One step remains in the process that will allow the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association to collect and administer beef check-off dollars in the province.
The Saskatchewan legislature’s standing committee on the economy last week repealed the existing legislation and authorized the SCA to collect the national levy and forward it to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The bill has yet to be proclaimed, which is expected this summer.
Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said the SCA will also take over about $4.8 million in assets now in the provincial Cattle Marketing Deductions Fund. It will become responsible for about $1.5 million collected from a fee of $1 for every animal marketed. The levy is refunded to those who ask.
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The $1 national levy to the CCA is non-refundable.
“Currently Saskatchewan development commissions have the authority to only collect refundable levies and cannot collect nonrefundable levies, including nationally administered levies,” Bjornerud told the committee during debate.
The SCA will operate under the supervision of the Agri-Food Council, but will be accountable to producers, said Bjornerud.
He said the SCA would likely use the funds for research, lobbying governments and administration.
There are about 16,000 cattle producers in Saskatchewan.
Changes are also expected soon to dairy farmer regulations.
The committee passed a second bill last week, repealing the Milk Control Act and allowing the formation of a provincial milk marketing board. The board will also fall under the supervision of the Agri-Food Council.
The dairy industry had asked for the change; 95 percent of voters at a meeting last October were in favour.
At the same time, the government moved to rectify an oversight from a legislative change in 2006 that cost taxpayers $1 million.
The then NDP government moved responsibility for the provincial dairy lab to the Milk Control Board but didn’t give it proper legislative authority.
Levies paid by producers to the control board to operate the dairy lab have had to be repaid because the board couldn’t legally collect them, Bjornerud said.
