The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission is holding producer elections to fill three vacant seats on the its board of directors.
As of last week, Sask Wheat had not yet confirmed the names that will appear on ballots but sources familiar with the election say a total of seven candidates will be vying for the three available seats.
On Oct. 6, three confirmed candidates launched a joint campaign under the moniker, Team Wheat.
Saskatchewan wheat producers Gene Lahey, Scott Sefton and Scott Hepworth confirmed their intentions to run in the election and are vowing to make “wheat check-off dollars work more effectively.” Lahey from Lacadena, Sask., Sefton from Broadview and Hepworth from Assiniboia have launched a website at www.teamwheat.ca and are also using social media to spread the word about their joint campaign.
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“To this point, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission has taken in about $12 million in … check-off dollars but has only committed less than $4 million of that in research,” says the website.
Among other things, Team Wheat candidates are calling more investments in agronomic research, increased funding for variety development, the promotion of wheat as a nutritional and healthy food choice and the establishment of performance trials across the province.
The Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission will also fill three vacant board seats this fall.
Sask Barley has yet to announce if producer elections will be required or if the vacant seats will be filled by acclamation.
Contact brian.cross@producer.com
