Introducing the New CRSB Certified Producer Incentive: What You Need to Know

Created to recognize and reward beef producers who have taken the time and made the investment to become certified through its CRSB Certified Program. The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) was excited to recently announce a new producer incentive.

This incentive aims to provide additional value to CRSB Certified farmers and ranchers, and will help enable sourcing of CRSB Certified beef through certified supply chains. 

“The CRSB Certified Producer Incentive is an important step for the program and serves as a thank you from the CRSB and its supply chain partners that investments beef producers have made to become certified do not go unnoticed. Rewarding producers for their commitment to sustainable practices will continue to move our industry forward and enable us to communicate that to Canadians,” says Ryan Beierbach, Chair of the CRSB.

In its first year (2026), all eligible CRSB Certified beef producers will receive an incentive payment of $400. The incentive program will continue annually, with future annual payments based on CRSB Certified beef sold, calculated based on available funds and distributed evenly among all eligible beef producers, meaning more certified producers can lead to larger incentive payments for everyone. 

There is no additional application required to receive the incentive. All eligible producers will automatically receive an incentive payment, regardless of where their calves are sold. Payments are expected to be distributed by October 2026. 

The incentive is funded by supply chain partners who are purchasing CRSB Certified beef, showing their support of the program, such as Cactus Club Café restaurants. 

“CRSB Certified producers demonstrate global-leading industry sustainability practices right here in Canada,” says Carl Dean, Executive Vice President Business Development, Cactus Restaurants Ltd. 

“Many of the producers who pioneered the CRSB Certified program will benefit from these incentive payments, and have established a strong base from which the CRSB Certified program can grow. As a Canadian restaurant group proudly serving CRSB Certified beef to guests across the country, we are thrilled to see the CRSB provide this direct incentive for producers.”

What do I need to do to ensure I receive the incentive?

Being certified is the first step. Become certified between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, and/or keep existing certification up to date as of June 30, 2026, proven through a valid certificate from a CRSB-approved Certification Body (VBP+ or Where Food Comes From). Producers must also complete all the CRSB Certified qualifying cattle requirements. 

What are the qualifying cattle requirements?

The CRSB Certified program enables linking beef from CRSB Certified operations from the farm gate to the consumer’s plate. Accomplishing this takes a village, and credible claims require verifications by participants at every step of the chain. 

To make the most of your CRSB certification, make sure your cattle have a chance to qualify for CRSB Certified supply chains through the following steps: 

For all certified production operations

1. Share your operation’s contact and certification status information for chain-of-custody purposes.

Consent is provided via the Certification Body to CCIA which enables certified operations to be identified in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS).

To check your consent status, look for the “CRSB Client Information” section on the My Account page in your CLTS account. If you don’t see this section, request that your Certification Body add your consent.

Information shared is limited to:

• Operation information: operation name, contact name, email, mailing address
• Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) ID
• Certification date, Audit type, certification status change/de-certification date 

For all certified cow/calf operations

2. Submit birth dates for cattle born and tagged on your operation to the CLTS.

CRSB Certified claims rely on cattle moving through CRSB Certified operations from birth up to and including the primary processor. Birth dates provide the starting point for the certified supply chain. 

For all certified operations after the birth farm or ranch (backgrounder, combo or feedlot)

3. Submit move-in events each time new cattle move onto your operation.

Cattle movements keep the certified supply chain flowing. Move-ins show cattle that move through only applicable CRSB Certified Operations, to qualify for a CRSB Claim. 

You can submit both birth dates and move-in events either by individual tag numbers or as a group. Check out the CLTS Resource Centre for templates and step-by-step tutorials to assist you. 

You may have previously received Cargill’s Recognition Credit, and are wondering if that will continue. The Cargill Recognition Credit was established to recognize the upfront investment that many Canadian producers had made to become CRSB Certified, even when they weren’t guaranteed a clear, financial payback for their effort at that time. This was provided in collaboration with the CRSB with the intention that this CRSB Certified Producer Incentive would replace it. 

“We’re proud of the role Cargill has played in supporting producers who chose to become CRSB Certified, and we’re encouraged to see this incentive continue to grow through the leadership of the CRSB and its partners,” says Kristine Tapley, Cargill Sustainability Director. 

“Recognizing producers for their commitment to more sustainable practices helps strengthen our supply chains and the industry at large. We’ll continue to invest in ways to support ranchers and advance sustainable beef production in Canada.”

Cargill will continue to pay producers for qualifying cattle via their $20-per-head Qualifying Cattle Credit. 

For answers to more questions about the incentive and how it works, visit crsbcertified.ca website. If you have questions, you can also contact us at info@crsbcertified.ca. 

In addition, the Farm Credit Canada Incentive will be reopening in June 2026 for applications and will once again provide up to $4,000 for certified producers that have eligible lending with FCC. 

Did you know?

If you have an active VBP+ Certificate, you are also CRSB Certified through a single on-farm assessment process, which means you can be eligible for the new CRSB Certified Producer Incentive.