Members of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association have voted to implement a $25 junior membership for producers younger than 25 in an effort to attract young beef producers to the organization.
Regular membership rates begin at $105 for one year.
President Doug Gillespie said the board has been working hard to sign up new members.
Membership revenue was up 22 percent in 2014 from 2013, according to a financial statement presented at the semi-annual meeting in January.
The organization increased its life membership fee from $1,000 to $2,500 per person last June, and is currently surveying producers about future advocacy efforts and programs.
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Gillespie also announced at the meeting that the SSGA had signed a contract with the Beef Infoxchange System (BIXS), to be a Saskatchewan provider of the service. All SSGA members will receive free BIXS registration.
Livestock producers should be compensated for dealing with the inconvenience of pipelines on their land, SSGA members decided.
A resolution passed at the meeting said provincial legislation dealing with surface rights is under review and that pipelines and flow lines limit what people can do on their property.
Lloyd Thompson of Estevan said a one-time payment and a caveat against the quarter aren’t good enough.
“You can’t stop them,” he said, and the pipelines will never go away, even if they aren’t being used.
Gillespie said producers aren’t opposed to development, but they should be compensated properly for the ongoing nuisance and inconvenience.
Members agreed to lobby the province to require energy companies to pay annual rent for pipelines and flow lines.
Another resolution asked the government to have all pipelines, flow lines and power lines registered with Sask 1st Call.
SSGA members support the idea of a livestock and forage centre of excellence at the University of Sask-atchewan.
Duane Thompson of Kelliher said all researchers would benefit from working under one umbrella.
“The government is really looking for producers to endorse this, and I think this would be a good way to show our support for this,” he said.
karen.briere@producer.com
