AGM Update

US is working off the short list and we, unfortunately, are on the long list,” Moss said.

“So it’s about 53 to 58 kilograms of our end product that we have to keep out of that animal that the US does not. And of course, that gives us a competitive cost disadvantage that can be upwards of $25 to $35 a head. So moving to that negligible-risk status helps pave the road for us to make a legitimate request to go to the short list.”

While still working towards a favourable outcome on the BSE file, Moss says he is excited about the possibilities raised through a new working relationship between the industry and CFIA.

The agency has said it wants to apply this new template to other projects, and Moss believes there’s potential to deliver more positive results on other issues. Already the team is working on its application to use the short list for SRM products in case the negligible-risk application is approved.

“I think it was a very good eye opener for CFIA about how you can work effectively with industry,” he said. It’s just been a very refreshing engagement with them over the last year, year and a half. And that’s certainly a credit to Siddika (Dr. Siddika Mithani), the president of CFIA. She’s just a wonderful person and we enjoy working with her so much.”

“It’s nice to talk about a good news story for a change,” Moss said. “We need one of those.” B

107th AGM is Going Virtual

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s 107 th Annual General Meeting will take place virtually next month.

“We had been hoping to meet in-person,” said SSGA president Bill Huber. “We held off as long as we could before deciding to hold the meeting online, but the pandemic situation is still uncertain. People have to make plans, so we had to make a decision.”

The AGM is required under the SSGA bylaws, and is an important opportunity to put forward resolutions coming from members through their Zone meetings.

Board elections are another part of the official business conducted at the AGM. Six Director-At-Large two-year terms are expiring, and elections will be held for those posts. The AGM is scheduled for 1:30 to 3:30 pm on Wednesday, October 14. In addition to conducting SSGA business, registrants will hear an update from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

The deadline for submitting resolutions and nominations is October 1.

“Our members’ safety was our main concern in going virtual,” Huber said. “We also have to think of our responsibilities to the community at large. We’ll do what’s necessary, and we’ll look ahead to our usual AGM and Convention next year.”

The planning process for the 108th AGM, to be held in Assiniboia, is already underway.

Registration for this year’s virtual meeting is now open on the SSGA website. The agenda and other details will be posted as they are finalized. B