Identification tag workshop

Victorian Farmers Federation is encouraging livestock producers to boost their understanding of sheep and goat electronic identification tags by attending State Government workshops across the Wimmera and Mallee.

Two-hour workshops have already been in St Arnaud and Birchip and are scheduled for Swan Hill today.

They will continue at Ouyen from midday tomorrow, Horsham from 10am on Monday, Edenhope from 10am Tuesday and Kaniva from 10am on February 15.

VFF livestock president Leonard Vallance said the workshops were a good opportunity for producers to get a grasp on the support available during the transition period from a visual to electronic tag system.

“The point of the workshop is to dispel rumours and myths concerning the scheme,” he said.

“We want producers to know the EID tags are cost neutral due to government investment.

“The clear message to producers must be that the only change to on-farm practice is the change of the ear tag to EID.

“All other practices relating to on-farm management and production are at the discretion of the producer if they see benefit to their own business.”

Detailed information on the government’s EID transition package – including cost-neutral tags for producers and grants for purchasing infrastructure – will form a large part of the information sessions.

The EID scheme came into force on January 1, with all newborn sheep and goats in Victoria now requiring electronic tags.

People wanting more information on the transition package, timeline for implementation, standards and training opportunities can go to www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/sheepeid or call 1800 678 779.