Livestock Committee

Livestock Marketing and Processing

The 2010-2011 Livestock Committee is made up of the following APAS Board members and Representatives:

 

If you have specific issues or concerns you would like to address with the committee members, please use the CONTACT US link above and include "Livestock Committee" in the subject line.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Present:  Greg Marshall, Brian Snell, Norm Nordgulen, Ernie Briggs, Don Connick, Nial Kuyek, Doug Faller.

Meeting with SK Livestock Sectors (to be held p.m. of August 6)

The primary focus of the meeting was to prepare for a meeting organized by APAS for the afternoon that would bring together organizations representing the major livestock sectors in the province. 

The primary purpose of the meeting was to establish dialogue among the sector organizations, advance understanding of their current issues and policy positions, and possibly identify areas of shared concerns and approach.  It was also an opportunity for APAS to identify action it has taken on livestock issues.  For example, Don Connick agreed to present a summary to the afternoon meeting of the APAS commissioned study “Cow-Calf Sector in Crisis”.

Suggestions for possible positive outcomes from the meeting itself included:  

Background Notes on Attendees to the Livestock Sector Meeting

Policy Manager Doug Faller presented background notes on organizations attending the afternoon sector meeting, including Dairy Farmers of Saskatchewan, Sask Pork, Sask Bison Association, and the National Farmers Union.  In addition, Doug presented a summary and analysis of the major arguments in the NFU’s “The Farm Crisis and the Cattle Sector” (November 2008).

Traceability

One issue that arose from the report was traceability and concerns were expressed from committee members that:

Feeder Insurance Program (like CPIP in AB)

There was discussion about the potential value of having a feeder insurance program similar to the one being implemented in Alberta.  Questions arising include:  will the Alberta program have a positive short-term effect on calf prices here and, once Alberta feedlots fill up, will the effect on calf prices here become negative?

AUM (Animal Unit Month)

Doug brought forward information from the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA).  Committee members confirmed the SAMA definition of an AUM: the Carrying Capacity of a quarter section is the number of animal units (1,000 lb. cows with or without calf) that a quarter can sustain for a month (assuming 780 pounds of dry forage required per animal unit per month). 

Committee member Norm Nordgulen made a proposal in December 2007 to the South West Drought Disaster Committee recommending an AUM based method for determining payment levels.  There are potential advantages to using this measure as a basis for program payments, particularly its encouragement of environmentally sustainable practices.  Norm will present a summary of his proposal at the sector meeting.

Other issues briefly touched on that require further discussion included:



Clcik here for specific answers to question that arose from Aug 6 APAS Livestock Committee Meeting

June 23, 2009

Present:  Brian Snell, Greg Marshall, Ernie Briggs, Norm Nordgulen, Kevin Gilbert, Don Connick, and Nial Kuyek

 

M/S  Snell/ Briggs  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee of February 9, 2009 be adopted as presented.

 

Meeting with Saskatchewan Livestock Groups

The Committee discussed the cancellation of the meeting which had been scheduled for late April.  It was agreed that APAS should organize this meeting for early August and should involve the same groups that had been invited to the April meeting.

 

Drought

Concerns about drought in the West and North-West areas of the province were discussed particularly the impact on the hay.  It was agreed that the drought situation needs to be monitored.

 

Resignation and Appointment of Committee Chairman

With reluctance, the Committee accepted the resignation of Kevin Gilbert as Chairman of the Committee.  It was agreed that Kevin would be replaced by Norm Nordgulen.

 

The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Brian Snell.    

February 9, 2009

APAS Livestock Committee Meeting

APAS Regina Office

Present:  Ernie Briggs, Norm Nordgulen, Don Connick, Kevin Gilbert, Brian Snell, Greg Marshall, Adam Harnett, and Nial Kuyek

Discussion with the Livestock Branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture

Paul Johnson, newly appointed Director of the Livestock Branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture attended the meeting to discuss the recent re-organization of Livestock services in Saskatchewan Agriculture.  In this re-organization, the Inspection and Regulatory Branch was merged with the Livestock Branch to create a new Branch which has six units:  Livestock Services, Animal Health, Legislative, Agricultural Operations, Field Services, and Livestock Development.  Mr. Johnson noted that key priorities are the current state of the livestock industry, legislative/regulatory review and update, and development of a vision and strategic plan for the Saskatchewan livestock.  Mr. Johnson indicated that Informa Economics of Memphis has been contracted to undertake a competitive analysis of the /Saskatchewan livestock industry.

After Mr. Johnson’s presentation and a question/answer session, Mr. Johnson was thanked for his availability for the meeting on short notice.  The committee appreciated the timely update and the quality of the dialogue with Mr. Johnson.

M/S  Briggs/Nordgulen  Adoption of the Agenda.

Carried

 M/S  Gilbert/Nordgulen  Adoption of the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee of November 13, 2008.

Carried

COOL Legislation

The Committee discussed the implementations and challenges of the COOL Legislation.

Distillers’ Grain

The Committee discussed the use and future of distillers’ grain in Saskatchewan.  It was noted that Saskatchewan is an importer and that there is more demand than production in Canada.  Greater use of distillers’ grain is expected in the future.

Saskatchewan Short-term Cattle and Hog Loan Programs

The Committee discussed the following resolution which was tabled for Board consideration at the 2008 AGM and referred to the Livestock Committee:

“Whereas livestock producers in Saskatchewan are currently experiencing very poor cattle prices through no fault of their own;

And whereas some producers had paid back part or all of their cattle cash advance before the Saskatchewan government announced an extension of one year to pay back the principal amount of the cattle cash advance;

Therefore, be it resolved that APAS lobby the government to immediately re-lend or make another cattle cash advance available to producers (that have paid part or all of the original cash advance);

And further that the repayment terms be unconditional except for a reasonable time frame”

The Committee noted that the resolution was confusing the federal cash advance program with the Saskatchewan Short-term Cattle and Hog Loan Programs.  Minster Bjornerud announced on November 21, 2008 an optional one year deferral of the principal owing from 2009 to 2010. 

M/S  Gilbert/Briggs  That producers who repaid or didn’t access the Saskatchewan Short-term Cattle and Hog Loan Programs should now be eligible to apply and reapply for the loans for repayment in 2010.

Carried

It was agreed that this would be included in the budget communication to Minister Bjornerud.

U.S. Recession

The impacts of the evolving recession in the U.S on the livestock industry were discussed.  It was agreed that there could be further negative price impacts.

Federal Budget 2009

The response of APAS to the budget in terms of agriculture and livestock was discussed.  It was noted that meetings with Agriculture Critics and Saskatchewan MPs would be organized in conjunction with the CFA meeting and that livestock would be the leading issue for discussion.

Provincial Budget 2009

It was noted that APAS would be sending Minister Bjornerud an agricultural wish list for the provincial budget.

2008 AGM Resolutions Referred to the Livestock Committee

It was noted that the APAS livestock policy adopted at the AGM had been forwarded to CFA for inclusion in the policy resolutions at the 2009 AGM.  It was noted that the resolution had been reduced to three points.  Opposition to COOL Legislation was dropped because another resolution supported by KAP, WRAP, and APAS deals with COOL.

In discussing the portion of the resolution that calls for communication with other farm organization, it was agreed that APAS should take the initiative in organizing a meeting involving the APAS President and Livestock Committee and the Saskatchewan livestock industry – Stock Growers, Cattle Feeders, Cattlemen’s Association, Sask Pork, Dairy Farmers of Saskatchewan, Bison Association, and sheep producers.  If organized after the provincial budget, the meeting might have two objectives:

1.      To discuss the needs of the Saskatchewan livestock industry in the context of the federal and provincial budgets and whether or not there are policy objectives that could be jointly pursued

2.      To discuss how industry stakeholders should develop a vision for the livestock industry.

Election of Committee Chair

Kevin Gilbert was elected Chair of the Livestock committee for 2009.

Nov 13, 2008

Attendance: Dale Sigurdson, Kevin Gilbert, Larry Toner, Nial Kuyek, Norm Nordgulen and Adam Harnett (recording secretary)

Purpose of Meeting

Background Information


The discussion included the following points:

The committee members agreed to suggest the AUM-linked method for the Grass Payment Program as well as the Per Acre calculation.

The objective for the program is to provide and incentive to producers to retain livestock,
forage and grass.

Ensuring that marginal lands are not cultivated provides environmental benefits to society overall.

Public land will not be cultivated so there must be another incentive for producers who use community pastures. This is the reason for rolling back community pastures rates. It helps smaller farms deal with the higher transportation costs and encourages use of community pastures.

Although the crisis continues, there has been little press from industry groups asking for financial support. The Premier raised the issue at the Prime Minister & Premiers meeting last week.

The cash-to-cash basis includes SRM removal and disposal costs in Canada. The Alberta Beef Producers and Ontario Cattleman’s Association are studying the post-BSE regulations on the basis. The results are scheduled to be released early 2010.

Recommendations
The Livestock Committee recommends that APAS adopt the following policy positions for
advancement to other farm organizations and federal and provincial governments as potential
solutions to the current and ongoing crisis in the livestock industry in Saskatchewan:
1. Sufficient payment on either a per-acre or a productivity basis to encourage producers to retain livestock, forage and grass. Such a grass payment would provide producers with financial benefits in recognition of the environmental stewardship of such land use.
2. Change Business Risk Management Programs to treat livestock producers equitably with grains and oilseeds producers.
3. Rollback Community Pasture Rates because patrons would not be eligible for the grass payment. This would provide producers who use community pastures with a
financial incentive to remain in the livestock industry.
4. Continue opposition to US country of origin labelling.