Livestock & Forage Strategy

Shelley Jones

Manager

Agriculture Knowledge Centre

Growth Targets

The Targets

• Livestock cash receipts

• Crop production

• Leader in biosciences

• Public trust

• Exports

• Value-added agriculture

Our role

• Strong legislative framework

• Research and development investment

• Trade advocacy

• Knowledge and technology transfer

Working Together

• Earning public trust

• Disease surveillance

• Business risk management

• Backgrounding and finishing

Background

• Original strategy developed in 2012

• $2.0B livestock cash receipts target by 2020

• Consultation with industry

• Annual check-in with ALL stakeholders

• “Refreshed” in fall of 2017 and broadened scope to include forage

• Check-in with ALL stakeholders later this year

Livestock and Forage Strategy 2.0

Guiding Principles | Transparency • Evidence-Based • Sustainability • Collaboration • Resiliency

Assurance Systems

Ensure human, animal, environmental and industry health are protected.• Promote a robust food safety system • Lead livestock disease surveillance and

response• Promote animal codes of practice and

biosecurity standards• Regulate responsibly• Improve public understanding

The sector adopts innovative practices, improving production.

Saskatchewan is a trusted supplier of high quality livestock and forage

products.

Stakeholders are confident production systems are safe and sustainable.

Vision Prosperous and sustainable livestock and forage sectors Mission | To support sector competitiveness

March 1, 2018

Science, Research & Innovation

Partner with industry in the development and application of technologies and practices.• Support research, development and

commercialization programs• Build research capacity and

infrastructure• Enhance technology transfer and

adoption

Market Readiness

Enable industry to identify, access and serve new and existing markets.• Respond effectively to market demands• Provide effective business and

production risk management tools• Enhance on-farm stewardship• Promote Saskatchewan as a trusted

supplier of high quality products

Science, Research & Innovation

Desired outcome: The sector adopts innovative practices improving production.

Government role: Partner with industry in the development and application of technologies and practices.

Your role? Partner, collaborator, with us and with other industry associations.

Science, Research & Innovation

Market Readiness

Desired outcome: Saskatchewan is a trusted supplier of high quality livestock and forage products.

Government role: Enable industry to identify, access and serve new and existing markets.

Your role? Participation in programs, efforts to build public trust and industry promotion.

Assurance Systems

Desired outcome: Stakeholders are confident production systems are safe and sustainable.

Government role: Ensure human, animal, environmental and industry health are protected.

Your role? Development and adoption of codes of practice; regulatory compliance

Assurance Systems

• Animal Welfare

– Consumer concern for farm animal welfare continues to gain momentum

– Guiding consumer purchases

– Adopting or Adhering to

Codes of Practice

• Producer incentives/support

• Consumer education/awareness

Target: $2.5 Bin receipts by 2025

What does our beef industrySWOT tell us?

Livestock and Forage Strategy 2.0

Guiding Principles | Transparency • Evidence-Based • Sustainability • Collaboration • Resiliency

Assurance Systems

Ensure human, animal, environmental and industry health are protected.• Promote a robust food safety system • Lead livestock disease surveillance and

response• Promote animal codes of practice and

biosecurity standards• Regulate responsibly• Improve public understanding

The sector adopts innovative practices, improving production.

Saskatchewan is a trusted supplier of high quality livestock and forage

products.

Stakeholders are confident production systems are safe and sustainable.

Vision Prosperous and sustainable livestock and forage sectors Mission | To support sector competitiveness

March 1, 2018

Science, Research & Innovation

Partner with industry in the development and application of technologies and practices.• Support research, development and

commercialization programs• Build research capacity and

infrastructure• Enhance technology transfer and

adoption

Market Readiness

Enable industry to identify, access and serve new and existing markets.• Respond effectively to market demands• Provide effective business and

production risk management tools• Enhance on-farm stewardship• Promote Saskatchewan as a trusted

supplier of high quality products

Introducing a Modernized

Regional Services Branch

Agriculture has Changed

Trends & Changes

Consumer awareness

Climate change

Biological revolution

Increasing footprint of the private sector

Digital agriculture &

big data

Farm demographics

Information and communication

technology

Background

What We Heard

Producers:• Government plays a critical role in providing unbiased extension. • Applied research and local tech transfer should be a priority.• Specialists are valued as pathfinders due to their network and knowledge.• Extension is key to protecting the public good and maintaining trust. • We need to improve producer awareness of programs.

Industry:• Ministry extensions services should complement industry associations and

private sector, not compete with it.

Public:• Government needs to protect Saskatchewan’s resources.

External Feedback

Reviewing Extension Services

The Goal of Modernization

Background

Ensure extension activities are driving sustainable growth and helping producers stay competitive in a global market.

Growing Saskatchewan AgricultureRegional Services Purpose

Mission

Vision A sustainable, competitive and trusted Saskatchewan agriculture sector.

Support adoption of sustainable and innovative management practices through technology transfer, risk mitigation and program delivery.

Focused Extension

Technology Transfer

Public Trust

Program Delivery

Regional Services Priorities

Specialty Units Regional Services Priorities

Livestock & Feed

Range Management

Agri-Environment

Crops

Agricultural Programs

Livestock

Forage

Crops

Farm Business Management

Current Model

New Model

Livestock & Feed ExtensionW

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Tech Transfer of Research and Innovation

• Livestock & feed related inquiries are connected.

• More research & tech transfer is needed.

• Staff interested in more hands-on demonstration.

• Feed-related extension added to scope.

• Greater focus on research, tech transfer and industry collaboration.

• Livestock Branch increasing specialization.

• Increased clarity on regional and provincial specialist roles.

Range Management Extension W

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Support Stewardship of Public and Private Rangeland

• Gov responsible to monitor & protect environment.

• Private sector is providing basic agronomy service.

• Pasture transition is adding pressure.

• More tech transfer is needed.

• 6 Forage Specialists now Range Management Specialists

• Greater emphasis on research, tech transfer and industry collaboration.

• Focus will be on native and tame range management.

• Feed-related extension transferred to Livestock & Feed Specialists.

• Shift environmental priorities to Agri-Environmental Specialists.

Agriculture Program SpecialistsW

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Enhance Producer Competitiveness through Program Extension

• XX• XX

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• Clients receive farm business service from private sector

• Clients unaware of Ministry programs

• Key Ministry priorities require dedicated support

• 7 FBM Specialists now Agricultural Program Specialists

• Transfer positions to focus on:

• Lands – Strategic Initiatives • Policy – Cost of Production• Trade & Value Added – Value

Added• Programs – Program Admin

• AKC FBM Specialist maintained

• Responsibility for Ag Awareness

Prince Albert

North Battleford Tisdale

Yorkton

Weyburn

Regina

Kindersley

Swift Current

Moose Jaw

Saskatoon

Outlook

Watrous

Regional OfficesBranch Structure

Regional Manager - South

Weyburn

Programs

Crops

Livestock & Feed

Range Management

RSR (PFT)

Admin Assistant (PPT)

Swift Current

Programs

Crops

Livestock & Feed

Range Management

Agri-Environmental

RSR (PFT)

Admin Assistant (PPT)

Kindersley

Crops

Livestock & Feed

Range Management

RSR (PFT)

Admin Assistant (PPT)

South RegionBranch Structure

Partnering with IndustryAligned Programs, Services & Structure

Farmers, Ranchers &

Agribusiness

Ministry Extension Specialists

Research Community

Private Industry

Commodity Associations

Success Measures

Input: Employee Engagement

Input: Client Satisfaction

Output: Reach & Uptake

Outcome: Adoption of Practices

Competitive, sustainable and trusted sector

Next Steps

Key Findings:

Clients value Ministry extension for unbiased regional tech transfer, protection of the public good and pathfinding.

New Focus:

Modernized Regional Services BranchSummary

What’s changed?• Specialist roles changed to:

• Farm Business Management Unit repositioned.

• Light Offices in Kindersley, Prince Albert, Outlook & closure of satellite offices.

• Specialty leads & AKC manager created.• New Strategic Field Research Program.

Redesigned communications vehicles. • Realignment across the Ministry.

Agricultural Programs

Rangeland Management

Agri-Environment

Livestock & Feed

Crops Extension

Technology Transfer

Public Trust

Program Delivery

Let’s keep ‘raising the bar’……together.