Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Development Board (Saskatchewan Pulse Growers or SPG) was established in 1984 as a grower-led organization to develop the pulse industry in Saskatchewan.
SPG collects levy from and supports the development of pulse and soybean crops in Saskatchewan. SPG is governed by a nine-member grower-elected Board of Directors to ensure the strategic priorities of the organization are carried out. SPG undertakes work in the areas of research and development, market development and market access initiatives, and communications programs in pursuit of our strategic priorities.
SPG is established under the Agri-Food Act, 2004, with regulatory oversight provided by the Agri-Food Council. Council members are appointed and are accountable to the Minister of Agriculture. SPG is regulated under the Pulse Crop Development Plan Regulations, 2014.
Levy
A 0.67% levy on the gross value of pulse crops sold is deducted at the point of sale by the buyer, assembler, or processor who purchases the crop from the farmer. This levy applies to all crops listed in SPG’s regulations, with the most commonly grown being peas, lentils, chickpeas, faba beans, dry beans, and soybeans grown in Saskatchewan and is remitted to SPG to fund research, market development, communications, market access, and more. The levy rate was lowered to 0.67% on August 1, 2016, down from 1.0% collected prior (2003–2016).
History
Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Growers Association (SPCGA) preceded SPG and was established as a society in 1976 thanks to the hard work of some of the pioneers of our industry including Don Tait, Earl Peters, John Buchan, and Dr. Al Slinkard.
The SPCGA was a forum for the early pulse producers to share information on research, production, and marketing of pulse crops. Their early success included the formation of the Western Pulse Growers Association and the development of a pulse cookbook. However, their most significant accomplishment was the establishment of SPG on July 25, 1984. When the Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Development Board (known today as Saskatchewan Pulse Growers or SPG) was established in 1984, pea and lentil producers finally had a voice and the resources to influence the development of the industry.
Partnerships
SPG is an integral member of a larger pulse and agricultural industry and network. This network of partnerships includes grower and industry organizations that collaborate to meet growers’ needs for strategic priority areas like market access, market development, transportation and sustainability needs, as well as an amplified grower voice to advocate on broader policy issues.
Pulse Canada
SPG prioritizes work in the areas of market access and market development through a long-standing strategic partnership with Pulse Canada. Pulse Canada is focused on increasing value for Canadian-grown pulses and, in turn, profitability for Canadian growers. Pulse Canada’s work is focused in the areas of market access including trade, transportation, and crop protection products, and active outreach on market development and sustainability.
Learn more about Pulse Canada
Soy Canada
SPG works with Soy Canada to advance issues pertinent to removing barriers and growing markets for Canadian-grown soybeans. Soybeans are a relatively new and smaller-acre crop in Saskatchewan, but through Soy Canada, soybean growers have national representation uniting the full soybean value chain from farm to marketplace on issues like trade policy and market access, industry profile building, and coordination of soybean research and innovation.
Learn more about Soy Canada
Grain Growers of Canada
SPG advocates for pulse growers on key national issues at the federal government level through partnership with Grain Growers of Canada (GGC). GGC represents over 65,000 grain growers from coast to coast under one united voice to advocate and influence federal policy and take decisions that support the competitiveness and profitability of Canadian agriculture, especially in areas like business risk management programs, sustainability, and transportation.
Learn more about Grain Growers of Canada
Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan & Canadian Food Focus
SPG works to cultivate public trust, respect, and understanding of agriculture and Canadian-grown pulses to urban Saskatchewan communities through partnership and support of Farm & Food Care (FFC) Saskatchewan. FFC brings together farmers, ranchers, and everyone involved in food production to help connect consumers with the food on their plates and the science-based farming practices behind it. Canadian Food Focus is a FFC initiative to communicate food and farming stories, explore how food is grown and raised, shared recipes, dispels myths, and provide advice from farming and food experts to make Canadian consumers, especially those in large urban centres, more confident about their food choices.
Learn more about Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan Learn more about Canadian Food Focus
Agriculture in the Classroom
SPG works to cultivate public trust and education around agriculture and pulses through partnership and support of Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Saskatchewan. AITC works with school-aged children across Saskatchewan, creating agricultural educational resources and delivering content to students in which they learn where their food comes from and an appreciation for and importance of the land, animals, and the farmers that sustain it.
Learn more about Agriculture in the Classroom
Do More Agriculture Foundation
SPG supports breaking the stigma around mental health in agriculture through support of The Do More Agriculture Foundation (Do More Ag). Do More Ag works to educate the agriculture industry on mental health, breaking the stigma that currently exists, creating a community of belonging, support, and resources, and ensuring research in this field can continue.
Learn more about Do More Agriculture Foundation
SaskCrops
Saskatchewan crop development commissions began working more collaboratively in 2021/22 to advocate on behalf of growers on broad policy issues under the group name SaskCrops, which includes SPG, SaskWheat, SaskCanola, SaskBarley, SaskOats, and SaskFlax. Environment and climate change policy is a primary topic of focus, along with grain contracts and other broad policy issues of importance to all growers.
Learn more about SaskCrops