President's Report: Feb'09
This past year ended with some very positive statements being made by Premier Wall and Ministers Bjornerud and Gantefoer regarding recognition of the challenges facing the livestock industry.
APAS response was to issue a press release and write letters to them to congratulate them for recognizing the need to find solutions to these challenges and, offered our association’s perspective and recommendations. The letters were copied to Prime Minister and the Minister of AgriFoods Canada.
I received a very kind response from Premier Wall on Jan 13 thanking us for our support. He wrote “I will continue lobbying the federal government for a livestock assistance payment, given they are providing support for the automotive and aeronautic industries. We have consistently and often raised the need for federal intervention for the cattle sector if help is to be provided for any sector.” The premier copied this letter to both Ministers Bjornerud and Gantefoer.
To say the least, I am confident that we have opened the lines of communication with the provincial government. We have once again requested a face to face meeting with Minister Bjornerud to discuss this and other issues and are awaiting his response with a suitable date.
Vice presidents Jeff Simpson and Don Connick attended the Western Farm Leaders mtg. and Wild Rose Ag Producers annual meeting in Edmonton on Jan.5& 6.
In reference to recent reports regarding the freight rate cap and both providers significantly exceeding last years revenue cap; APAS and others took immediate action. The rail freight overpayment amounts to more than 2.00 dollars/tonne. The overpayment and penalty money - which is about 60 million dollars - is slated to go to the Western Gains Research Fund. Farmers keep paying more, while our rail service gets worse. We issued a media release calling for a return of this overage to farmers and payment of the penalty to the WGRF. It’s rather simple, this is farmer’s money and we want it back, while still recognizing the need for funds in research.
The most recent modality of the W.T.O. trade talks causes concern for many Canadian farmers. As the voice for agriculture in Saskatchewan, and as a member of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, we need to ensure that the government takes our policy position into consideration when negotiations resume.
On Jan 22 your executive met to discuss pressing issues and upcoming activities. We reviewed our committee structure and made some changes to align ourselves more with that of the CFA. Board members were assigned positions to the committees of their choice, and along with the elected reps, they will form the teams that will begin the committee work. Committees are scheduled to host their first meetings in February.
In addition, here is a brief update of some of my other activities:
1. I delivered my First Talk Mail message on January 23. While Aj is still working with Sasktel to refine the system, I would appreciate all of your feedback. Our intent is to deliver a Talk Mail message at least every two weeks.
2. The 2009 Federal Budget analysis and our subsequent response consumed many hours of staff and executive time, however, I am please dot announce that we received significant media exposure for the effort. In addition, our Communications Consultant coordinated our response with the Provincial Premier’s and Executive Council’s office. This enhanced relationship is extremely valuable to APAS and must be nurtured in the weeks to come.
3. Nial Kuyek, Jeff Simpson and I had the opportunity to attend the Keystone Ag Producers AGM in Winnipeg on Jan 28, 29 and 30.
a. While there, (in addition to fielding additional interview requests regarding the budget’s lack of support for the livestock sector) I had the opportunity to attend the Executive Meeting and lunch with the Manitoba Minister of Agriculture.
b. As your newly –elected President, I addressed the AGM membership and extended APAS greetings and congratulations on KAP’s 25th anniversary.
c. This was also a great opportunity to connect and enhance relationships with CFA VP Larent Pellerin, CFA Executive Director Brigid Revoir and IFAP’s Past-President, Jack Wilkinson.
d. Nial , Jeff and I also met with Guy Ash of CWB regarding the Weather Bug program; and paid courtesy calls to the Executive Director of CIGI, Mr. Barry Senft and Chief Grain Commissioner Edwin Hermanson.
4. We returned to Regina on Friday and went directly to the office to ensure that Payroll obligations were met and that staff had access to their cheques before the weekend.
5. On Monday, Feb 2, Dave Marcoux of CK750 met with the staff and myself to discuss enhanced media relationships with their stations. Dave will be arranging a one-one-one meeting with Ag Reporter, Alice MacFarlane in the upcoming weeks in order to educate her on APAS activities and actions. Aj is also working with other radio networks in order to develop and launch a radio campaign this spring.
6. Nial and I also met with HR and farm labour specialist, Linda West to discuss her concerns regarding the hurdles she faces in helping Sask farmers and related industry find skilled labour.
7. We also spent some time this last week preparing media releases regarding the budget and the announcement by the Provincial government about expanded extension services and the handouts for the Watrous speaking opportunity on February 3.
8. Tuesday I was interviewed by Doug Falconer of GX94 regarding our revised response to the 2009 budget. For those of you who might have missed it, we graded the budget with an “E” for ‘Empty’ promises, failed ‘Expectations’ and most of all ‘E’ for ‘Exit’.
9. Tuesday evening, I was also the keynote speaker at the Watrous Chamber of Commerce Ag Appreciation Banquet. The fifty guests in attendance were also provided with some new “Cost of Food and the Farmers Share ” data that was recently compiled by Adam Harnett. As an added feature, I was able to present the 26” LCD TV/Monitor from our draw at CPS in Saskatoon to Darryl Reynolds of Nokomis.
10. On February 4, I was once again in Winnipeg at the Private Sector Risk Management Partnership meeting, returning to Regina late in the late evening to prepare for the Feb 5 and 6 Retreat.
I look forward to spending Feb 5 and 6 in the company of the APAS BOD as we embark on a productive and exciting Board/Staff Retreat. A full report will follow.