The VFF argued for a national approach to ease the sheep industry into the new technology and has previously expressed concern at the Victorian Government’s decision to go it alone on electronic tagging.
SHEEP producers expected to move from marking their flock with visual tags to the new electronic identification system won’t bear the burden of increased costs or time, according to Victoria’s peak farmer organisation.
The Victorian Farmers Federation Livestock Group has urged producers to understand the State Government’s new electronic identification (eID) tags will be cost-neutral, meaning ‘business as usual’ on the farm.
“The only change to on-farm practice is the change of ear tags from visual to eID,” VFF Livestock President Leonard Vallance said.
The State Government has invested $17 million in sheep and goat electronic identification to ensure the livestock sector will now provide consumers with a lifetime traceability guarantee underpinning biosecurity and market access.
The package will include $7.7 million next year to subsidise the cost of producers implementing electronic tags, with the remaining funds being used for infrastructure grants, co-funded equipment grants and an education program across the supply chain.
Mr Vallance said it was a priority of the VFF Livestock Group to hold the Government to account over its commitment to subsidise the cost to producers of rolling out the new system.
“The Victorian government must ensure every effort is made to guarantee our sheep and goat producers aren’t disadvantaged by the mandating of eID,” Mr Vallance said.
“We also need to see safeguards installed to guarantee supply chain costs don’t burden livestock producers as the system matures.”
The VFF argued for a national approach to ease the sheep industry into the new technology and has previously expressed concern at the Victorian Government’s decision to go it alone on electronic tagging.
“The VFF still believes the most effective way of implementing electronic tags is to have a consistent approach that’s affordable to farmers and well supported by industry” Mr Vallance said.
“But as it stands, we are determined to ensure there is no impact on livestock operations across Victoria because of the Government’s initiative.”