PFRA Shutdowns.....

[SCS]

Talked to a SCA participant who made the motion at one of the meetings, and asked why there were three the same, his reply it came from APAS. A self appointed group with only a third of the RM's belonging to.

It goes against it's parent SARM who spoke for the Pasture Action. APAS is very good at spending other peoples money, more left wing Farmer Union group.

Government will be at the SCA meeting and monitering how the vote goes. I am for what we need is the pastures to stay intact, but certainly don't agree with your actions.

SCS

[SADIE]

SCS---I am sure fortunate to have experienced how working with CAEPLA has taught me how to look at things differently.


"It takes time to move a mountain but once it starts moving it is very difficult to stop it".

[SADIE]

SCS--

First of all I appreciate the fact that you support the PFRA pasture concept the way it was/is. I am a patron of the PFRA in two pastures. I need the privilege to continue to graze in these pastures to keep our farm unit economically viable. I consider this a form of property rights---ie the privilege to be a PFRA pasture patron.

Here are some facts that I did not know before I was asked to get involved when we looked as patrons to consider dealing with a one pasture basis. Presently we are in Saskatoon area, many PFRA pastures in this area of mixed grain and some cow-calf operations. This area is very dependant on PFRA pastures to maintain the mixed farming operation. Huge infrastructure of cattle facilities have been built up over the years on these farms.

Facts now known to myself. PFRA pastures include 2 million acres of pasture land in Manitoba, Saskatchewan & Alberta. 1.2-1.4 million acres of this pasture conservation lands are in Saskatchewan within the 62 PFRA pastures. Alberta has the 1 pasture near Medicine Hat and the rest are in Manitoba.

There are 2200 PFRA pasture patrons in the province of Saskatchewan.

I was fortunate to have been asked to reach out and find PFRA pasture managers or PFRA pasture patron committees in early December about a PFRA PROVINCE WIDE MEETING OF PATRONS to Take Place on January 23 2012 at the Sutherland Hall at 1112 Central Avenue Saskatoon . Registration deadline is Jan 14 2013 Contact Joanne Brochu or jbrochu@sasktel.net. 306 255-2046. to register.

The blitz contacting of all PFRA pastures the first week of December was crucial because that is the week of next years Patron allocations. The word of this upcoming meetings was vastly spread quickly before the slowdown of the XMAS season.

What does one learn in phoning out across Saskatchewan contacting the different Pasture Patrons or Pasture Managers.

1)Huge relief to many pasture PFRA patrons that this might be a light needed. Huge anxiety on the future of these cow-calf enterprises. Some patrons were ready to "quit" and have a herd dispersal.

2)PFRA pasture managers & Riders ---the workers in the PFRA system were very concerned and were reluctant to discuss any matters because of a potential "GAG" clause regarding retirement packages.

(Sounds alot like the Energy Sector)

3)Support on a grassroots gathering is gaining momentum from other sectors in the communities as well. The hunters are very concerned because PFRA always has opened the gates Nov 1 when the cattle were out for big game hunting.

4)Contacting the rural veterinary clinics and talking with my veterinary colleagues soon found great support with the rural practicing veterinarians as well. The posters of this upcoming meeting is now in many vet clinics across the province. Many patrons have finished fall preg-checking, weaning and often stop in at the vet clinics to pay their bill and might have a yearly Xmas cheer with their local vet as well. Good discussion.

5)Great support being gathered at many local auction markets as well. Already auctioneers have announced and will keep announcing this upcoming PFRA pasture patron meeting in January 2013 as well.

SCS---good to your meetings where the lobbying is performed. Let the discussions continue in your travels. Discussion creates action, discussion shows governments that there might be a problem at the grassroots level. The phones might be ringing at the political levels as well both federal and provincial.