SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association is expected to become the province’s representative to the National Cattle Feeders’ Association.
Currently, the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association has that responsibility, but producers attending the recent annual meeting heard that the SCA will be asked to take over.
Bill Jameson, SCA director and vice-chair of the NCFA, confirmed the organization would be asked to do that on the national stage.
“Going forward, we will be asked to sit at the table with every province, with the exception of the Maritimes,” he told the meeting. “Currently our commitment to the National Cattle Feeders’ Association is $22,000 a year.”
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Alberta funds 75 percent of the national association’s budget. Manitoba and Ontario pay about the same as Saskatchewan, while British Columbia pays slightly less.
“Given what’s happening in Alberta, given the flux of the industry over there and we don’t know what is going to happen to check-off dollars over there, it would be my recommendation to stay in the National Cattle Feeders’ Association for at least another year because this thing is going to be well funded,” Jameson said.
Saskatchewan must be at the table because the NCFA has done good work in Ottawa and the cost is not great, he added.
He said Alberta feeders will “fund this thing come hell or high water.”
SCA chair Jack Hextall said the board had not yet made a decision to join the NCFA.
