SSGA 106th AGM wraps up, resolutions focus on risk management and expanding markets

The 106th Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) annual general meeting was held this past week in Moose Jaw, Sask. More than 100 ranchers and industry from across the province came to the convention held on Monday to hear from keynote speakers with the formal AGM held on Tuesday.

“We had a very productive AGM adopting some timely resolutions, and we had a tremendous turnout for our convention with excellent presentations on a wide range of topics important to the livestock industry in Saskatchewan,” says president of the SSGA, Bill Huber.

At the AGM, members brought forward and adopted eight resolutions. Some resolutions called on the Government of Saskatchewan to include two targeted grazing passes as an eligible expense under the Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP); to address the shortage of rural large animal veterinarians in the province by funding additional seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine; and to remove funding limits in CAP forage programs.

Other resolutions lobbied the federal and provincial governments to include cash grazing rent as an eligible expense under the AgriStability program, and for the federal government to delay implementing revisions to transportation regulations until Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s research has been completed. The membership also resolved to lobby the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to allow the Verified Beef Plus program (VBP+) to certify beef operations for European Union requirements.