SASKATOON – The new president of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association says the organization’s main priority is to deal with the disparity caused by Alberta’s industry assistance.
Ed Bothner of Beechy said Saskatchewan producers must have something to keep them competitive.
The Alberta government is providing $356 million to that province’s industry, most of which will go directly to producers and feedlot operators and half of that on the condition the cattle are age verified. The implications are unclear for Saskatchewan cattle heading into Alberta for finishing.
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Bothner said the SSGA has been talking to agriculture officials about a program but hasn’t yet met with minister Bob Bjornerud.
“We’re working toward something that is going to be made in Saskatchewan,” he said.
Bjornerud has said he favours a national program.
“Where I would like to see us put our time and effort and dollars is into fixing the programs,” he said, referring to the federal-provincial AgriStability plan.
Another priority for Bothner will be working with the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. Although he was not in favour of the new umbrella organization, he said he and the board respect the decision of the membership to support the SCA.
“I am committed and so is the board,” he said.
The members passed a motion that the board and membership of SCA represent all sectors and geographic areas of the industry the best they can and “set aside personal and territorial differences.”
The SCA is not yet formally operating and Bothner said the stock growers will continue to speak on behalf of cow-calf producers.
The full SSGA executive has not yet been named. Reg Schellenberg, also of Beechy, is vice-president and Dennis Fuglerud will sit as past-president. A second vice-president and financial chair must still be put in place.
Board members elected at the June 17 annual meeting included Schellenberg, Mark Elford of McCord, Heather S. Beierbach of Maple Creek, Ryan Beierbach of Whitewood, Doug Gillespie of Neville and Rick Silvester of Lacadena.
Bothner is a relative newcomer, joining the board last year and immediately becoming second vice-president.
He, his wife Charlotte, son Curtis, and daughter-in-law Mel, farm and raise about 300 cattle on nearly 10,000 acres.
