Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization

Primary Agency

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization

• Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
• Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
• SAFRR
• Saskatchewan. Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization

2002-2004

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization was established on March 26, 2002 with the merger of the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Rural Revitalization Office. Within the newly-merged department, the Rural Issues Office was created to handle the responsibilities transferred from the Rural Revitalization Office.

Reporting to its Minister and Deputy Minister, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization was composed of four major divisions: Programs and Services; Central Support; Agricultural Development; and Policy and Financial Services. Each division, with the exception of Central Support, was the responsibility of an Assistant Deputy Minister. Branches within the Programs and Services Division included Lands; Inspection and Regulatory Management; and Rural Issues. The Central Support Division was initially responsible for the department's communications; administrative services; and human resources and by 2003, communications and corporate services. Branches within the Agricultural Development Division included Agricultural Research; Crop Development; Extension Services (2002-2003 only); Agri-Business Development (2003-2004); Livestock Development; Food Safety and Regulation; and Market Development and Food. The Policy and Financial Services Division oversaw the Financial Programs Branch; Policy Branch; and the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation.

In addition to the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation, agencies with legislative responsibilities to the department included Agricultural Credit Corporation of Saskatchewan; Agricultural Implements Board; Agricultural and Food Products Development and Marketing Council; Agri-Food Innovation Fund; Beef Development Board; Irrigation Crop Diversification Corporation; Milk Control Board; Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute; Saskatchewan Agricultural Stabilization Fund; and Crop Reinsurance Fund of Saskatchewan.

The department also maintained or established several committees, boards, commissions, and advisory councils to discuss and address concerns related to specific areas of agriculture, food production, animal health issues, commodity development, and the rural economy. These bodies, which involved representatives from government and the agriculture industry, included the Action Committee on the Rural Economy; Pork Industry Advisory Board; Livestock Loan Guarantee Program Producer Advisory Committee; Agriculture Development Fund Board; Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Council; Farm Support Review Committee; Saskatchewan Agri-Environmental Advisory Council; and various commodity-specific boards and commissions. As well, the department engaged in consultations with provincial and national organizations related to agriculture, agri-business and rural economic development.

The department's head office was located in Regina, with smaller offices located throughout the province. These locations provided services offered by Lands Branch offices; field offices; and offices of the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation. In the 2004-2005 fiscal year, the number of these locations was reduced from thirty-three to twenty-five, and the department established the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Moose Jaw, and nine Agriculture Business Centres throughout the province.

In accordance with Order in Council 288/2004, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization ceased existence on May 6, 2004. The Department of Rural Revitalization was created and the Department of Agriculture and Food was reestablished.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization's primary mandate was to foster, in partnership with the agriculture industry, a commercially viable, self-sufficient, and sustainable agricultural sector. Functions of the department included land management; livestock and veterinary operations; agricultural research; food safety and regulations; crop and livestock development; rural issues management; and operation of the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation.

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

Rules for Archival Description (RAD)

Final

Authority record created on 2010-12-29. Approved 2012-03-06. Last modified on 2017-11-29.

AMICUS Authorities - no entry found.
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Annual Reports, 2002-2005
Saskatchewan Executive and Legislative Directory
The Department of Agriculture and Food Amendment Act, 2002.
Orders in Council