CATTLE CALL Official Publication of the Saskatchewan Hereford Association
Summer 2017
Canadian Mail Product Agreement No. 40012604
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Greetings everyone. I hope this spring season has brought everyone a renewed optimism as we enjoy the thoughts of a new growing season. There is nothing quite like the day when you park the feeding machines and turn the cows out onto a fresh field of grass. If we can get some heat there will be a great crop of grass this year, as pretty much all of Saskatchewan seems to have soil moisture. At the farm here at Maidstone, the past week has really brought on the grass and leaves. Finally the weather has improved enough so the kids want to go outside! I have talked with multiple producers in the past week that have been pleased with returns on cull cows at the market. We are finally starting to see some fundamental pressures for a cattle price increase. This is a great opportunity to trade those cows without calves on them for cash. I’ve never had much luck keeping them over as empties; so a cow not lactating is a cow sold around here unless they are one of the fortunate to get twin from another cow. The market for bulls this spring was a bit hit and miss, but on average sales went fairly well. Unfortunately the cattle market has been lower for the last year or so and producers have had to redo their budgets I’m sure. The market correction will help everyone down the supply chain to keep beef on the consumer’s plate. It will be interesting to see what comes of trade talks between Canada and the US. President Trump definitely like to shake things up. The SHA ANNUAL MEETING is set for the 16 th of June at the AG in Motion site north west of Saskatoon on highway 16. We hope to have cattle on display, and have room for any of you that would like to show anything off be it cattle, promo materials, or products. Some of the board’s new initiatives that will be unveiled at the AGM include the MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, BREED PROMOTION PROGRAM and changes to the longest running show of its kind, the RED COAT CLASSIC. The Saskatchewan Hereford Association mentorship program will commence this fall with applications due in December of this year. We are hoping to foster a raised level of communication and interest in young people involved in the Hereford industry. The Mentorship committee consisting of Lance Leachman, Karen Wagner and our Junior representative Tyson Ringdal will outline the program. At our January meeting we renewed our commitment to advertising and promotion by appointing a new committee led by Rob O’Connor. As many of you know, Hereford cattle are discounted at many auction markets across the country based on poor perceptions that are largely in the past. Hereford breeders have worked diligently to improve the breed and the committee is tasked with changing the perception and clout of Herefords. They hope to present the first phase of a multi-year plan at the AGM. The Red Coat Classic show, annually held at Agribition, has a long-standing history of putting our breed and our influential breeders in the spotlight. The SHA is planning to produce a special program for the week of Agribition highlighting the cattle entered in the Red Coat Classic. We believe the program will create more of a buzz for the show, and we aim to increase traffic to the stalls of the exhibitors. This AGM will mark the first anniversary of my Presidency, and I’d like to thank our General Manager, Marilyn Charlton, and my fellow board members for their dedication to the breed. Stephen Myer, SHA President