The Assurance System Producer Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership has closed and is no longer accepting new applications. If you have an approved project underway and require the corresponding claim forms, please call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 or email the agprograms@gov.sk.ca mailbox for assistance.
The Assurance System Producer Program provides dairy producers with a rebate for veterinarian assessments and approved eligible equipment expenses that improve biosecurity and animal welfare practices. Eligible applicants must meet program criteria below.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for rebate if:
- Saskatchewan dairy 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 dairy producer).
- Dairy producer who is proAction registered.
- Dairy producer who has had a veterinarian assessment and Biosecurity/Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report completed by a veterinarian licensed with the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association.
- You have a Saskatchewan Premises Identification (PID) number.
Multiple applications per operation are allowed, but program payments are subject to a minimum rebate of $250.
For the purposes of the program, related applicants are subject to the maximum program rebate of $15,000. Related applicants include:
- 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 (swine, dairy, poultry, 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: Ensure you are proAction registered.
- Step 2: Have a veterinarian assessment and Biosecurity/Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report completed.
- The veterinarian assessment and Biosecurity/Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report must be completed before any equipment purchases are made.
- Maximum rebate for veterinarian assessments and completing the Biosecurity/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.
Registration
Information on training and registration requirements is available by contacting by email to SaskMilk.
Veterinarian Assessment and Biosecurity/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 party from the operation being assessed. The legal land location of the project location/facility assessed must be identified on the Biosecurity/Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report. After the visit to the operation, the veterinarian completes the online Biosecurity/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 Biosecurity/Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report must be completed electronically by the veterinarian and a copy provided to the producer. Handwritten reports will not be accepted.
Download the Veterinarian Biosecurity/Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation report for Dairy.
Before you apply
- Review eligibility;
- Ensure you are proAction registered; and
- Have a veterinarian assessment and the Biosecurity/Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report completed by a veterinarian licensed with the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association.
Eligible Expenses
Items below are rebated at 50 per cent of eligible costs to the maximums where indicated. Items must be identified on the Biosecurity/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 Biosecurity/Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report, regardless of risk level, will be considered for funding.
Eligible items include:
Biosecurity
- Colostrum batch pasteurizer; and
- Foot baths:
- Auto foaming and spray systems for hoof disease.
Animal Welfare Improvements
- Headlock system and/or post-and-rail system;
- Slip prevention in walkways:
- Floor grooving;
- Loading chute (Max rebate: $3,000):
- Metal; and
- Portable or stationary and adjustable;
- Tilt table/trimming chute:
- Stationary or portable; and
- Hydraulic or manual, including leg restraints;
- Rubberized flooring:
- Rubber mats or rolls to reduce slipping;
- Improved stall comfort:
- Stall dividers, brisket boards, mats and mattresses;
- Motorized cow brushes:
- Rotating, motion-activated and stationary;
- Remote surveillance for calving:
- All equipment, antennas and cables to support the following: up to four indoor cameras and up to four outdoor cameras (20xPTZ), repeater and recording unit with hard drive;
- Group feeding systems for delivery of milk or replacer to calves:
- Nipples, plastic lines, check valve and reservoir; and
- Pain control administration training by veterinarian:
- Training costs and mileage.
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 Biosecurity/Animal Welfare Equipment Recommendation Report and program launch of November 9, 2018;
- Equipment or items not recommended or identified on the Biosecurity/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 a 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; and
- 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.