Food Safety Funding for Manitoba Beekeepers
Growing Forward Food Safety Program, For Farms was launched in 2010 and continues through 2011, and is a program for beekeepers. Given that the Canadian Beekeeping Industry’s Safety Quality and Traceability Program (CBISQT) is soon expected to be recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as the national, Canadian, on-farm food safety program for honey, the Growing Forward Food Safety Program, for Farms has approved an interim project that supports Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in the area of Food Safety, Traceability and Biosecurity.
While the CBISQT’s safety program is still in the approval process, eligible beekeepers can apply for up to $1,000 for equipment replacement. All Manitoba producers registered as active beekeepers with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) are eligible for this program. The only exceptions are MAFRI staff and immediate family member (e.g. spouse, husband and children) or relatives that are in partnership with a MAFRI staff person. Applicants to the Food Safety Program, for Farms are eligible for up to 90 per cent of the total cost of eligible equipment. Currently, the program is available for such things as replacing non-food grade honey processing equipment and for replacing brood combs.
For example:
• Up to $1,000 is available to buy new food-grade honey processing equipment (on a 90:10 cost-share basis, with the beekeeper paying 10 per cent). The new equipment must replace similar, old non-food grade equipment and the old equipment must be turned in, to a designated site. It must be obvious that the old equipment has been used recently – old, unused equipment is not eligible.
• Up to $1,000 is available for exchange of up to 500 dark, undamaged brood combs. Frames with foundation for honey bees can be dropped off at the registered rendering site. A $2 rebate per comb is available for purchasing new wax or plastic foundation or new frames with foundation.
How to apply for Food Safety Program, for Farms
1. Complete an application. Application forms for this program are available at your local GO Centre or online at the Manitoba Government Growing Forward website:http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/growingforward/
2. Submit your application to your local GO Centre or mail it to the address on the back of the application form. A Food Safety Program, for Farms approval package, will be sent to you. It includes a checklist of tasks that must be completed before you can make a claim for funds.
3. Drop off the old equipment or the old brood combs to the designated drop off site. Note: You must contact MacGregor Wax Works at 204-685-3080 to make an appointment. Equipment must be clean and free of all honey and wax. Producers without an appointment for drop off may be turned away.
4. MacGregor Wax Works will provide a receipt for the brood combs. For equipment rebates, receipts will be sent to you, once the equipment has been verified as eligible by the program co-ordinator.
5. Once you have the receipts, you can submit them for payment at your local GO Centre, or send them to:
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
CVO/Food Safety Knowledge Centre
Food Safety Program, for Farms
545 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5S6
Phone: 204-945-5435
E-mail: farmFDsfty@gov.mb.ca
Below are some of the most common questions asked regarding filling out the Growing Forward Food Safety application form:
On Part A of the application form (Page 1) – Do I have a MAFRI Premises ID number? Answer: No, check not yet assigned. This application will initiated the process of assigning your beekeeping operation with a Premises Identification number.
On Part B of the application form (Page 2) – Do I have a Client Number, NAICS Number, and Project Number? Answer: No, this is an office use only section. Please enter your beekeeper registration number along with your name but do not put that number in any of the boxes as previous suggested (i.e. leave the client No. NAICS No. & Project No. blank).
Pg 3 – How many national on-farm food safety programs have you implemented? Answer- for most beekeepers – NONE, leave blank and go to next part. Some of you may have implemented programs for different commodities than bees enter those that you have successfully completed.
On Part B of the application form (Page 3) – Which activity do I check?
Answer: You only need to check box # 2 Farmers: Piloting Manitoba’s Good Agriculture Practices Program, but realize that the maximum amount of funding available for the interim Beekeeper Food Safety project is $1,000.
On Part B of the application form (Page 5) – What planned activity do I fill out? Answer: You ignore everything there and write in honey comb exchange or equipment exchange at the bottom where there is space to write. As a “Start Date:” enter a date that is at least a week from the time you sent in your application. As a “Finish Date:”enter the approximate date you plan to have dropped off your comb or equipment and purchased the replacement equipment -indicating the month and year will be sufficient.
On Pact C of the application (Page 9) – Do I have to fill out the section on Premises Identification? Answer: Yes and proceed to fill out the application. Note this is different that what you may have been told earlier this year.
Where do I send my application form?
Answer: Submit your application to your local GO Centre or mail it to the address on the back of the application form.
When can I drop off the old equipment or the old brood combs to MacGregor Wax Works? Answer: You must have received your approval package from the Growing Forward office approving your application before you drop off the equipment or frames to MacGregor Wax Works. Note: You must contact MacGregor Wax Works at 204-685-3080 to make an appointment.
Equipment must be clean and free of all honey and wax. Producers without an appointment for drop off may be turned away. Keep your receipt from the Waxworks for comb and turn in with your new equipment receipt. For equipment dropped off – a Growing Forward employee will verify what was dropped off and send you a receipt.
When can I purchase the replacement equipment or frames?
Answer: once you have your approval package.
How do I receive reimbursement for the equipment or frames I purchased? Answer: Once you have the receipts, ( for both turned in equipment and new purchased equipment) and have correctly filled in the claims form sent to you with the approval package, you can submit them for payment at your local GO Centre, or send them to:
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
CVO/Food Safety Knowledge Centre
Food Safety Program, for Farms
545 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5S6
Phone: 204-945-5435
Program Timing
Beekeepers’ interest/use of the current program will determine the length of time it is available (up to 2013). The Food Safety Program, for Farms’ goal is for all Manitoba farmers and producers to have approved, up-to-date food safety systems.
Once the CBISQT program passes CFIA’s lead technical review, this current comb exchange and equipment rebate program will be replaced with the approved CBISQT program. At that time, up to $2,000 will be available to beekeepers enrolled in CBISQT for program implementation and an additional $5,000 may be available for future food safety equipment upgrades.
For more details on these programs and your eligibility, contact:
Dana Gardiner — On-Farm Food Safety Specialist at 204-391-6616 e-mail Dana.Gardiner@gov.mb.ca
Peter Veldhuis — Program Co-ordinator, Food Safety Program, for Farms at 204-945-5435 e-mail Peter.Veldhuis@gov.mb.ca
Rheal Lafreniere — Business Development Specialist/Provincial Apiarist at 204-945-4825 e-mail Rheal.Lafreniere@gov.mb.ca
Click here for the Growing Forward Food Safety, for Farms – Beekeeper Factsheet (90kb)
Posted by Rheal, Tuesday, March 9, 2010 (updated Aug 2011)
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