Farmscape for June 21, 2011   (Episode 3607)

Saskatchewan pork producers have until March 2012 to apply for a new incentive program designed to help them with the adoption of needle-free injection technology.

Needle-free injectors use a high speed blast of gas to propel veterinary compounds through the skin of livestock, replacing the need for needles.

The approximately 86 thousand dollar needle-free injection program is being administered on behalf of the province by the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board.

Sandra Stanger, the manager of financial programs with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, says the program is being made available to Saskatchewan pork producers to assist in the adoption needle-free injection systems for use in their operations.

Clip-Sandra Stanger-Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture:
We have funding available to cover 50 percent of the cost to a maximum of 750 dollars per premise so that's basically 750 for the cost of one needle-free injection system and it's available to Saskatchewan pork producers who are currently registered in the Canadian Quality Assurance program and have purchased a needle-free injection system.

The program is available to Saskatchewan pork producers who have made purchases from April 1, 2009 coming up to this March and it's being provided through the Growing Forward agreement which is a federal provincial initiative.

We actually have provided the Sask Pork Organization in Saskatchewan 85,800 dollars to provide to their producers that have hog operations.

Of course they don't have to be a member of any particular association but they have to be hog producers.

Stanger suggests, in the case of needle-free injection systems there's the potential for reduced food safety risk to consumers, improved animal welfare, enhanced worker safety and improved ease of use when injecting animals.

Producers interested in applying for the program are encouraged to contact the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board at 306 244-7752 or visit the Sask Pork web site at saskpork.com.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council