October 18, 2006 news conference

The SCWMC held a news conference at the Best Western Parkland Inn in Yorkton starting at 1:30 p.m. The committee has just completed its 5 Year Report, and it was presented to Mr. Mark Wartman, Minister of Agriculture who accepted the report on behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan. Minister Wartman’s comments:

“The work done by the Spirit Creek Watershed Monitoring Committee provides quantifiable proof of the effectiveness of our livestock development environmental regulations and the stewardship of our livestock producers. Our livestock producers are good stewards of the environment and the report confirms this fact. Growing Saskatchewan’s livestock industry is key to stimulating the provinces rural economy. We are committed to ensuring that the development of rural Saskatchewan be done in a way that protects our environment and makes life better for all Saskatchewan families.”

The Minister complimented the SCWMC for all its hard work and perseverance over the past five years. The report will be well received by the government; what we have learned from this report is (1) the government is managing the development of intensive livestock operations correctly, and (2) the facts and conclusions from this 5 Year Report can be applied right across the Province of Saskatchewan.

The report’s conclusions echo those of the interim report, namely that intensive livestock operations do not have to have a negative impact on the local environment.

The committee has made recommendations to help ensure the environmental sustainability of the watershed environment and that soil/manure monitoring continue to the end of 2012.

September 26, 2006 general meeting

The SCWMC met at the Best Western Parkland Inn in Yorkton. Discussion took place on reviewing the “draft” of the Final (Five Year) Report. The comments and recommendations will be brought forward to the Communications Department for writing the final version.

July 10, 2006 general meeting

A meeting of the SCWMC was held at the Best Western Parkland Inn in Yorkton. The discussion centered on the writing of our Final (Five Year) Report before going to Communications for writing.

June 28, 2006 general meeting

A meeting of the SCWMC was held at the Best Western Parkland Inn in Yorkton. Guest speaker was Mr. Bill Henley, Manager Environmental Programs, Strategic Planning Policy Branch, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. Discussion on the Agriculture Policy Framework, the perception that the public has on Agriculture and the vital, true factual information to be known to the public concerning corporate farms, ILO’s, etc. regarding agricultural issues. There is much negativity out there brought about by false and untrue documented information.

March 29, 2006 general meeting

A meeting of the SCWMC was held at the Best Western Parkland Inn in Yorkton. Guests attending – Jim Davis, past committee member; Brian Possberg, Big Sky Farms Ltd.; and Don Dean, grain producer and soil program co-operator from Rama. Special guest – Keith Head, agrologist from Head and Associates Ltd. Keith presented his Final Report on the “Soil/Manure Monitoring Program” This report summarizes the soils work/results from 2000 till the end of 2005.

With the completion of the Soil/Manure Monitoring Report, the SCWMC will now start the process of writing our Final Report (Five Year Report covering 2000 till 2005), scheduled to be presented to the Minister this fall.

February 16, 2006 general meeting

A meeting of the SCWMC was held at the Best Western Parkland Inn in Yorkton. Special guest was Dr. Terry Hanley, Director of Monitoring AND Assessment, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. His presentation was on “Water Quality Monitoring.”

All soils results are in from last fall’s sampling program, Head and Associates will be writing the Final Report and it will be presented at our next meeting.

The Minister is very satisfied with the work of the SCWMC, and supports a continuation of the soils research program for another 6 years.