There has been a trend towards minimally processed foods and less fluid milk, with the exception of 2020, and an increased focus on more dairy and more fat. That’s along with a growth in dairy alternatives.

Riding the wave of change in milk products

COVID-19, consumer expectations, buyer standards mean changing directions in dairy

A rise in consumption of fluid milk for the first time in many years is just one example of the changes wrought in the dairy market by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s the first time fluid milk sales has been up in I don’t know how many years… but decades,” said Michael Barrett, president, Gay Lea […] Read more

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Canadian feed-grade dairy product class expanded

Buttermilk products now qualify for 4(m) permit price

A dairy product class set up to boost markets for solids non-fat (SNF), by boosting their use in animal feed such as milk replacer, has been expanded to include more products. The Canadian Dairy Commission announced Monday that its 4(m) milk class has been updated to allow dairy processors to get the 4(m) permit price […] Read more

Kadie, left, and Maddie Pettit hold the newly-unfurled banner for the Mistyglen Creamery on-farm processing facility, inside the family’s Belmont-area dairy barn. The barn was rebuilt following tornado damage in the summer of 2020.

On-farm processing dream perseveres through adversity

Mistyglen revived plans to process milk during the pandemic, and after a tornado wrecked its barn

A venture that had been set aside “indefinitely” by a Belmont-area dairy farm several years ago received a full reconsideration during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result Mistyglen Creamery now aims to sell its first on-farm processed milk and yogurt in late 2021. Why it matters: An increase in interest […] Read more

A truck picks up milk on a Canadian dairy farm. Photo:

Simplifying dairy logistics with Canadian start-up technology

Milk Moovement tracks shipments and gets information quickly to farmers

A powerful tool that streamlines dairy supply chain logistics has landed an Atlantic Canada start-up coveted spots in a couple of big-name agriculture technology accelerators. Milk Moovement is the only Canadian company that is part of the current cohort of the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator in Minneapolis, and one of only two Canadian start-ups […] Read more

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Pandemic spurs farm gate milk price hike

Dairy Commission to lift price effective Feb. 1 next year

With the COVID-19 pandemic in mind, the Canadian Dairy Commission has set aside its usual milk price adjustment formula and will instead increase the price based on its own review. The CDC on Monday announced the farm gate price of milk will increase by $1.46 per hectolitre (100 litres) effective Feb. 1, 2021, pending approval […] Read more


A new report is calling for reforms to Canada’s dairy industry to make it more responsive to consumer and market demands and create a path to the growing global market for its products.

Report pushes changes within supply management

System needs to better respond to consumer demand and create a long-term plan, report says

A new report from Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph paints a way forward for the dairy sector within supply management. The report, called Supply Management 2.0, calls for four areas of reform of the system that sets production level for farmers in return for guaranteed pricing for milk. Why it matters: Milk is […] Read more

Fairlife milk will now include the 100 per cent Canadian milk logo.

Fairlife Peterborough milk plant now in operation

New Fairlife plant began production after extended pandemic delay

After months of pandemic-induced delays, a new Peterborough-area milk processor is up and running. Fairlife – a division of Coca Cola – first announced plans to construct the facility in June, 2018. Launch day, originally scheduled for this past spring, was delayed when personnel responsible for final construction and operational checks were unable to enter […] Read more

Dairy farmers have been able to evaluate various genetic indicators, but Compass brings in economic effect too.

Software program helps understand breeding return on investment

The Compass software brings together many sources of data to help farmers make decisions

Verifying metrics and making sure data is correct can help dairy farmers get the most out of Compass. The dairy genetics management software, provided by Holstein Canada and Lactanet is focused on breeding and genetic improvement for dairy producers. Why it matters: Breeding is a big component of dairy farm management. Recording accurate data is […] Read more


Piglets at a hog operation in China. (KuLouKu/iStock/Getty Images)

China targets pork self-sufficiency rate of 95 per cent

Imported beef increasing in market share

Beijing | Reuters — China is aiming to produce 95 per cent of its pork at home, according to a cabinet document outlining plans for its livestock sector, underscoring a goal to quickly rebuild its huge pig herd after a major disease epidemic. The document, released on Sunday, comes amid a heightened focus on food […] Read more

Dairy farmers have taken numerous steps to reduce costs due to COVID-19 uncertainty.

Turning off the milk tap

Dairy farmers are learning to manage larger changes in demand due to COVID-19

Signs that dairy markets may be stabilizing will come as welcome news for the industry. The past three months since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been a roller coaster ride for producers, who have worked to match frequent shifts in demand, and changes in how much they get paid for their milk, with […] Read more