Mobile field representatives in Alberta with the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency will stay in the field and mobile for another two years.
The federal and Alberta governments on Wednesday pledged $2.34 million in total to CCIA to maintain its network of reps helping Alberta beef cattle producers work on age verification and traceability projects such as premises ID and livestock movement.
The field reps, who specialize in helping producers upload data into the CCIA’s Canadian Livestock Tracking System, travel throughout their respective regions, networking with producers, auction markets, industry groups and government.
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“Traceability and age-verification are key parts of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Strategy (ALMS) and the work being done by CCIA mobile field representatives will help to increase industry participation and contribute to a more competitive livestock industry and improve food safety,” provincial Agriculture Minister Jack Hayden said in a release.
“The CCIA has a positive relationship with both the federal and provincial governments and has worked closely with the province to support Alberta’s livestock producers for a number of years,” CCIA chair Darcy Eddleston said in the same release.
“This new agreement will strengthen these relationships and will continue to deliver support for traceability initiatives in Alberta to producers and the industry.”
The extended public support will flow through the five-year Growing Forward ag policy funding framework.
CCIA’s Alberta mobile representatives by region
South:
Lethbridge/Stavely/Fort MacLeod, Amberley Sparry, 403-990-1371
High River, Ryley Loeppky, 403-988-1474
Brooks/Medicine Hat/Strathmore, Sue Giles, 403-988-7303
Central:
Ponoka/Stettler/Veteran, Nanita Bloomquist, 403-988-3625
Stettler, Sarah Tingley, 403-742-7959
Innisfail/Olds/Red Deer, Shayna Dodds, 403-988-1719
Drayton Valley/Rimbey/Tofield, Shannon Cowles, 403-977-3572
Viking/Killiam, Ashley Eckel, 403-801-7217
Northeast:
Bonneville/Lloydminster/Vermilion/Provost, Jenni Etherington, 403-988-8946
Northwest:
Clyde/Westlock, Bernice Rennie, 403-988-3473
Peace:
Beaver Lodge/Dawson Creek/Grande Prairie, Amber Havens, 403-988-5330
