The amalgamation will take effect in August
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Two Sask. ag organizations will unite later in 2024.
On Jan. 10, SaskCanola and SaskFlax announced the two organizations will officially amalgamate in August 2024 after successful votes at their respective annual general meetings.
Farmers voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of joining forces.
“The collaborative efforts are expected to streamline operations, enhance research initiatives, and provide a more cohesive voice for oilseed growers in the province,” Tracy Broughton, executive director, said in a statement.
The next step for the two organizations is to consult with the Agri-Food Council.
The independent council supervises and monitors ag agencies in the province. Part of its duties include approving agency orders and assisting groups in establishing new agencies.
Boards and staff from each organization will remain in place until the amalgamation takes effect.
After that occurs, one single board and staff will be installed to operate the new organization.
SaskCanola and SaskFlax started the amalgamation process in January 2023 with a management collaboration that saw them operate out of one office in Saskatoon.
Between July and November 2023, the organizations encouraged producers to participate in an online consultation related to possible amalgamation.
An October 2023 update about the consultations revealed, among other things, that:
- Overhead costs reduced by amalgamating would allow more levy dollars to flow directly into research and market development,
- Oilseed producers need alternatives to heavy canola rotations and flax has synergies in terms of oilseed marketing and crop rotation, and,
- Policy issues are often the same for all grain farmers, therefore a merger would provide greater efficiencies in advocacy efforts.