SSGA President Jeff Yorga (right) presents honour scroll to Dale and Shelly Easton of Wawota at the Sasaktchewan Stock Growers semi-annual meeting. (Image Credit: (supplied photo/Saskatchewan Stock Growers))

By Alice McFarlane

Sask stock growers meet

SSGA debates traceability, presents honour scrolls at semi-annual meeting

Mar 9, 2026 | 4:08 PM

Farmers and ranchers met last month just outside of Saskatoon to address several pressing matters at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) 2026 Semi-Annual Meeting.   

SSGA members debated 15 resolutions that ranged from traceability, regulatory reform, wildlife management, research investment, and practical tools that support day-to-day ranch operations.  

Nearly all of the resolutions passed including one asking SSGA to lobby the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canadian Cattle Identification Agency to stop any increase in traceability requirements. 

SSGA President Jeff Yorga said resolutions are the business of the organization and it’s how the membership communicates with the board what they want the focus to be for the next six months. 

“CFIA has been a hot topic everywhere. It was nice to see unanimous support for the direction the board is heading in terms of dealing with CFIA, and I thank our members for their support,” Yorga said. 

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Members called for a halt to increased traceability and individual animal movement reporting; asked for an independent five-year study evaluating RFID tag retention, replacement frequency, and total producer cost before further implementation; and the creation of an industry-government working group to determine a path forward.  

SSGA membership also want CFIA returned to the authority of the Minister of Agriculture, ensure that Canadian livestock data is managed by Canadian entities, and fair, timely compensation with the option of private valuers for producers facing disease cull orders.  

Resolutions also urged Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to reverse recent research centre closures, called for moving the Pest Management Regulatory Agency under AAFC, and advocated for stronger provincial tools to address wildlife overpopulation, expedite e-manifests without added cost, and support forage conversion on marginal lands.   

The evening Honour Scroll Banquet celebrated individuals whose dedication has shaped Saskatchewan’s livestock industry. It recognized long-standing leadership, service beyond the farm gate, and contributions that strengthen both the industry and rural Saskatchewan.   

Receiving scrolls were Dale and Shelly Easton of Wawota, Murray and Selena McGillivray formerly of Radville, and Dr. Grant Royan of Regina. 

Earlier in the day, SSGA hosted its first Young Rancher Seminar where producers gained practical insight into financial and tax planning, livestock marketing, and herd health indicators. 

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com