LIVE!!

Friday, December 4, 2009

8:00 am - Friday's agenda began a few minutes late as some guests were forced to endlessly circle the block trying to secure parking.

8:05 am - Arlynn opened the day's proceedings and asked APAS GM Nial Kuyek to introduce the first speaker.

8:10 am - Nial introduced Consultant Al Sholtz, who presented his report entitled "Strategies and Recommendations for New Entrant and Inter-generational Transfer Programs."

APAS commissioned A. N. Sholtz & Associates of Saskatoon in the spring of 2009 to undertake the study with a stated objective of “providing an overview of the inter-generational transfer, new entrant attraction and immigration programs currently offered across Canada with recommendations for the province of Saskatchewan”.

Click [HERE] to read more or to download the complete report.

A number of key recommendations were presented as part of the study under a number of broad headings

SUCCESSION PLANNING,

That APAS make succession planning an internal program priority and encourage government to do so as well.
That APAS create a Youth Advisory Committee of people who have successfully transitioned to independent farm management

BUSINESS TRAINING

That APAS urge govt to create a specific program for new entrants in business management.
That APAS encourage the govt to broaden the eligibility criteria of the Farm Business Development Initiatives to include people who will be employed by farmers as business managers
That APAS secure funding to work with the Ministry of Education to revise the Agriculture 30 curriculum and provide professional material to assist to in the promotion and teaching of this farm business course.

MENTORING

That APAS promote the existing mentoring and apprenticeship programs to members and their families; and encourage other farm and agriculture organizations to actively support existing 'new entrant' programs currently available.

MESSAGE and IMAGE

That APAS encourage industry stakeholders to recognize success and achievement among farmers on a regular basis; to create an environment for a strategic proactive image of farmers that resonates positively with the public and youth and is a credible message to government

FINANCIAL TOOLS

That APAS work closely with the Federal and Provincial Ministries of Agriculture to strategically look at the financial areas of need and , if necessary, develop programs specifically for beginning farmers that fill any gaps in existing financial products or service offerings.

FIRST NATIONS & IMMIGRATION

That APAS encourage government and the private sector to include and encourage First Nations in current training and leadership development programs to build a base for future development of their agricultural lands.
That APAS take the leadership to involve the industry in working with and support and assist the Provincial Nominee programs, and private immigration consultants, who attract and bring the majority of new farm families to Saskatchewan.

COORDINATION

That APAS work with the Federal and Provincial Ministries of Ag on a strategy to quickly improve inter-agency communication and coordination among all the stakeholders directly supporting programs in attracting new entrants to agriculture, facilitating inter-generational transfers and image and messaging.

Al went on to outline specific actions for APAS, the Provincial and Federal governments and other industry players that can be undertaken immediately.

9:30 am - The plenary spent the next half hour sharing their thoughts on new entrant and inter-generational transfers. Since some delegates were unable to get their comments heard, all reps were encouraged to call in to CKRM's call in show at noon to continue the dialogue.

Al Sholtz & Greg Marshall will be on 620 CKRM-AM's Newsline at Noon program with Jim Smalley

Commodity Reports

10 am-11:30 am,

APAS invited four key commodity groups to present an up - to date snapshots of the sector's current challenges and outlook. The session was extremely well received by the delegates and the Q&A session that followed provided an opportunity for even further dialogue with all presenters.

Sask Pork

10:00 am - Sask Pork's Director Niel Kettleson

Niel Kettleson kicked off the 10 am session by outlining the current state of affairs in the provincial pork industry. While delegates were well aware of the current crisis in pork, Neil was able to provide some very specific information regarding the depth of the crisis and reminded delegates that as industry groups, we are most effective when we work hand in hand to develop and promote effective ag policy.

Clich [HERE] to download Niel's presentation in PDf format.

Sask Flax

10:15 am - Dave Sefton of SaskFlax outlined the challenges facing the province's flax producers in light of recent GMO ban by the EU.

He focused a portion of his presentation on how the Canadian flax industry will address this through a concentrated effort to clean up the seed supply and ensure the quality of flax seed they use going forward. He also asked APAS for their support as they go thought this process.

Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association

10:45 am - Saskatchewan Cattlemen's, Jack Hextall was next at the podium. He began by echoing the concerns voiced by Niel Kettleson, as the challenges facing both sectors are often the same.

Jack went on the add that the major difference between the pork and cattle sectors is that beef producers are also dealing with the additional costs related to SRMs.

Both livestock groups highlighted the ongoing need for some form of cost-of-production insurance for the livestock industry, similar to crop insurance offered to grains and oilseed farmers.

Saskatchewan Canola Growers

11:05 am - Stan Jeeves of Saskatchewan Canola Growers was the final speaker for the session, discussing the current challenges facing the provincial canola sector - especially China's partial ban on Canadian and Australian Canola

Click [HERE] to download Stan's presentation in PDf format

The entire panel then returned to the podium to answer questions from the delegates.

Policy Resolutions

starting at 1 pm

The afternoon program kicked off with the final external Committee report. Here Director David Spencer presented a short report on the Seed Commission and then the delegates got into the meat of the meeting and debated a number of policy resolutions.

Click HERE to download the report by David Spencer.

The process went quickly as delegates had been studying and discussing the proposed policy motions in the policy and district meetings held earlier.

Download a copy of all Policy Resolutions passed at the 2009 Winter Mid Term Meeting

APAS Director and Livestock Policy Committee Chair Norm Nordgulen discusses a resolution regarding slaughter capacity and inter provincial trade.

Past- President and RM Rep, Terry Hildebrandt shares his thoughts on a resolution.

Delegates voted unanimously on many motions.