History & Governance

The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat) was established in June 2013 by the Saskatchewan Government as an agency operating under the Agri-Food Act, 2004.

History of Sask Wheat

When Bill C-18, the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act, became law in August 2012, Western Canada’s wheat industry entered a new era. The new legislation led existing provincial commissions and farm organizations to call for new leadership of Saskatchewan’s wheat industry, which led to the creation of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission.

Provincial regulations governing the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission were passed in June 2013 and the organization was formally launched by Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart on June 20, 2013. The collection of refundable levies of $0.52 per tonne for wheat began August 1, 2013. An interim Board, appointed by Government, directed the initial activities of the Commission until an elected Board of Directors took office on January 13, 2014.

Sask Wheat absorbed the responsibilities and financial obligations of the Western Canadian Deduction (WCD) on August 1, 2017. The WCD was established by the Government of Canada on August 1, 2012, replacing the previous check-off that was administered by the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). The WCD levy of $0.48 per tonne was applied to all sales of wheat delivered to licensed grain buyers in Western Canada. The WCD was established as a transitional levy to ensure continued support for the development of new wheat varieties by public breeding institutions and market support activities at the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi), which were previously funded by the CWB check-off.

Under the direction of Sask Wheat, Saskatchewan producers’ check-off dollars will now be invested in research and development initiatives to fuel a sustainable and profitable wheat industry.

Winter Cereals

Prior to August 1, 2023, The Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission (SWCDC) was the provincially designated representative organization for producers of winter cereals in the province of Saskatchewan.

Winter Cereals include Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L), Fall Rye (Secale cereale L) and Winter Triticale (Triticale x Triticosecale Wittmack). These crops fit into an ecologically sound rotation plan and can be used as a product for milling, feed and ethanol production.

In 2005, Winter Cereals Canada Inc. surveyed producers throughout Saskatchewan, with 93.1 per cent of those surveyed and growing at least one winter cereal supporting the formation of a Winter Cereals Commission. SWCDC officially began in 2006 with the publication of Orders 01/06 to 05/06 in The Saskatchewan Gazette, September 8, 2006 and operates under the provisions of “The Winter Cereals Development Plan” (effective August 16, 2006) and The Agri-Food Act, 2004. The organization held its inaugural meeting in August 2006 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Resolutions passed at the 2022 Annual General Meetings (AGMs) of the SWCDC and Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat) called for the organizations to "explore options for amalgamation, which would have the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission assume the mandate of the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission for winter wheat, fall rye, and winter triticale, including research, advocacy, market development, grower relations, and communications activities for these additional crops." After an extensive consultation period, resolutions were passed at the SWCDC and Sask Wheat 2023 AGMs calling for the amalgamation of the organizations:

WHEREAS the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission are focused on maximizing value for levy-payers (i.e. producers of spring wheat, durum and winter cereals in Saskatchewan);

AND WHEREAS levy-payer value would be increased through efficiencies and benefits that would be gained through closer coordination between our organizations;

AND WHEREAS amalgamation will provide the greatest efficiencies and benefits to the levy-payers of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission amalgamate under the name Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, with the amalgamated Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission to assume the mandate of the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission for winter wheat, fall rye, and winter triticale, including research, advocacy, market development, grower relations, and communications activities in addition to the current mandate of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission for spring wheat and durum.

Sask Wheat officially assumed the mandate of SWCDC on August 1, 2023, including collecting the levies for winter wheat, fall rye, and winter triticale and performing the research, advocacy, market development, grower relations, and communications activities of the organization.

Governance

The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat) was established in June 2013 by the Saskatchewan Government as an agency operating under the Agri-Food Act, 2004. It reports to the Agri-Food Council and is governed by The Wheat Development Plan Regulations and related Orders, which set out the purpose and powers of the organization, its governance structure and reporting requirements.

Sask Wheat has an eight-member Board of Directors, elected by registered wheat producers in Saskatchewan. Board members must be registered wheat producers in Saskatchewan.

Each term of office is four years. A Director may complete two successive terms, but then must step down for a period of two years before being eligible for re-election. Elections will be held every two years and election results will be announced each January at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).