Minister Scriven releases details on 2023 eID tag rebates but big questions still remain

In early June, Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven revealed a $9.3 million funding package, which included the promise of eID tags for producers at less than $1.

This week the guidelines about how those producers who tagged their 2023 drop lambs, with tags costing about $1.90 a tag, could claim the 50 per cent rebate on approved NLIS eID devices was finally released.

Ms Scriven said the tag rebate was the "most generous" of any state in Australia and was a very important step in helping producers to implement new technology and navigate market challenges.

"This is an important move that will bolster traceability in the event of a biosecurity threat and place South Australia in an ideal position to realise its full global market potential," she said.

She said the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Indonesia put in sharp focus the importance of traceability and the need for a national eID system, which the country's ag ministers signed up to in August last year.

To be eligible for the 2023 rebate, which is capped at 95 cents a tag, producers must have an active property identification code and register with PIRSA.

"Providing a rebate on 2023 year of birth eID tags reflects investment in animals that will enter the supply chain after 1 January 2025," she said.

She said the announcement of the 2023 rebate was just the first step and information about eID device discounts at point of sale for purchases made between January 1 2024 and June 30 2025 would be "available in the coming months."

Livestock SA president Joe Keynes welcomed the opening of the 2023 rebate scheme and said he was looking forward to 2024 and 2025 eID device discounts and essential infrastructure assistance being announced soon.

"If it has taken four months to get the rebate side for producers sorted, it will take a lot longer for the saleyards and processors to come to an agreement with government on the infrastructure and then the work needs to be done so meeting the 1st of January 2025 looks like it will be a real struggle," he said.

Mr Keynes said government assistance was important to ensure a successful transition to the new traceability system, which was collectively mandated by the state and federal governments last year, particularly with the recent downturn in sheep and goat prices.

"We will continue to ask some tough questions of government, we expect the rebate will be there to help farmers for the first few years," he said. "It is my personal view that if sheep already have a management tag in their ear, producers should not have to pay the full cost for two tags."

There is still no word on how the saleyards, agents, processors and feedlotters can access the promised 75pc subsidy for essential eID infrastructure, which Ms Scriven also announced back in June. She said development of the guidelines for these grants was "nearing completion and would be released as soon as they were finalised".

"Saleyards and abattoirs are aware that the state government will subsidise 75pc of the infrastructure costs that are essential for eID, which will be guiding their planning for implementation," she said.

In a statement, the Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association reinforced the importance of clarity and expediency from a government perspective as to what rebates are available to saleyards and agents, and when such application may be made in what is fast becoming a race against time to fulfil the mandated start time for eID in sheep and farmed goats.

Ms Scriven also confirmed a PIRSA sheep and goat eID implementation advisory committee had been appointed, which will meet for the first time on October 24.

Stock Journal has obtained a list of the industry committee members which interestingly does not include any members of the Livestock SA board. The Australian Livestock Markets Association representative Peter Mitchell is a former Mount Gambier saleyard manager.

Opposition agricultural spokesperson Nicola Centofanti said the minister's rebate announcement raised more questions than answers and was "not good enough".

"It's been four months since the state government announced this scheme, but SA producers are none the wiser on how they can access these rebates past 2023 or assistance for essential infrastructure," she said.

"SA producers have been incredibly patient, but Clare Scriven is playing with their livelihoods and undermining their ability to make informed business decisions."

Mount Burr prime lamb producer Duan Williams says the tag rebates are only a "sweetener" for a few years and producers will foot the bill for decades to come.

"Where is the money coming from anyway?" he said. "Is it out of general revenue or PIRSA's money? If it is general revenue, all tax payers including farmers are paying for it anyway."

He remains vehemently opposed to the need to replace the existing mob-based system with individual eID tags, especially for truckloads of sheep or lambs being directly consigned to slaughter, and has written numerous letters to Ms Scriven calling for an exemption.

He says no one has been able to prove to him how traceability will be enhanced with an electronic tag.

And while the decision for a national eID system for sheep and farmed goats was made when prices were near record highs Mr Williams, who says he has the backing of many prime lamb producers, says it was something most producers could now ill afford.

He says prime lambs are have nearly halved in value and some other classes of sheep were close to no commercial value.

"It is tough enough as it is without expecting people to put a $2 tag in their sheep's ears," he said.