Crop Production Week: News Release

Three positions on the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) Board of Directors have been filled as a result of the Board of Directors Election that took place in November/December 2009.

The following changes took place at the SPG Annual General Meeting during Pulse Days on Monday, January 11, 2010. Returning to the Board is Murray Purcell from Pike Lake and joining the Board is Dan Flynn from Beechy and Vicki Dutton from Paynton. The new Board members will be replacing Maurice Berry and Barbara Podhorodeski who both retired after serving two terms on the SPG Board. The Director terms are three years in length.

Murray Purcell
Murray’s family farm is near Pike Lake. He is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with an Education degree. He is past Chair of the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS) Board, Vice-President of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame Board and a Director and Executive Member of the Saskatchewan Municipal Hail Insurance Board. Murray is also a member of the Canada Grains Council and sits on the committee for the Grains Innovation Roundtable and on the Federal Minor Use of Pesticides committee.

Dan Flynn
Dan farms near Beechy with his father Jim and has been involved in the family farm operation since 1999. They grow a variety of pulse crops which include red lentils, large green lentils, yellow peas, and have in the past included chickpeas. He farms 5500 cultivated acres and half are seeded to pulse crops each year. Dan has a Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Crop Production.

Vicki Dutton
Since 1974, pulse crops have added value to Vicki’s farm in the Paynton area where she farms with her husband David. Today, pulse crops represent 25 to 33 per cent of the rotation growing peas, and red lentils. In addition to commercial production as pedigreed and Select status seed growers, Vicki participates in the growth and distribution of new varieties through her family’s company Western Grain Trade Ltd. where she has spent the last 20 years. Vicki is University educated and has a certificate in horticulture.

The current Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Board of Directors is:

John Bennett, Biggar
Vicki Dutton, Paynton
Dan Flynn, Beechy
Dwayne Moore, Rosetown
David Nobbs, Kindersley
Murray Purcell, Pike Lake
Jeff Sopatyk, Saskatoon

SPG represents over 18,000 pulse crop producers in Saskatchewan. Accountable to growers and funded through a mandatory, non-refundable check-off, SPG has a producer-elected board of directors comprised of seven pulse growers. SPG has a legislated mandate to build a prosperous pulse industry in Saskatchewan, and promote sustainable innovation, growth, and success through leadership, collaboration, and support.

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For more information about the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, please contact:

Garth Patterson
Executive Director
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
Tel: (306) 668-6676
Cell: (306) 227-8770
Email: gpatterson@saskpulse.com

Amanda Olekson
Communications Manager
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
Tel: (306) 668-0032
Cell: (306) 230-6606
Email: aolekson@saskpulse.com

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