Bison - Assurance System Producer Program

The Assurance System Producer Program provides bison producers with a rebate for veterinarian assessments and approved eligible equipment expenses that improve animal welfare practices. Eligible applicants must meet program criteria below.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for a rebate if you are a:

• Saskatchewan bison producer (individual, partnership or corporation) who can demonstrate a minimum of $50,000 gross farm income in Saskatchewan in the year preceding or in the year of the application. Individual producers must be at least 18 years of age; or
• First Nation in the Province of Saskatchewan (must be a bison producer).
• Bison producer who has completed the Bison Biosecurity Welfare Program training.
• Bison producer who has had a veterinarian assessment and Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report completed by a veterinarian licensed with the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association.
• Saskatchewan bison producer who has a Saskatchewan Premises Identification (PID) number.

Multiple applications per operation are allowed, but program payments are subject to a minimum rebate of $250.

• Spouses;
• Partners;
• Relatives in the same residence; or
• Individuals /entities who have controlling interests in more than one operation.

Applicants who share livestock facilities will be considered one operation and subject to the maximum rebate of $15,000.

Maximum program rebate is per operation which may include more than one project location or a related applicant and includes Assurance System Producer Program funding from all species on the operation (beef, bison, sheep, etc.).

For clarification regarding eligibility, related applicants or shared facilities, contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

Rebate Details

Funding is available for veterinarian assessments and approved eligible equipment. Equipment must be installed and/or functional to be eligible for rebate. Pictures may be requested.

• Approved eligible costs are funded at 50 per cent to a maximum program payment of $15,000.
  • Step 1: Complete the Bison Biosecurity and Welfare Program training.
  • Step 2: Have a veterinarian assessment and Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report completed.
  • The veterinarian assessment and Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report must be completed before any equipment purchases are made.
• Maximum rebate for veterinarian assessments and completing Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report is $500 per operation (this can include more than one assessment or a follow-up assessment). Applicants who share livestock facilities will be considered one operation and subject to the maximum rebate of $500.
• Program payments are subject to a minimum rebate of $250.

Training

Information on the Bison Biosecurity and Welfare Program training is available by emailing at Saskatchewan Bison Association.

Veterinarian Assessment and Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report

The veterinarian assessment must be completed by a veterinarian licensed with the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association. The veterinarian must be an arm's-length third party from the operation being assessed. The legal land location of the project location/facility assessed must be identified on the Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report. After the visit to the operation, the veterinarian completes the online Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report based on the on-farm assessment, saves a copy for their records and provides a copy to the producer.

Note: The Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report must be completed electronically by the veterinarian and provided to the producer. Handwritten reports will not be accepted.

Download the Veterinarian Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report for Bison

Before you apply

• Review eligibility;
• Complete the Bison Biosecurity and Welfare Program Training available through the Saskatchewan Bison Association; and
• Have a veterinarian assessment and the Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report completed by a veterinarian licensed with the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association.

Eligible Expenses

Equipment items below are rebated at 50 per cent of eligible costs to the maximums where indicated. Items must be identified on the Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report, completed by the veterinarian, to be considered for funding. There is no limit to the number of equipment items a producer may purchase within either the equipment or program maximums. Items as identified on the Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report, regardless of risk level, will be considered for funding.

Eligible items include:

Animal Welfare Improvements

• Bud box (max rebate: $2,500):
  • Metal;
• Dart gun;
• Crash gate;
• Neck brace;
• Squeeze chute/exit alleyway handling chute (max rebate: $6,000):
  • Portable or stationary, manual or hydraulic including powerpak, all types of gates, head gate, palpation cage and extra restraints, purchased as part of a package or standalone;
• Belting for alleyways;
• Non-slip rubber padding;
• Movable/free-standing panels and gates in handling area:
  • Metal;
• Segregation box stalls in handling area:
  • Metal sheeted panels and gates;
• Weigh scale:
  • Max rebate: $2,500 for weigh scale system including load bars, platform, load cells, cables and basic weigh indicator;
  • Max rebate: $550 for basic weigh indicator when purchased standalone;
• Loading chute (max rebate: $3,000):
  • Metal, and
  • Portable or stationary, adjustable; and
• Dehorning equipment:
  • Electric saw dehorner.

Ineligible Expenses

Ineligible expenses include:

• Start-up operations i.e. locations where livestock facilities with permanent infrastructure necessary for confining and handling livestock did not previously exist;
• Expenditures prior to date of the veterinarian's Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report and program launch of November 5, 2018;
• Equipment or items not recommended or identified on the Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report;
• Training costs;
• Staff training for equipment;
• Equipment or items such as: windbreaks, windbreak panels, concrete, paddock slabs, water bowls or water appliances;
• Applicant, employee or third-party salaries or labour and installation costs or administration costs;
• Basic repair and maintenance or ongoing expenses;
• Purchase of buildings or construction of new buildings, additions, or building modifications;
• Cost for use of own equipment or tools;
• Fabricated items or equipment not purchased from a recognized dealer. For the purposes of the program, a recognized dealer is typically defined as a business where manufacturing is a key service or the business is an authorized dealer for certain item(s);
• Leased, used or self-made equipment, including any equipment purchased at auction;
• Extended warranty or insurance costs;
• Financing, interest, legal fees or taxes;
• In-kind materials;
• Plumbing and electrical expenses;
• Shipping, freight or brokerage fees;
• Any submissions for rebate utilizing a third-party vendor must be from a vendor who is third party arm's-length, or the claim will be funded based on the actual purchase price and require the submission of original invoices;
• Costs claimed for expenses/activities which may receive funding under other Canadian Agricultural Partnership programs, or any other government grant, rebate or assistance program.

Deadlines

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Applications must be received by March 15, 2023.

Apply

Download the Assurance System Producer Program Rebate Application - Bison

Note: It is recommended this application form be saved to your computer before entering in the information.

Completed applications can be submitted by email to Programs Branch or by mail to:

Assurance System Producer Program
Ministry of Agriculture, Programs Branch
Room 329 - 3085 Albert Street
Regina SK  S4S 0B1