Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture and Food

Primary Agency

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture and Food

• Department of Agriculture and Food
• Ag and Food
• Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
• Saskatchewan. Dept. of Agriculture and Food

1989-2002, 2004-2007

The Department of Agriculture became the Department of Agriculture and Food on April 1, 1989.

The organizational structure for the department during 1989-1990 consisted of a Minister of Agriculture and Food and an Associate Minister. A Deputy Minister (DM) reported to the Minister. An Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) reported to the Deputy Minister with the various branches and some agencies reporting to the ADM. The balance of the agencies reported through the DM.

The first minister of the department was Grant Devine. He had been the Minister of Agriculture prior to the reorganization. Perhaps due to Devine concurrently serving as premier, Harold Martens was appointed as Associate Minister of Agriculture and Food in October 1989. The associate position disappeared from departmental org charts in the 1991-1992 fiscal year, presumably as a result of Roy Romanow's NDP government replacing Devine's Progressive Conservative administration. Stuart Kramer was the first Deputy Minister.

The administrative structure evident in the annual report issued at end of the first fiscal year under Agriculture and Food comprised:
Administrative Services Branch - provided department support services in budgeting, accounting, space and accommodation, equipment and supplies, mail services, vehicle management, computer management, legislation and administrative analysis.
Agriculture Development and Diversification Secretariat - worked with individuals, companies, industry groups, and various levels of government to facilitate agri-food development and diversification initiatives.
Agricultural Engineering - developed and implemented policies, programs and services, and assists in the development of innovative and practical solutions to agricultural engineering problems.
Communications - disseminated information relating to programs, policies and services provided by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food to the public through a variety of methods including library, publications production and distribution, audio-visual production and media relations.
Counselling and Assistance for Farmers - provided financial counseling and operating and/or consolidation loan guarantees to eligible farmers who had been declined operating loans from their primary lending institution.
Economics - had as its mission to strengthen the primary agricultural and food processing sectors of the provincial agri-food industry through the provision of economic research, analysis and program delivery.
Human Resources - provided the Department of Agriculture and Food, as well as the Extension Service, Rural Service and Lands branches with staffing, classification, staff relations, benefits administration, training and staff development. The branch also provided policy direction and guidance for administration and management of personnel to the Department and its associated agencies.
Livestock - developed programs and policies and administered regulations to encourage a viable competitive livestock and livestock products industry in the province.
Northern Farms Unit - operated farms at several locations in Northern Saskatchewan including Cumberland House, Ile-la-Crosse, and Silver Lake.
Soils and Crops - provided support to farmers through its Crop Technology and Development Section, Horticulture Section, Apiary Section, Soils Section and a unit responsible for the Agriculture and Food in Northern Saskatchewan program.
Veterinary Branch - provided support services for the veterinary profession in Saskatchewan in respect to issues of animal health and meat safety.

A Number of other agencies had a functional responsibility to the Minister, reporting through the Deputy Minister: Agricultural Credit Corporation; Milk Control Board; Natural Products Marketing Council; Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute; Sask. Beef Stabilization Board; Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation; Saskatchewan Horse Racing Commission; Saskatchewan Land Allocation Appeal Board; Saskatchewan Pork Producers' Marketing Board; Saskatchewan Sheep and Wool Marketing Commission; Saskatchewan Vegetable Marketing Commission.

By December 1989, all farms operated by the Northern Farms Unit had been either transferred to private operators or local trusts. The unit was included under the Administrative Services Branch in the departmental annual report for 1989-1990.

The Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund was created in 1985 to promote market expansion, diversification, biotechnology and value added production but was not reported as a separate agency until 1991-1992.

In 1992-1993, the Livestock, Soils and Crops, Veterinary and Environment and Engineering branches as well as the agencies Counselling and Assistance for Farmers, the Milk Control Board and the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute all began reporting through the Assistant Deputy Minister.

The fiscal year 1993-1994 saw the addition of a second ADM, one responsible for Policy and Planning and the other for Financial Support and Program Management. Lands and Registration Management was transferred to the latter. Lands Branch, formerly falling under the auspices of the Department of Rural Development was moved to Lands and Registration Management as the functions of Rural Development were distributed among other departments.

The next big change came in 1996-1997, when programs were juggled, with the resulting Programs and Services Division and the Development and Finance Division both reporting through their respective ADM and the Central Support Division reporting directly to the Deputy Minister.

In 1997-1998, the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) and the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Saskatchewan (ACS) were spun off as separate Crown corporations reporting directly to the deputy minister.

In 1999-2000, SCIC and ACS began reporting through the Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for the Programs and Services Division. In 1996, a slow phase-out of the ACS had been originally announced. It finally wound up 2001 and remaining staff were transferred to other positions within the department.

In the 2001-2002 fiscal year, the departmental functions split into four divisions from three - Programs and Services Division, Central Support Division, a new Policy and Financial Services Division which drew some functions from Central Support Division, and the Agricultural Development Division.

Note: While the name change was adopted for all purposes in 1989, the name of the department does not seem to have changed through legislation until the passage of The Department of Agriculture Amendment Act (S.S. 2000, c.40). The act was assented to June 27, 2000.

On March 26, 2002, the department merged with the Rural Revitalization Office and became the Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization. [The Department of Agriculture and Food Amendment Act, (S.S. 2002, c.17)] Several functions were transferred to other areas of government. On May 6, 2004, the department's name reverted back to the Department of Agriculture and Food, and was such until November 21, 2007 when it was named the Ministry of Agriculture [The Government Organization Act (S.S. 2007 c.6)]. It continues (2010) to be known as the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture and Food was responsible for the promotion and support for the agricultural industry in Saskatchewan as well as for ensuring a safe food supply. Added to Department of Agriculture functions was an increased focus on diversification and value added opportunities in all areas of the agri-foods industry.

The Government Organization Act, (S.S. 1986, c.G-5.1) [See notes]

The Department of Agriculture and Food Amendment Act, (S.S. 2002, c.17)

The Government Organization Act (S.S. 1986, c.G-5.1) allowed successive governments to alter the functions, names and structures of government departments without passing legislation specific to that change as had been previously required. In many cases the only formal documentation for changes are a press release or announcement stating that the changes were occurring.

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture (1905-1989)

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization (2002-2004)

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization (2002-2004)

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Rural Development (1983-1993)

Saskatchewan. Lands Branch (1931-)

Saskatchewan. Lands Branch (1931-)

GA 49

Rules for Archival Description (RAD)

Final

Authority record created on 2008-03-05. Approved 2012-03-06. Last modified on 2017-11-29.

Departmental annual reports

Saskatchewan Executive and Legislative Directory (S.E.L.D.)

Amicus Authorities - no record found