For anyone interested, here's the dates/info for SIAF's past cash dividends.
RD, perhaps you can find the exact FINRA rules but I believe there is a limit on how far out a company can announce the record date. For example, if the planned record date is on the last possible day for the year Dec. 31st, then the company can't announce the record date more than 45 days prior (this is what I'm unsure about), making the earliest announcement by the company for the record dates to be on Nov. 15th. Obviously, they could set the record date earlier, or wait longer for the announcement (although I would assume they'd PR the announcement as soon as they can given the angry shareholders).
In 2010, SIAF announced the cash dividend record date 45 days prior to record date.
July 15th-Record date announcement
August 31st-Record date
October 15th-Cash dividend paid to shareholders
In 2011, SIAF announced the cash dividend record date only 5 days before the record date.
October 26th-Record date announcement
October 31st-Record date
November 15th-Cash dividend paid to shareholders
In 2012, SIAF announced the cash dividend record date only 20 days before the record date.
December 6th-Record date announcement
December 26th-Record date
January 15th-Cash dividend paid to shareholders.
