ASSINIBOIA, Sask. – The four candidates took different approaches to winning votes, but the men seeking election to the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association board agreed they have producers’ interests at heart.
About 175 people attended the District 3A meeting in Assiniboia Oct. 22, capping off the first week of voting by registered cattle producers. Results in all 11 districts will be announced Nov. 12.
Each candidate had five minutes to make his pitch before the crowd lined up to vote.
All of them said producers must have more say in how their industry operates. Profitability is key.
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“This industry is in serious trouble,” said Gerry Duckworth from Courval.
He said it costs $125 to remove specified risk material under Canadian regulations, compared to $12 in the United States.
“The (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) is regulating us out of business,” he said.
Norm Nordgulen of Assiniboia said one inspection system should be used throughout Canada to reduce interprovincial barriers.
He also said business risk management programs could be improved, particularly for mixed farmers.
“Moving the administration (of AgriStability) will help, but I’d like to see cattle and grain split.”
Rockglen producer Marc Spagrud said the industry should promote its environmental leadership and proactively address science and health issues.
He said the new SCA is an opportunity that primary producers should not pass up.
Ryan Thompson of Ceylon, who has served as interim director, said sustainability is important, and younger people must get involved in the business.
Interim chair Jack Hextall, who was a candidate in District 1, told the meeting that the SCA is working to reduce barriers to doing business, advance market opportunities and expand research and development capacity.
Producers raised a variety of concerns during discussion with three interim directors – Hextall, Thompson and District 2 candidate Bill Jameson – including slaughter capacity, the lack of beef promotion and the need to increase consumption.
Ian Leaman, who raises cattle near Chaplin, said the closure of the XL Foods plant in Moose Jaw means his animals are shipped four and a half hours west to Brooks, Alta., instead of 60 minutes east.
“Right now, we have enough capacity to kill the cattle we’re raising,” Jameson said.
Leaman said in an interview that might be true but competition is now gone.
“The problem is we need different ownership so it’s a little bit more competitive,” he said. “You’ve got one order buyer buying for all the plants.”
He also said he’d like to see the SCA lobby to change the CFIA’s mandate.
“It seems like they’re always working against us,” Leaman said. “They could help us.”
