Beginning June 29, producers will be able to participate in the bid process for the Fed Set-Aside component of the 2020 Canada-Alberta Fed Cattle Feed Cost Offset Initiative. This is the second component of the AgriRecovery initiative.
Note: The (first) Fed Cattle Feed Assistance component continues until Tuesday, June 30. Producers who applied for this component of the initiative before June 22 will be sent an initial payment the week of June 22-25, and a final payment in July. Producers who apply after June 22 will receive one payment in July.
The Fed Cattle Set Aside: Bid Process
The second component involves a bid process that producers can choose to participate in each week. All components of this process will occur online, and participants need an AFSC ID and an AFSC Connect account to place weekly bids.
- If you are interested in participating in the bid process, contact AFSC at 1.877.899.2372 or reach out to any branch office as soon as possible to set up your online account.
- Once an AFSC account is set up, you can log in to AFSC Connect and complete a one-time registration to participate in the bid process.
Starting June 22, program application for the bid process is available online through AFSC Connect.
The first bidding period will open June 29 and close July 1.
To take part in the initial June 29 bid process, you’ll need to ensure you have an AFSC ID number and an AFSC Connect account set up, and accept the program terms and conditions by Wednesday, June 24.
Clients who have completed the process by the end of day June 24 will be notified on Friday, June 26 about the upcoming June 29 bid process.
Once accepted to the Fed set aside component, animals cannot be sold until the animals have been either set aside for a minimum of 30 days and released early by the initiative’s management committee or held for 63 days.
Fed Cattle Set Aside bid process explained
Weekly bid process steps
1/ Friday: Enrolled producers are notified about the upcoming bid process that begins the following Monday morning at 9 a.m.
2/ Monday: At 9 a.m. the bid process begins. Eligible producers will be required to supply:
- Premises ID
- Lot Number(s)
- Number of Eligible Animals in each Lot
- Animal Type – Heifer or Steer
- Average net weight of the Lot must average 1,300 lbs for heifers or 1,400 lbs for steers at the date the bid is submitted
- Bid amount
3/ Wednesday: The bid process for that week closes at noon.
4/ Friday: By noon, all eligible participants are notified if their bids for that week were accepted or rejected.
If a participant’s bid is accepted, they have seven days to submit supplemental information on each accepted bid. This includes the CLTS account number, PID, lot number and registered RFID tags associated with the eligible animals.
The bid component of the initiative will continue until the initiative’s funds are distributed, the need to set aside animals no longer exists or the initiative reaches its end date of March 31, 2021.
Note: This initiative remains subject to a signed contribution agreement by both levels of government.
Find more information on the AgriRecovery page, call the AFSC Client Service Centre at 1.877.899.2372, contact a branch office or use the AFSC.ca online chat. Common questions and answers are can be found here.
Overall, the 2020 Canada-Alberta Fed Cattle Feed Cost Offset Initiative compensates producers for the extraordinary cost of keeping slaughter-ready cattle on maintenance rations. Beef producers can hold on to market-ready cattle for several weeks, allowing the supply of animals to more evenly match demand and processing capacity.
