Waving our Flag, Keeping Track, and A Winter Bonus are three samples of the articles detailing the Verified Beef Production program that have appeared in Ontario Beef magazine over the past year. The underlying theme of all these pieces has been to increase participation in the program.

Many producers are still hesitant to make the move into the program due to time constraints or the perceived effect the program would have on farm management practices. The Management Committee has made progress in addressing these concerns. Through national program adjustments, the record-keeping aspects have been simplified to better incorporate your existing format. Many producers have acceptable protocols already in place and simply need to date and sign with veterinarian oversight to cover the recording requirements.

LINKING TO OTHER INITIATIVES

The move to age verification as a marketing tool has really “ramped up” the interest in more comprehensive recording of on-farm data. The vast majority of producers already maintain good calving records. These little “pocket Bibles” of calving events and exceptions are often the deciding factor in cow-culling decisions. The benefit of good calving records benefit the producer. Now, cow/calf producers can transfer some of the benefit of that record, the birth dates, on to the rest of the industry. The feedlot operator can now gear his management and feeding program to target “age-specific” markets that have created additional export potential to grow our industry. Sharing information for mutual industry gain - what a great idea!

Similar benefits dovetail into value chain initiatives that have chosen to use the Verified Beef Production System as a foundation for credibility. Whether it is here in Ontario with the Ontario Corn-Fed Beef Program, or other provincial models such as Manitoba’s Natural Valley Farms, the benefits of standardized farm certification is seen as an industry-strengthening advantage.

FUNDING SUPPORT

To aid in uptake of the program, federal funding will soon be made available to the Provincial Delivery Agents that will allow producers enrolled in the program to 50/50 cost-share on specific equipment purchases. These include handheld RFID readers, software that monitors withdrawal periods at shipping time, scale/calibration devices for medicated feed ingredients, neck extensions for chutes, and disposal containers for empty medication bottles. Please contact the OCA office for cost-share details.

BENCHMARKS

This past year the program took on a new look with the appointment of Terry Grajczyk as the National Manager. Through her leadership and the commitment of all the provinces, the database has grown. We now have (nationally) over 3000 farms trained, 126 registered and over 400 preparing for audit. Ontario’s numbers reflect the trend with 560 trained and 90 registered. Congratulations to those who have made the commitment. To everyone else, what are you waiting for? Give us a call!