SCA Levy Collection Order
The collection of the levy is authorized by The Cattle Development Plan Regulations and the details for the collection of the levy are set out in the Commission Order that has been recently amended to reflect the increase in the provincial levy.
Every cattle producer will continue to be required to pay a levy on:
- every head of cattle that the cattle producer sells in Saskatchewan; and
- every head of cattle raised or fed in Saskatchewan that the cattle producer delivers for sale outside of Canada, e.g. to the United States.
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When cattle are sold in Saskatchewan
A cattle producer who sells cattle in intra-provincial trade (within the province) in Saskatchewan is required to pay SCA a levy in the amount of $4.50 per head of cattle sold by that producer. Cattle are sold in intra-provincial trade when both the seller and the purchaser reside in Saskatchewan. When cattle are sold, the buyer is required to deduct the levy from the money payable to the cattle producer and forward the amount deducted to SCA. If the buyer does not deduct the levy from the sale proceeds, both the buyer and the cattle producer are liable to SCA for the amount of the levy. A buyer is a person who buys cattle and includes a livestock dealer, a livestock agent and an abattoir.
When cattle are delivered for sale outside of Canada
When a cattle producer delivers cattle raised or fed in Saskatchewan for sale outside Canada, the cattle producer is required to pay SCA a levy in the amount of $4.50. If a livestock dealer or livestock agent licensed in Saskatchewan is involved in the transaction that dealer or agent is required to deduct the levy from the money payable to the cattle producer and forward the amount deducted to SCA.
Canada Beef Inc
In July of 2011 the Canadian Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Agency (the National Agency), the Beef Information Centre and Canada Beef Export Federation consolidated to form one national beef cattle research, marketing and promotion agency known as Canada Beef Inc. Canada Beef Inc. is a continuation of the National Agency and is a promotion-research agency established under the federal Farm Products Agencies Act. Canada Beef Inc. is authorized by Proclamation to promote the marketing and production of beef cattle, beef and beef products for the purposes of inter-provincial and import trade and to conduct and promote research activities related to those farm products. The SCA appoints a producer to represent the Saskatchewan producers on the Board of Directors of Canada Beef Inc. The operations of Canada Beef Inc. are financed by the charging and collection of a non- refundable federal levy imposed by the Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Levies Order and by contributions from each of the provincial cattle associations. The national levy portion of the SCA levy is Saskatchewan’s contribution to Canada Beef Inc. for national beef cattle promotion, marketing and research.
Federal Levies Order
Under the Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Levies Order (the Federal Levies Order) every person who sells beef cattle in inter-provincial trade is required to pay to Canada Beef Inc., for each head of beef cattle sold, a federal levy in the amount prescribed by the Order. The amount of the federal levy payable on the sale of beef cattle sold in inter-provincial trade in Saskatchewan is $4.50 per head of beef cattle sold to match the Saskatchewan levy. Inter-provincial trade occurs when beef cattle are sold outside the seller’s province of residence.
Only one check-off is paid
When cattle are sold in Saskatchewan, either the SCA levy or the federal levy is collected, not both. The SCA levy of $4.50 is collected on cattle sold within Saskatchewan or outside of Canada. The federal levy of $4.50 is collected on cattle sold in inter-provincial trade in Saskatchewan.
Livestock dealers selling cattle owned for not more than 7 days
The requirement to pay the levies does not apply to livestock dealers and livestock agents who, in the ordinary course of business as a livestock dealer or agent, feed or own cattle for a period of not more than 7 days
Remittance of the SCA levy or federal levy
The Saskatchewan resident purchaser or livestock dealer who is responsible for deducting and remitting the SCA Levy or the federal levy is required to remit the amount deducted to SCA by the 25th day of the next month following the month in which the cattle were sold in Saskatchewan. A livestock dealer licensed in Saskatchewan (regardless of where the livestock dealer resides) who is responsible for deducting and remitting the SCA Levy on cattle delivered for sale outside of Canada, is required to remit the amount deducted to SCA within that same time period. For example, if cattle were sold in Saskatchewan or delivered for sale outside Canada on August 15th, the money deducted would have to be remitted to SCA by September 25th.
Province of origin
Remitters must provide a breakdown of the number of head of cattle for which a levy has been deducted and remitted by province of origin. On the Statement of Levy Deductions, the province of origin and head count is determined by the residence of the seller. It has been agreed between the provincial cattle associations and Canada Beef Inc. that the province of residence is determined by the address of the cattle producer selling the cattle. For example, if a livestock dealer is making a cheque out to a producer from Alberta, that dealer will report those cattle as being from Alberta. Buyers are required to identify the province of origin of producers selling cattle in inter- provincial trade to enable Canada Beef Inc. to pay the fee to each of the respective provincial cattle associations.
Collection Fee
Buyers will continue to be able to deduct a collection fee of 5 cents per head for each levy deducted and remitted to SCA.
Buyer Audits
Ensuring the levy collection process meets the regulatory requirements is a responsibility of the SCA. As such, the SCA will conduct random audits to ensure that all buyers are properly collecting and remitting the SCA levy and the federal levy to SCA.
Saskatchewan cattle producers selling in another province
When a Saskatchewan cattle producer delivers cattle for sale to another province in Canada, the purchaser or livestock dealer in that province will be deducting and remitting the federal levy payable in that province. If a Saskatchewan cattle producer sells cattle in Alberta or Manitoba, the Federal Levy is $4.50. Under the Federal Levies Order the purchaser or dealer is required to remit the federal levy to the provincial cattle association where the purchaser or livestock dealer resides. A livestock dealer licensed in two provinces could, depending on the transaction, be carrying on business in one province or the other province.
Deduction Requirements
When a buyer (which includes a purchaser, livestock dealer, livestock agent and abattoir) deducts the SCA levy, or the federal levy, as the case may be, the buyer is required to provide the cattle producer with a document that clearly shows: - the number of head of cattle sold; - the amount of the levy deducted; - the name, address and phone number of the buyer; and - the date of the transaction.