All Alberta livestock producers are eligible to participate in AFRP II. Producers need to complete an application form for funding if they did not apply for AFRP I and are not part of AgriStability. The application is available on the AFSC website and the deadline is December 31, 2008.
You are entitled to a payment if you actively farmed in the 2006 and 2007 years. The second payment early in 2009 will be made to producers who have complied with age verification and premises identification requirements. An AFRP II Statement of Compliance will be issued to the producer late in 2008 which will allow Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) access to information verifying that compliance has occurred.
6. Are cow/calf producers receiving their proportional fair share of the AFRP II funding?
Funding is based on feed consumed and the cow/calf producers are receiving their proportional share.
AFRP II payments use a feed proxy that utilizes animal type, weight gain, and barley feed cost. Cattle and hog breeding animals (such as bred cows, bulls, boars, sows, gilts), and all other livestock commodities are paid on a per animal basis. It is the average of opening and closing 2006 inventory, multiplied by a feed proxy for specific animal type.
7. Who do I contact if I need more information about my payment?
Inquiries about the funding should be directed to AFSC Business Risk Management (BRM) Call Centre, toll-free at 1-877-744-7900, or to your local BRM Field Analyst.
Traceability
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8. What is traceability?
Traceability for the livestock and poultry sectors is the ability to follow or track an animal, group of animals, or animal products from one point in the supply chain to another, either backwards or forwards. Traceability systems are based on three basic elements: premises identification, animal/product identification, and animal/product movement.
Traceability is not new to agriculture. Tags, tattoos, brands and paper-based logbooks are all elements of traceability that have been used in agriculture by both industry and government.
9. What is the Livestock Information System of Alberta?
The Livestock Information System of Alberta (LISA) will be a vital part of the long-term success of the livestock industry. The system will be a robust traceability system integrated with a broader, industry managed information system that gives producers access to an unparalleled amount of data from across the supply chain.
It will be key to not only a valid and reliable food safety system, but will provide a platform for producers and others in the value chain to form alliances to share information to provide products that customers want, wherever they may be. By doing this, Alberta will be better able to respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies and, at the same time, allow industry adapt to market signals, giving you a competitive edge in the global market.
This new system and its implementation will require both consultation and explanation. More information will be provided about LISA as it becomes available.
10. What information do I have to provide to LISA? Is it mandatory?
Beginning January 1, 2009, all Alberta livestock producers must provide updated Premise Identification information and, for cow-calf producers, Age Verification information. Additional requirements such as movement, source verification, along with yield and grade information are scheduled to begin in 2010. Details on these additional requirements are still being worked out in close consultation with industry.
Participation in this system will become essential as markets confirm the value of this information and demand increases.
11. Why is traceability information important?
This information will allow the Government of Alberta to respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies and allow industry to benefit from additional market opportunities. Many key markets are already requiring this information and it appears that traceability requirements will likely become the norm over time.
12. How does the verified beef program fit with the new plan?
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s (CCA) National Verified Beef on farm food safety program will become mandatory for feedlots July 2010 and for cow/calf operations July 2013. The program is developed and owned by the CCA.
13. Will the new traceability system duplicate systems and cause more work/cost for producers?
Every effort is being made to ensure all new systems are developed efficiently and as producer-friendly as possible. Industry/producer further participation at upcoming workshops and other consultations will be essential to the development and implementation of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Strategy.
Premises Identification
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14. What will I be required to do for premise identification? When will I have to comply?
In order to create an up-to-date and useful database, All Alberta livestock premises must update or apply for new Premise ID (PID) numbers by January 1, 2009 – even if one has already been assigned.
New forms will be sent out to producers enrolled in the CAIS/Agristability program, as well as made available at all AFSC and Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) offices throughout Alberta.
15. What information must be provided?
On the form, producers must include the following information:
- Location of the premises, i.e., home quarter legal land description or in its absence geo-referenced coordinates;
- Name, address and telephone number of the owner of the premises;
- Type of premises, e.g., farm, abattoir, etc, and the business name of the premises;
- Types of animals raised, kept, displayed, assembled, and disposed of each year on the premises;
- Facility capacity of each species of animals raised, kept, displayed, assembled and disposed of on the premises.
16. How will this information be used?
Information will be used for emergency management purposes to prevent, prepare, respond or recover from a disaster or foreign animal disease outbreak.
17. Why is premises identification information important?
Premises identification information is important for several reasons:
- To assist in effectively managing a foreign animal disease outbreak.
- Governments require information in order to respond to non-disease emergencies (eg. tornados, floods)
- To facilitate disease control measures for animal health issues affecting more than one livestock species.
- For rapidly informing targeted producers of disease control measures.
- To rapidly determine where carcasses from a depopulation activity can be disposed.
- To properly dispatch emergency resources to appropriate locations.
18. Will I have more than one PID number based on the variety of livestock I own or have on my operation?
No. You will receive only one PID for all livestock species, located on your home operation.
19. Will I have to report to the government every time I move my animals?
No. In some circumstances there will be a requirement to report certain movements of animals, however , the details surrounding movement tracking are still being worked out in close consultation with industry representatives. Final requirements for movement tracking will be based on national standards, while keeping in mind what is practical, doable and makes sense from the producer’s perspective.
20. How will compliance be verified so I can receive my second cheque?
Once your information has been verified with land titles information, we will either confirm your current CCIA number or issue you a unique PID number. All information verified by ARD will be sent to AFSC to ensure that a cheque is issued.
21. What if my legal land location is listed incorrectly in the CCIA database? Will Government be validating this information?
Yes, we will assist in ensuring data integrity and accuracy.
Age Verification
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22. What will I be required to do for age verification? When will I have to comply?
Age verification will be required of all calves born from January 1, 2008 onward.
By January 2009, beef producers will be required to have age verified with the CCIA , starting with the 2008 calves, their entire calf crop.
Producers will need to forward birth data to the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA). Birth dates need to be tied to a Radio Frequency Identification tag (RFID), attached to each animal. Producers should ensure that tag numbers are linked with production records for ease of age verification and for audit purposes.
Under upcoming changes to the Animal Health Act, producers must continue to age-verify their calves from January 1, 2009 onward.
23. Who can I contact to get assistance in age verifying my cattle?
All 2008 calves need to be age verified, utilizing the CCIA database. Assistance may be obtained from the CCIA office, ARD Alberta Agriculture Information Centre (toll free at 310-FARM), or CCIA Mobile Field Representatives.
Local Field representatives with CCIA are available to answer questions and to assist you in the following areas. Please contact the AgInfo Centre (310-FARM) for more information.
24. Do I need to age verify calves born before 2008?
Producers are encouraged to age verify all possible cattle born before 2008.
25. Do animals other than cattle need to be age verified?
No. Only calves born in 2008 must be age verified in order to qualify for AFRP II funding.
26. Does my entire calf crop need to be age verified?
Yes.
27. What birth information is acceptable?
You can age verify your cattle one of two ways:
1) Record and report, to the CCIA database, the actual birth date of your 2008 cattle.
2) Record and report the first date of your first calf born and apply that date to all calves born during that calving season.
28. What happens if I lose my tags after the animal is age verified?
There will be instances when an animal loses its tag and we will work with industry to find an appropriate means to assist. Having dependable on-farm, producer records and cross referencing management tags will help producers in this situation.
29. What happens if I already bought cow/calf pairs this spring and they are not age verified?
Age verification for 2008 cattle is to be done by the original owner. Producers are encouraged to obtain birth records from the original owner to assist in ensuring all 2008 Alberta cattle can be age verified. This year’s compliance will be based on calves born on premise.
30. What about selling/buying cattle from other provinces/countries?
Age verification is not required for 2008 cattle imported from out of province or out of country. However, as these cattle may be discounted, it would be prudent to ensure cattle are age verified.
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This document is maintained by Susan Platt.
This information published to the web on August 28, 2008.
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