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Tag Archives Dairy farming

Gery Schrijver, right, of Alberta, Cox Wensink of Ontario and Phillip Vroegh of Nova Scotia were on a dairy producer panel at the 2024 Progressive Dairy Operators symposium.
Dairy, News

Three dairies, three approaches: Land and people are the priorities, say dairy farmers

Large dairy farms find numerous ways to fill labour needs and manage costs

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Dairy farmers who want to expand must first get land and people in place. That was a common theme from a cross-country panel of leading dairy farmers at the recent Progressive Dairy Operators triennial conference in Toronto. Gert Schrijver farms in Stettler, Alta., milking about 300 cows on 1,700 acres. He plans to build a […] Read more
CATTLEytics is developing a new herd management app called ‘Milkshake’.
Barns, Cow health, Dairy, News

A Canadian option for managing dairy data

A new herd health record-keeping app will join CATTLEytics ‘Moo To Do’

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CATTLEytics is creating a dairy data software program designed to streamline barn management regardless of operation size. Data is generated to various degrees on many farms, ostensibly to help farmers make decisions. However, the journey to those answers often needs clarification. Why it matters: Data from sensors is becoming more available to many Ontario dairy […] Read more
In addition to being awarded the 2023 Farm Family Award by the Lindsay Agricultural Society, the Thurston family was recognized for farming in the area for more than 175 years.
Livestock, News

Thurston family honoured at Kawartha Lakes event

Family recognized by Lindsay Agricultural Society as farm family of the year

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In the year that Keith Thurston and his son Jeff mark 50 years of serving the Lindsay-area farming community through their Pioneer Seeds dealership, someone in that community had an even greater recognition in mind. On March 31, the Lindsay Agricultural Society hosted its annual Kawartha Lakes Spotlight on Agriculture award night and Thursthill Farms […] Read more
Suzanna Dalrymple will transition into the role of CEO of Gay Lea Foods Oct. 31, replacing Michael Barrett (left) who is retiring at the end of this year.
News

Retiring CEO sees bright future for Gay Lea co-op

Michael Barrett oversaw company’s expansion into goats and other provinces

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Michael Barrett, CEO of Gay Lea Foods, will retire early next year and he predicts bright futures both for the producer co-operative and the Canadian dairy sector. Barrett’s successor beginning to ease into her role as the CEO of the 1,400 member dairy producer co-operative on Oct. 31. “I’m not only confident there’s a future […] Read more
Checking the grocery bill
Markets, News

Organic groups watch for trends as food prices rise

DFO cuts organic production in anticipation of slowed market growth

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Leaders of Ontario’s organic food production and processing sectors aren’t ready to declare a trend but there are indications that recent food price inflation has affected consumers’ willingness to pay premium prices for organic options. “There have been a few emails coming through from people concerned about how this is going to affect organics,” Organic […] Read more
Opinion: Federal government knew impact of CUSMA timing on dairy
News

Opinion: Federal government knew impact of CUSMA timing on dairy

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The federal government is willing to let Canadian dairy producers lose out on millions of dollars as a result of the new trade deal with the United States and Mexico. When MPs in Ottawa listened to testimony from agricultural leaders on the passage of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in February, the bulk of concerns were […] Read more
Equipment and labour costs are often the differentiator between higher and lower profitability grain farms.
News

Comparing farms highlights vulnerabilities

Benchmarking report identifies significant profitability differences among dairy and grain farms

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Variations in debt load and per-acre profitability highlight vulnerabilities in Ontario’s dairy and crop sectors, according to the latest benchmarking report from BDO Canada. However, representatives from the financial firm say the data also gives farmers an opportunity to improve risk management, as well as their cost-to-profit ratio. Why it matters: Understanding your farm’s profitability […] Read more
Dairy cows
News

OPINION: Thoughts on dumping milk during COVID-19

Unprecedented shocks to the market are to blame, not supply management

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I received a sad text from a friend of mine who is a dairy farmer. They are being asked to dump milk as the processors to whom it is assigned can’t use it right now This is difficult to understand in a time where we are seeing empty grocery stores shelves. Supply chains are complex […] Read more
dairy farm milk tank
Livestock, News

Some Ontario milk not being picked up as market shifts

Closure of restaurants and food service due to COVID-19 has challenged processors

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Hundreds of Ontario dairy farmers won’t have their milk picked up and potentially into the future because of gluts of milk at processors due to market changes from COVID-19. Dairy Farmers of Ontario let its farmers know on March 31 that some will have to dump their milk due to huge changes in the milk […] Read more
Canadian dairy cows have increased in stature by 2.5 centimetres over the past decade.
Livestock

Separating stature from major Holstein traits

A new composite index should help maintain desirable traits, while de-emphasizing stature

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Canada’s dairy breeding sector is attempting to slow a gradual increase in the average size of the nation’s Holstein. At Lactanet Canada’s recent Open Industry Session held in Guelph, geneticist Dr. Allison Fleming provided information about the development of a composite index of four well-established dairy genetic traits. Why it matters: As the average height […] Read more

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