Alberta Beef Magazine - BeefNews.com

SCA elections by Bonnie Warnyca
November, 2009

Pundits opposing the legitimacy of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association (SCA) democratic governance should now be silenced as the results of the election of a new board of directors were completed November 6.

As of press time, we weren't privy to the results, but since only one person ran in three of the 8 plus districts and were elected by acclamation, we decided to talk to these newly elected SCA board members.

Leon Stang and his two sons who run 500 cow/calf pairs near the town of Cactus Lake, on the west side of the province, was elected by acclamation for District 7 (Kerrobert). Stang has held an interim position on the SCA board and already has his feet wet lobbying for change. While his election on the board was a shoe in, the scheduled election meeting went ahead.

"Instead of holding an election, we used the meeting to allow area producers the opportunity to give the new board direction," he says. "The sole purpose of this new organization is to offer continuous and open dialogue for all members of our industry. In the past, the cow/calf producers and the feeders have been historically separated into two distinct groups. By coming together, we are in a much stronger position to effect changes for our industry."

While there are somewhere around 22,000 cattle producers in this province, no association or organization has been able to pull enough numbers together to present a truly united front to solve the many challenges facing the cattle industry. It is hoped, that by creating a new platform for all, that the SCA will bring together those which have, for so long, remained on the sidelines. It's a call to action, if you will. And looking at the list of those that threw their hat into the election ring, it has drawn out some producers that have neither strong ties to the Saskatchewan Stock Growers or the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders. Those that have, at least publicly, seem willing to discard their association ties for the common good. Still, the sounds of change will always include the sound of kicking and screaming.

"The Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders have said that their organization will give the SCA room to grow," says Stang. "It took an interim board to bring us to get this new organization going and get us to where we could hold a truly democratic election. At the same time, we've worked hard on issues that needed immediate attention. We lobbied for the $40 a head that the provincial government came out with in the spring. We're trying to get Agri Recovery kick started for the drought stricken producers. We've already created some momentum."

Rick Toney and his boys run a cow/calf and feeder operation north-west of Gull Lake adjacent to the Sand Hills. He is the newly elected SCA board member for District 4 (Piapot). He too, has served as an interim SCA board member. "We have a new organization and new mandate to get things done," he says with obvious enthusiasm. "There is much to do and high on the list is to get the federal government to change our SRM legislation and put us on par with the Americans. It is costing $35 a cow for disposal and that's a huge disparaging cost. The federal government can make this change with a stroke of a pen and it has to happen fast before we lose packing plant capacity."

Toney has heard time again producers say they would go along with age verification but want someone to show them the money! "We're asking the province to pay producers $3 a head to help ease the pain of this transition," says Toney. "It's not a lot of money but every little bit helps. Traceability is a whole other issue. Unless there is proof there is any foreign country willing to pay a premium or switch to Canadian beef if we do, so far, producers aren't in a hurry to add to an already overburdened workload. When it comes right down to it - politics is what sells beef outside of our country."

David Stuart and his son ranch in the Edam area is the northwest part of the province and is the new SCA director for District 9B (Turtleford). Stuart has been extremely active in the industry as an advisor for the Livestock Loan Guarantee Program, and is presently the President of the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders. "For years, I felt that everyone who pays into the check-off should have a say," he tells us. "We now have much fairer representation and I believe that we are in a position to advise and show strong leadership. When you do that - governments pay attention."

Stuart was part of a SCA delegation that went to Ottawa in October with two things on their mind. One was to get the federal government to launch a WTO action against COOL and the other was to spotlight the hardships that Canada's SRM regulations have place on this industry. "We not only met with government politicians," says Stuart, "we met with opposition as well. It's their role in government to oppose but sometimes they need to know that it's okay to support a good idea. It's still going to be a fight for changing the regulations to give us parity with the U.S. but it's a fight we're willing to take to the mat."

Stuart recounts a recent situation where a cattle buyer purchased some good steers at a good price and couldn't find a Saskatchewan feedlot to put them into. "Our lots are full of under priced cattle," he protests. "The retail cost of beef is still up there so it doesn't make a lick of sense. Margins are still made on the backs of producers. SCA's mandate is to create a healthy margin for everyone in the value chain."

Stuart also feels we should focus on getting more of the smaller, provincial packers national equivalency so they can export across provincial borders. "We have the second largest cow herd in Canada, and a million people, yet our only federally inspected plant is closed at the moment."

While contemplating the road ahead, he knows it won't be easy but says that while there are good people on the new SCA board, there's a lot of expertise around the province. The door is open for producers to voice their concerns to their newly elected representatives and there's plenty of room for those that want to sit on committees to help to get the job done.

Industry Question

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