NSW saleyards will soon have EID sheep and goat scanners and readers like those operating in Victoria saleyards like Hamilton.

APPLICATIONS have opened for saleyards and processors to apply for part of New South Wales’ $38 million sheep and goat electronic infrastructure rebate scheme.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said saleyards and processors can now apply for a rebate to help them transition to EID.

“Saleyards will receive a 100 percent rebate for eligible items such as EID readers, auto drafters, structural modifications, connectivity infrastructure, EID hardware, EID software purchase, installation and training as well as project planning and design consultants.

“Processors receive a 50 percent rebate of the cost of eligible items such as EID readers, hardware, connectivity infrastructure and related training and software,” she said.

“The maximum rebate for both saleyards and processors is dependent on their size.”

Ms Moriarty said the NSW Sheep and Goat Traceability Reference Group has been a voice for industry throughout the planning for the transition to sheep and goat EID.

“We have maintained open dialogue with industry through the Reference Group and also sought feedback across the sheep and goat supply chain through direct engagement with stakeholders,” Ms Moriarty said.

NSW Farmers Sheepmeat Committee vice-chair Floyd Legge supported the earlier rollout of rebates for processors and saleyards to enable them to be equipped before rebates were made available for producers in about six months’ time.

He said NSW Farmers had requested the split in hardware rebate availability to ensure equipment manufacturers would not be flooded by demand.

Australian Livestock Markets’ Association vice-president Paul Martin said ALMA is encouraged by the recent announcement of funding allocated to its NSW members to assist in the upfront capital costs to participate in this mandatory scheme.

“We are waiting on feedback from those eligible on how the rebates will assist and if the amounts allocated are a fair and accurate reflection of requirements for their respective businesses.”

Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive officer Patrick Hutchinson said the rebate will assist processors in being ready to scan EIDs.

“The whole industry, along with the state and federal governments, must continue to work together to ensure the transition to sheep and farmed goat EID is smooth and harmonized across the jurisdictions.”

The application window for the NSW Sheep and Goat EID Infrastructure Rebate Scheme for saleyards and processors is from 1 August until 31 January 2024, and 3 October until 31 March 2024 for producers and stock and station agents.

The government has encouraged early applications, “as funding is limited, and applications will be considered in order of date received.”

Full details for saleyards and processors can be viewed in the relevant scheme guidelines on the Rural Assistance Authority website.

For more information on the implementation of EID for sheep and goats in NSW, visit the DPI website and sign up to the NSW sheep and goat EID newsletter.