Persuading more Saskatchewan rural municipalities to join the Agricultural Producers
Association of Saskatchewan will be the newly formed group’s key focus this winter.
“We’re trying to be the voice for all producers,” said Terry Hildebrandt, who was elected the
association’s president at its founding convention Dec. 8.
“That’s been our goal right from the beginning.”
Delegates from 80 rural municipalities attended the convention, electing two directors from
each of six districts. Of these, six will sit on the executive committee.
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Hildebrandt said APAS wants to sign up at least half the province’s 297 RMs as members
by spring. He has a full slate of meetings to attend, where he will be speaking about the
need for and benefits of APAS.
“We really think that we’ll make hay these winter months.”
Funding has been a stumbling block for some municipalities. The membership fee is 10
cents per acre of agricultural land. Hildebrandt said the average annual fee is between
$15,000 and $17,000.
It’s up to RM councils to decide whether to join.
“It’s a decision that a lot of them don’t want to make without ratepayers’ meetings.”
Hildebrandt has attended more than 20 RM meetings where ratepayers were asked if they
support joining APAS. He said only one meeting has voted against joining and one was too
close to call. A strong majority approved the rest, he said.
APAS plans to spend its money on lobby efforts and its own research and analysis.
It may also buy a membership in the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, but Hildebrandt
said that will be up to the members.
