MOOSE JAW, Sask. – The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association is questioning the allocation of beef check-off dollars in the province and where it will get money to operate.Members at the recent annual general meeting wondered how the Cattle Marketing Deductions Fund committee awarded the money last year and why the new Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association was given so much.The SSGA has two representatives on the committee but neither was at the meeting to provide answers.An unaudited list of the funds awarded between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2010, shows the committee spent nearly $2.14 million accumulated from the $1 per head checkoff on cattle marketed in the province.The largest single recipient is the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, which got $555,888.But the SCA received two grants of $290,400 for development and operating costs and another $415,000 for ongoing operating and organizational development.The SCA is a development commission under the provincial Agri-Food Act and will take over the administration of the checkoff later this year.The SSGA got $200,000.“In reality, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers do not get $200,000 of checkoff dollars for our own operating,” said Tom Grieve of Fillmore, Sask.That’s because the SSGA funding is divided for other purposes, including the Prairie Conservation Action Plan. He said the amount awarded to the SCA “seems like an awful lot of money” and suggested the SSGA should get a statement of expenses showing how the SCA had spent it.Neil Jahnke of Gouldtown, Sask., was also concerned about the effect on the deductions fund.“We’re only collecting a million-and-a-half,” he said, referring to the annual income from the checkoff. “We’re going to run out of money real quick.”Ryan Beierbach, the SSGA representative to the SCA board, said he didn’t know what the latter organization might have needed the money for but said he would find out.A resolution presented later in the meeting noted the SSGA has been the voice of the provincial beef industry for 97 years, and the elimination of core funding has caused hardship. It asked for the SSGA to lobby the government for a directed checkoff that allows producers to choose where their money goes. SSGA would be one of the choices.“I don’t feel the new SCA will represent the grassroots producers,” said Gerry Duckworth. “Cow-calf producers have told me they will apply for a refund.”Others said offering too many choices might cause problems.“Our friends at SCA have spent a lot of money but they haven’t met one gentleman yet and that is the government auditor,” said Lloyd Thompson of Carnduff.The resolution was tabled until next year’s annual meeting.
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