NEWSLETTER. November 2012 PEI SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION. Dear Shepherds:

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1 PEI SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER November 2012 Dear Shepherds: Please take note that the Annual General Meeting of the PEI Sheep Breeders Association will be held December 8th at 1 o'clock at the FARM CENTRE in Charlottetown. All are welcome and the annual membership dues can be paid at this time ($20). A presentation will be presented by Dr. Jeff Wichtel on out of season lambing and consolidated lambing. PLEASE BE AWARE It is illegal to sell or transport sheep without RFID tags!!

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3 CSF Director s Message The Canadian Sheep Federation s (CSF) Renewal Process began in the fall of 2011 due to the economic restraints that were announced in the previous federal budget. The CSF moved forward on its Renewal Process quickly by first consulting with the provincial associations who represent the Canadian producer. The PEI Sheep Breeder s Association was consulted for information and the Board of Directors provided feedback to the Renewal Process. The summary indicates that, most if not all members and stakeholders believe there is a need for a strong national agency to coordinate and facilitate the development of the Canadian Sheep Industry. The first order of business was to stabilize its funding as the CSF was told - quite bluntly- by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) that unless the sheep industry takes itself seriously, there is no point in applying for government funding. That means the CSF become selfsustaining and that we as producers assist in paying our own way. This does not mean AAFC would refuse funding for specific projects of a national nature, but that it would offer funding on the basis of a shared investment. As the CSF moves toward the Renewal Process, it has put in place a business plan that will stabilize its funding. During the course of the fiscal year, a national tag fee ($0.25 per tag) will be implemented. The implementation of a tag fee will be on a provincial basis, and come into effect no later than September 01, All provincial boards are in agreement that this is a fair practice in getting the CSF well positioned financially to move ahead. The CSF will eventually apply for agency status under the Agricultural Products Act of Canada thereby dropping the national tag fee and put in place a National Check-off for the Canadian Sheep Industry. Annual provincial membership dues to the CSF are presently calculated on the provincial percentage of the Canadian flock. The tag fee would replace the annual membership dues to the CSF. Why - a National Check-off? The check-off generates funding that can be used for research and marketing activities on behalf of the entire industry. These activities are aimed at advancing the Canadian sheep industry which ultimately puts more money back into the hands of producers. The full implementation of a national check-off on domestic sheep will also allow Canada to apply an equivalent levy to imported sheep and sheep products. The application target should be in the summer of The next action item in the Renewal Process is to examine the CSF s structure from the ground up. This process incorporates the feedback that provinces have provided on business planning, governance, communication, etc. including examining the feasibility of regional representation. The process will insure that the focus for the CSF should be on communication to and to assist the needs of producers with the end goal of providing leadership to the Canadian Sheep Industry. This newsletter does not allow space to describe all the work, research and funding program, negotiations with government and agencies the CSF undertakes on behalf of the Canadian producer. The August 2012 publication of the CSF s From the Flock provides a detailed look at what the CSF brings to the table.

4 Two such entries are as follows: What the CSF Brings to the Table: The CSF is always trying to protect the producer from program overload. This means that the CSF works with the provincial sheep organizations to make sure that the national programs driven by agricultural and public policy considerations are implemented in a way that is the least disruptive possible for our producers. The CSF has been working with the Canadian Animal Health Institute to work with the Veterinary Drug Directorate and Pharmaceutical companies to increase the number of medications approved for use in sheep. Claude E. Gallant, P.Ag. CSF Director For Sale Purebred non-registered North Country Cheviot ram lamb. Born March 31st Sired by purebred NC (twin) and Scrapie Genotype AARRRQ or R2 resistance which is second best on the scale of best R1 to least resistant R cm Scr. cir. Satisfactory for ram lamb at 8-14 months. Recomended:satisfactory 30-36cm, Exceptional >36cm. If interested please call (902) For Sale Purebred registered Rideau Arcott breeding stock. High health status. Scrapie Genotyping, ongoing Meadi Visna testing. With or without papers. Brookwater Farms. (902) For Sale 20 well grown 3/4 Pollypay X 1/4 suffolk ewe lambs. Exposed to Rideau Arcott ram. Due to begin lambing early March. Commercial Rideau Arcott rams also available. Blueshank Farms. (902) or (902)

5 THE PEI SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Annual General Meeting at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave. Charlottetown, PE Saturday, December 8, :00 p.m. Recorder: Time: 1. President s Welcome and Introduction of Guest Speaker, Dr. Jeff Wichtel by Carol MacLeod Presentation: Out of season and consolidated lambing 2. Questions / Discussion AGENDA Time: 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of the Agenda - Declaration of voting members & Conflict of Interest - Request for Agenda items 3. Approval Minutes of December 10, 2011 Annual General Meeting 4. Business arising from the December 10 th minutes (clarification, errors or omissions, etc.) 5. President s Report 1 st Call for Resolutions 6. Committee / Association Reports: Carol MacLeod - Programs Ryk terbeek - PEI Federation of Agriculture Ryk terbeek / Jennie Mutch Exhibition - Sheep Show Claude Gallant - Canadian Sheep Federation AGM 2 nd Call for Resolutions Financial Report Budget 9. Election of Directors: List of Current Directors below - Election of Committee Chairs - Announcement of the PEISBA Board of Directors & Committee Chairs for rd Call for Resolutions 10. New Business: a) Renewal of membership to the CSF and PEI Federation of Agr. for b) Selection of Judge for the 2013 Old Home Week Sheep Show c) Discussion around a RFID tag levy (tag fee or check off) 11. Correspondence:

6 12. Other Items: 13. Motion to adjourn: Time: PEI Sheep Breeders Association Board of Directors Directors Contact Address President - Ryk terbeek rykterbeek@rogers.com Vice President - Harry Elsinga harrye@pei.sympatico.ca Secretary - Emily Paynter Emily_paynter@live.com Treasurer - Carol MacLeod carolandjohnm@gmail.com Arthur Jones thornleighfarm@yahoo.ca Past President - Claude Gallant sandcgallant@isnwireless.ca Donna Clark donnaclark@pei.sympatico.ca Jackie Paynter paynterspaints@hotmail.com Melaney Matheson springwater@pei.sympatico.ca Directors with positions: Planning Committee / Program / Education - Carol MacLeod Past President & Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) - Claude Gallant Federation of Agriculture - Ryk ter Beek Newsletter Chairperson - Jackie Paynter Committees: Staff Advisory Committee Representative on CSF Renewal Process - Harry Elsinga Exhibition - Sheep Show Director - Ryk ter Beek (Jennie Mutch) Policy Committee Chairperson - Claude Gallant (Kathy MacDonald) Newsletter - Jackie Paynter (Jan Holmes, Carolyn Wood) Website Coordinator - Jennie Mutch Exhibition, etc. - Jane Palmer Project Coordinator - Carolyn Wood