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Sask Wheat Is Looking For A New Executive Director

Harvey Brooks who served as General Manager of the organization since 2014 announced his retirement plans this week.

Brooks helped develop the organization from a start-up commission to its role today.

Sask Wheat Chair Brett Halstead says Harvey’s depth of experience in the grains industry and producer relations has been extremely important in representing Sask wheat producers’ interests during the periods of significant change.

Some highlights of Brooks career included the formation of the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition and having Sask Wheat take on the administration for the Canadian National Wheat Cluster, which facilitates a $25 million collaborative research effort.

During Brooks’ tenure, the CWRC also assumed joint funding of the Core Wheat Breeding Agreements for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and three Prairie universities, an investment of approximately $34.6 million.

Sask Wheat Director Bill Gehl says Sask Wheat has been very fortunate to have Harvey as its General Manager from our initial growth stage up to our current operations, which encompass research funding, agronomy extension, policy development and communications.

Brooks will remain with Sask Wheat until mid-October, in the meantime the board has started its search for a new Executive Director.

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Secure Pork Supply Plan | Prepare to Protect Your Herd | U.S. Pork Producers

Video: Secure Pork Supply Plan | Prepare to Protect Your Herd | U.S. Pork Producers

Join Jill Brokaw, a third-generation pig farmer and staff member of the National Pork Board, as she dives into the vital role of the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan in preparing the U.S. pork industry for potential foreign animal disease outbreaks. This video is an essential watch for pork producers who are looking to safeguard their operations against the threats of diseases like foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever, and African swine fever.

•Why Should Pork Producers Care?

An outbreak of foreign animal diseases in the U.S. could lead to severe restrictions and potentially result in industry-wide financial losses estimated between $15 to $100 billion. The SPS Plan is a collective effort to prevent such catastrophic outcomes by enhancing biosecurity, ensuring animal traceability, and promoting effective disease monitoring.

What You'll Learn:

The Importance of Preparedness: Understand why being proactive is crucial for maintaining business continuity during an outbreak.

•Enhanced Biosecurity Measures:

Write a site-specific biosecurity plan that can serve as the first line of defense against potential outbreaks.

•Animal Disease Traceability:

Learn about the significance of tracking animal movement and how acquiring a premises identification number (PIN) and using AgView can facilitate this process. Disease Monitoring: Find out how continuous observation and reporting can keep your herd healthy and disease-free.

•Getting Started with SPS:

The video breaks down the seemingly daunting task of preparing for a foreign animal disease outbreak into manageable steps. With free resources available at www.securepork.org, including templates and instructions, Jill guides producers on developing a customized plan to enhance their farm's defenses.

•Expert Insights:

Hear from Dr. Pam Zaabel on collaborating with your herd veterinarian to develop and implement your SPS plan effectively.

•Takeaway:

The Secure Pork Supply initiative is more than a plan; it's a commitment to the resilience of our food supply and the livelihoods within the pork industry. By embracing these proactive measures, we can collectively enhance our preparedness for foreign animal disease outbreaks.