Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is excited to administer the Alberta Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) Incentive program.
The Alberta VBP+ Incentive program allows eligible cattle producers to apply for rebates to facilitate further adoption of best management practices on-farm. By doing so, farmers and ranchers will improve on-farm practices and strengthen public trust.
This program is possible thanks to $1.9 million in funding for VBP+ through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
Approved eligible expenses and equipment costs are funded at 50 percent to a maximum program payment of $2,500 or $5,000 depending on the application stream.
Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.
Funding Streams
VBP+ Training Stream
Stream 1
The VBP+ Training Stream is for beef cattle operations that are not yet VBP+ audited, but have completed the training since 2016.
Applications through this stream are eligible for up to $2,500 in funding.
VBP+ Audited Stream
Stream 2
The VBP+ Audited Stream is for beef cattle operations that are VBP+ audited.
Applications through this stream are eligible for up to $5,000 in funding.
Applicant Eligibility
- Alberta cattle producers (individual, partnership, co-operative, or corporation) who can demonstrate a minimum of $10,000 gross farm income in Alberta in the year of application or the year prior to the application.
- Individual producers must be Alberta residents at least 18 years of age.
- Beef cattle grazing associations operating on Alberta Crown Land.
- The pasture manager, or person in an equivalent role who oversees the day-to-day operations and care of the animals in the pasture, must complete the required VBP+ training or VBP+ Audit to achieve Certification.
- First Nation raising beef cattle in Alberta.
- A band council member, the manager (eg. oversees the cattle), or the individual(s) who oversee the day-to-day operations and care of the animals on the First Nation must have completed the required VBP+ training or VBP+ audit to achieve Certification.
Eligible Expenses
Eligible applicants can receive a rebate for more than one project or application but cannot exceed the maximum program payment over the five-year program term of Sustainable CAP – from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028.
If a beef cattle operation receives the maximum $2,500 under the training stream and then completes the VBP+ audit and moves into Stream 2, they would then be eligible for up to the remaining $2,500.00
Equipment must be installed and/or functional to be eligible for rebate. Pictures may be requested. Multiple applications per operation are allowed, but program payments are subject to a minimum rebate of $250. The minimum claim amount is $500.
Voluntary veterinarian assessments
These will be funded to a maximum of $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.
Protocol Manuals or SOPs
Biosecurity or animal welfare protocol manuals or standard operating procedures developed by a veterinarian or clinic for use on your livestock operation.
VBP+ Audits
VBP+ initial audit or recertification audits, which are eligible to a maximum rebate of :
- $625 for Level 1 (cow-calf);
- $875 for Level 2 (backgrounding);
- $1,000 for Level 3 (feedlots) and
- $125 for each secondary VBP+ audit/certification for the operation.
Animal welfare improvements
- Hoof trimming chute and/or tilt table (stationary or portable, hydraulic or manual, including leg restraint(s).
- Bud box (metal).
- Cattle oiler.
- Loading chute (metal, adjustable and stationary or portable).
- Livestock weigh scale package. Package may include load bars or load cells, platform, weigh indicator and cables. Weigh indicator may be purchased as part of package or standalone. Group scales are not eligible.
- Feed scale used in conjunction with feed or mixing wagon. Feed or mixing wagons are not eligible.
- Squeeze chute:
- 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.
- Alleyway (metal, all types of widths and lengths).
- Crowding tub (metal, all sizes).
- Rubber traction matting for loading facilities and working cattle facilities.
- Calving/maternity pen (metal, all types with headgate).
- Portable calf cart with headlock.
- Calf tip table/chute/spin chute, including neck extender.
- Vaccine cooler.
- Vaccination/medication organization system including vaccine tubing, holsters and medicine administration guns (must be claimed as a package).
- Remote surveillance for water monitoring.
- Game camera connected to cell service to monitor water sites.
- Range booster.
- Portable corral systems or portable handling systems.
Ineligible Expenses
- Invoices not issued in the applicant’s name.
- 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 April 1, 2023.
- Equipment or items not identified as eligible expenses or equipment.
- Costs associated with attending VBP+ training for either on-line or in-person workshop.
- Staff training for equipment.
- Equipment or items such as windbreaks, windbreak panels, concrete, paddock slabs, water bowls or water appliances.
- Subscription fees or services.
- Applicant, employee or third-party salaries or labour and installation costs or administration costs.
- Basic repair and maintenance, replacement parts or ongoing expenses.
- Purchase of buildings or construction of new buildings, additions or building modifications.
- Cost for use of own equipment or tools.
- Used, leased or fabricated items or equipment, including equipment purchased at auction – to be eligible, new items or equipment must be 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).
- Extended warranty or insurance costs.
- Taxes, financing fees, interest charge or legal fees.
- In-kind materials.
- Plumbing and electrical expenses.
- Shipping, freight or brokerage fees.
- Fees paid to third parties for application support.
- 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 Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership programs, or any other government grant, rebate or assistance program.
- Upgrades to or purchase of specialized feeding equipment to implement more efficient feeding regimes.
- Upgrades to or purchase of specialized watering equipment to implement more efficient watering regimes.
Application Checklist
Remember: Each farm operation (business) can access up to $5000.00.
Please review the information outlined here in preparing to complete the application form. You’ll need your:
- Operation name
- Premise ID
- Receipts for eligible project costs
- Training Certificate* issued in 2016 (or newer).
- VBP+ Audit Certificate** – Stream 2 only
In addition to answering qualifier questions and providing applicant details, you’ll also be asked to provide information about your project(s)***.
*Finding your VBP+ Training Certificate
If you’ve completed the training online, you can sign in to the Canadian Cattle Learning Centre to download your certificate.
If neither of those options work, you can fill out the Training Certificate request form to have a certificate sent to you. (Certificates are pulled once a business day at 10:00 a.m.)
If you haven’t completed the training, you can do so online at the Canadian Cattle Learning Centre, or request a workshop for your area.
**Finding your VBP+ Audit Certificate
You should be able to find a copy of the certificate by searching your email, if not please fill in the form with the name of the farm operation that the audit was done under.
***Providing information about your project
Each item will need to fall within the funding list, with physical installations requiring a legal land location. If it is a portable piece of equipment, please note the storage location. This information is used for spot audit purposes.
In addition, you’ll need to provide the invoiced contractor/vendor, invoice number, invoice date, and invoice cost. You’ll also need to provide copies of the invoices and receipts as .pdf, .jpeg, .png, Excel, or Word documents.
Invoices must be in the name of the business or farm applying for funding.
Quotes can be submitted for conditional approval, but payment will not be issued until a final invoice is submitted.
Applicants who share livestock facilities will be considered one operation and are subject to the maximum of either $2,500 or $5,000 depending on the application stream.
Projects (and any expenses) must have commenced after April 1, 2023.
Applying for Funding
Before applying for funding, please review your eligibility, and prepare the documents listed above.
The deadline for rebate applications is January 15, 2028.
If you have any questions about the application process or eligible expenses, please reach out to the VBP+ Alberta team.
Online
Clicking the link below will take you to another site where the online application is hosted. Feel free to utilize the Instructional Video.
Paper
This link will take you to a pdf document you can edit on your computer to print later, or print right away to fill out with your favourite pen.