Blackwell said the position is a challenge he's willing to take on, "I've had a couple years on the board and I knew I could make a contribution and hopefully keep us the right path going forward."
He serves on the SPG's Research and Development Committee and Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee.
At the annual meeting, Blackwell presented the financial report, where he talked about lower prices affecting farmers.
Blackwell noted the SPG has been cutting projects instead of increasing levy prices, "As farmers have been in financial trouble these last few years with low prices and low movement, that affects Sask Pulse Growers with low levy returns. We've been cutting projects and budgets, trying to keep cost down rather than increase the levy."
The levy income in 2018 was a reported $9.6 million, a large drop from $16.8 million in 2017. The levy had dropped to ¢67 from $1 per tonne.
"Our biggest hurdle going forward is the seed value issue that's affecting wheat right now." Blackwell explained, "It will probably affect the pulse industry as well. We have a good system in place with the Crop Development Centre right now, so we just want to get something that's in the best interest of the farmers."
As Chair Head, Blackwell said he hopes to keep things functioning for the SPG and for farmers. Going forward, he said there will discussions around their current markets, "We have negotiations with Crop Development Centre coming up and there's still the issues with opening up markets for lentils and peas, and hopefully trying to find new markets."
Blackwell said he initially joined the SPG in 2017, "I've known a few people around that were on the board. Once the kids left home, I knew I wanted to get involved."
He currently operates a farm in the Dinsmore area, growing a variety of crops including lentils, chickpeas, soybeans, flax and wheat. Approximately 33% of his 8,000 acres are pulse crops.
Thu, Apr 25, 9:30 AM
