Delegates approved a $1.50 increase in January, but organization is now asking provincial government for a 75 cent hike
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association board has decided to limit the increase to the provincial cattle checkoff that was passed at the annual general meeting earlier this year.
The board has asked the Saskatchewan Agri-Food Council to approve a 75-cent increase rather than $1.50, starting in April 2025.
It also asked for an increase from five cents to 10 cents for livestock marketers who collect and remit the checkoff. That is in line with Alberta and recognizes the increased costs of doing business, said SCA chief executive officer Grant McLellan.
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The increase became a contentious issue after the January meeting. Although the SCA represents each producer who pays the checkoff, many don’t attend the annual meeting.
Several resolutions at the recent Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association annual meeting highlighted the discontent.
Of three motions that passed, the first noted fewer than 70 producers attended the SCA meeting where the vote occurred, even though there are about 12,000 producers. It said the SCA should be financially accountable to all those who pay the checkoff “in a transparent and precise detail regarding the operation of the SCA office and its board of directors.”
Another asked for the check-off refund form to be readily available on the SCA website, while the third reinforced that the checkoff remain refundable.
SCA vice-chair Chad Ross, who is also past chair of the national check-off agency, said producers currently pay $4.50 per head. Of that, $2.50 is the non-refundable national checkoff.
The $2 provincial portion goes to the SCA, and it passes on 53 cents to the Canadian Cattle Association. Other funds go to the National Cattle Feeders Association, research and other projects.
The idea of raising the provincial fee first arose at an SCA district meeting in 2022. The motion to raise it to a maximum of $5 was defeated at the later AGM.
The resolution returned after the SCA fall district meetings in 2023.
Ross said the board asked the staff to calculate what is needed to maintain the status quo in the face of inflation and a 30 percent drop in marketing.
The result was $1.46, and that’s where the $1.50 came from.
At the AGM this past January, an amendment to raise it 75 cents was defeated, as was another to table it. The original motion passed.
Ross said since then the SCA board has been talking to producers, including the SSGA, to determine next steps.
“We needed to ratify this checkoff because it takes eight to 10 months to get this through all the steps with government,” he said.
The board agreed on the 75 cent increase and sent its request to the council June 13.
Ross said he understood the challenge of communication because the SCA does not have the names of every member who pays the checkoff. Those who want to be on an email list should contact the office.
He also noted that all meeting minutes and annual reports are posted on the SCA website.
SSGA past-president Kelcy Elford said he was unhappy with how the annual meeting went and did ask for a refund form. That was in April, and in June he still hadn’t received it.
That’s why he said the form should be available on the website.
Doug Gillespie from Neville said that request proves the need for improved communication from the SCA, while Saskatchewan CCA director Lynn Grant warned making the form too readily available could put the organization at risk.
SCA chair Keith Day said he supported the resolution that the provincial checkoff remain refundable.
