SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, June 22, 2016 – Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS) Inc.
Clinton Monchuk, from the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan remains as the Chair of the Board of Directors. Harvey Brooks, from the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission was elected to the Board of Directors, while Wayne Truman of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission and Gord Schroeder from the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Commission were re-elected as Director for another term. Norm Hall, from APAS remains as Vice-Chair, with Roger Provencher from the Saskatchewan Bison Association, and Dr. Michael Nickerson, from of the U of S-College of Ag & Bioresources remain on the Board of Directors. Clinton thanked Dan Prefontaine of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre for his years of service on the ACS Board of Directors, and presented him with a thank you gift.
Executive Director, Bryan Kosteroski reported that the ACAAFS projects are now all complete as at March 31, 2016. From April, 2014 to December 31, 2015 residual funding from the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) program was used towards twenty projects for a total amount of $1,532,708.63.
The Levy Central Program under ACS continues to operate levy collection and election services for Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta commodity organizations and regional check-offs. The levy collected funds research, market development and education activities through the commodity organizations. Activity over the 2013/14 year focused on maintaining the high quality of service offered to clients, marketing the program to other commodity groups as well as expanding the suite of services offered to clients. The program continues to assist 14 commodity organizations which together represent 17 separate check-off programs. Additional personnel are hired as required. Election Services were provided to 9 Levy clients this year.
Our guest speaker following the AGM was Chantelle Donahue who is the Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Cargill in Canada. She oversees government/regulatory relations, industry relations, media relations and corporate social responsibility. The role is based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Chantelle’s responsibilities extend across Cargill’s 14 business units in the areas of beef, poultry, malt, grain handling and port services, animal nutrition, canola processing and others. Chantelle spoke on The Canadian Journey to Social License and Public Trust. She spoke on the changing times for farming, and the demand for greater transparency around where and how the raw materials are produced. Also she spoke on the fact that consumers are increasingly disconnected from the farm and they expect more responsible environmental and social practices throughout the supply chains.