Saskatchewan milk producers want a marketing board rather than a government overseer.
Dairy farmers voted to ask the provincial government to help them set up a board similar to what other commodities have, said Nithi Govindasamy, associate deputy minister of agriculture.
“This fits in with the manner in which other supply managed agriculture operates in Saskatchewan,” he said. “It’s the same situation in other provinces.”
Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud introduced a bill during the most recent legislative sitting to repeal the Milk Control Act. Under that act, the milk control board develops policies and programs for the industry.
Read Also
Bird repellent gets emergency approval for sunflowers
Bird repellent gets emergency approval for sunflowers
It is responsible to collect and purchase milk, transport and sell milk, and pay producers.
The dairy industry will instead form a producer marketing board under the Agri-Food Act, just as the beef industry has recently done through the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association.
Milk control board chair Blaine McLeod noted that 70 percent of producers voted 95 percent in favour of the marketing board.
“We now have the opportunity to cast a new vision for a strong producer driven marketing board that will be a united voice for our industry,” he said in a newsletter.
Bjornerud said practices within the industry have changed and government does not have to be involved in the day-to-day operation.
“Clearly it is important that there be adequate oversight,” he told the legislature in November. “The Agri-Food Act provides that oversight.”
He said farmers, Saputo, transporters, consumer associations and others have been consulted.
Opposition NDP MLAs said they wanted to do some consulting of their own.
John Nilson of Regina said he had concerns about changes to powers under the existing act.
“What are the new rules going to be around resolution of conflict between producers and distributors, between some of the pricing mechanisms, and what remedies will be available for people to correct those things?” he asked.
The bill received second reading and will return for further discussion in the spring.
Govindasamy said the existing Milk Control Act is archaic and out of tune with what’s going on in the dairy industry. It’s important to give producers control of their own industry, he said.
“At the end of the day this is about producers wanting to run their own business,” he said.
Bjornerud added new legislation was also required because the previous NDP government changed the milk levy but didn’t change the legislation to make it legal.
Boards under the Agri-Food Council all have the legal authority to collect and distribute check-off money.
