Friday, March 29, 2024

Velvet tracking system ready to launch

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A newelectronic track and trace system for velvet is set to make life easier for deer farmers, while also providing proof of integrity from the farm to market.
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VelTrack, a fully electronic, web-based system that enables velvet to be tracked and traced each step of the way from the farm to the market, and vice-versa, is set for first registrations on April 6.

It will mean farmers will not be required to record tag numbers, fill out paper velvet status declarations (VSDs) or need to have a scanner.

Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) chief executive Innes Moffat says good progress is being made with the rollout of VelTrak in readiness for the 2021-22 velvet season.

Major velvet buyers and warehouses have placed their orders for the Zebra brand UHF RFID scanners that will play a key role in VelTrak.

Moffat says farmers and vets will not need to buy a scanner.

Early ordering was needed so DINZ could negotiate a bulk price for the scanners and get them delivered in time for scanner operators to be trained.

Delivery is expected in May, with hands-on operator workshops planned accordingly.

“The scanners are a significant investment for buyers and warehouses, so it is great to get their support,” Moffat said.

VelTrak builds on the work done by farmers to upgrade their sheds and freezers to comply with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Regulated Control Scheme (RCS).

It will also underpin the premium position that NZ velvet now enjoys in South Korea.

“It will enhance our reputation as trusted producers when marketing our velvet to health food companies in China, Taiwan and elsewhere,” he said.

At this stage farmers do not need to do anything about VelTrak other than to ensure they have a functioning email address, DINZ quality assurance manager John Tacon says.

The action starts for farmers in early May when online registration opens; farmers will receive an email inviting them to register.

“All they (farmers) need is an email address and web access to approve electronic VSDs (eVSDs),” Tacon said.

Farmer webinars focused on how the VelTrak system works, the importance of applying tags correctly and how to approve the new VelTrak eVSDs are being planned.

VelTrak registration will be needed for all businesses involved in velvet removal, purchase, warehousing, processing and export from the start of the 2021-22 season.

For farmers to sell their velvet into the human food chain, they must be registered with VelTrak and tag their velvet with the new VelTrak tags.

This applies to farmers who are NVSB-accredited to do their own velveting, as well as those who get a vet to do their velveting.

While designed to make compliance easier for farmers, it will also make it difficult for anyone velveting in unregistered facilities and outside NZ industry-agreed standards to sell their velvet.

“If your deer farm, clinic or business is known to DINZ and you are designated as the main DINZ contact, registration instructions will be automatically emailed to you,” he said.

Deer vets, velvet buyers and warehouses are the fist cabs off the rank for registration opening on April 6.

Deer farmer registration opens on May 3.

“If you haven’t heard from us by your respective registration opening dates, please contact us,” Moffat said.

To learn more about VelTrack go to: www.deernz.org/VelTrakVelTrack, a fully electronic, web-based system that enables velvet to be tracked and traced each step of the way from the farm to the market, and vice-versa, is set for first registrations on April 6.

It will mean farmers will not be required to record tag numbers, fill out paper velvet status declarations (VSDs) or need to have a scanner.

Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) chief executive Innes Moffat says good progress is being made with the rollout of VelTrak in readiness for the 2021-22 velvet season.

Major velvet buyers and warehouses have placed their orders for the Zebra brand UHF RFID scanners that will play a key role in VelTrak.

Moffat says farmers and vets will not need to buy a scanner.

Early ordering was needed so DINZ could negotiate a bulk price for the scanners and get them delivered in time for scanner operators to be trained.

Delivery is expected in May, with hands-on operator workshops planned accordingly.

“The scanners are a significant investment for buyers and warehouses, so it is great to get their support,” Moffat said.

VelTrak builds on the work done by farmers to upgrade their sheds and freezers to comply with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Regulated Control Scheme (RCS).

It will also underpin the premium position that NZ velvet now enjoys in South Korea.

“It will enhance our reputation as trusted producers when marketing our velvet to health food companies in China, Taiwan and elsewhere,” he said.

At this stage farmers do not need to do anything about VelTrak other than to ensure they have a functioning email address, DINZ quality assurance manager John Tacon says.

The action starts for farmers in early May when online registration opens; farmers will receive an email inviting them to register.

“All they (farmers) need is an email address and web access to approve electronic VSDs (eVSDs),” Tacon said.

Farmer webinars focused on how the VelTrak system works, the importance of applying tags correctly and how to approve the new VelTrak eVSDs are being planned.

VelTrak registration will be needed for all businesses involved in velvet removal, purchase, warehousing, processing and export from the start of the 2021-22 season.

For farmers to sell their velvet into the human food chain, they must be registered with VelTrak and tag their velvet with the new VelTrak tags.

This applies to farmers who are NVSB-accredited to do their own velveting, as well as those who get a vet to do their velveting.

While designed to make compliance easier for farmers, it will also make it difficult for anyone velveting in unregistered facilities and outside NZ industry-agreed standards to sell their velvet.

“If your deer farm, clinic or business is known to DINZ and you are designated as the main DINZ contact, registration instructions will be automatically emailed to you,” he said.

Deer vets, velvet buyers and warehouses are the fist cabs off the rank for registration opening on April 6.

Deer farmer registration opens on May 3.

“If you haven’t heard from us by your respective registration opening dates, please contact us,” Moffat said.

To learn more about VelTrack go to: www.deernz.org/VelTrak

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