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• DIGITAL DAIRY FARMING: How technology and other farm management tools are helping increase efficiency and cow health

• DFO ANNUAL MEETING COVERAGE • BENEFITS IN PAIRING CALVES PublicationsMail MailSales SalesAgreement AgreementNo. No.40063866 40063866 Publications

The DairyTrace Story  Crisis Affects Everyone Animal traceability helps protect your herd in the event of a crisis. It‘s essential to your livelihood and the economic health of the Canadian dairy industry. DairyTrace strengthens the industries reputation and competitive advantage for quality dairy products at home and around the world.

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With timely, accurate and relevant traceback information, you can count on DairyTrace to protect your herd and address food safety issues to reduce unfavourable fallout.  Beyond Milk By knowing where animals come from and where they reside, consumers and suppliers alike can feel confident in their food supply chain of animal products.

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Vol. 98 No. 2

CONTENTS PUBLISHED BY DAIRY FARMERS OF ONTARIO 6780 Campobello Rd., Mississauga, Ont., L5N 2L8

Editorial Board column

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Producer op-ed

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ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Pat Logan pat.logan@milk.org 519-788-1559

Co-ordinated by Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s communications division, Sharon Laidlaw, Manager, Corporate Communications.

Canada Post Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No.40063866.

Return postage guaranteed. Circulation: 8,000.

ISSN 0030-3038. Printed in Canada.

SUBSCRIPTIONS For subscription changes or to unsubscribe, contact: MILK PRODUCER 6780 Campobello Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5N 2L8 Phone: (905) 821-8970 Fax: (905) 821-3160 Email: milkproducer@milk.org Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and/or editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policies of Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement or approval by Milk Producer or Dairy Farmers of Ontario of products or services advertised.

Milk Producer welcomes letters to the editor about magazine content.

Dairy News MilkUP offers bursary

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Eric McLeod Memorial Scholarship

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DFO annual meeting

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Markets Market demand

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Cover Story

Websites: www.milkproducer.ca www.milk.org Facebook: /OntarioDairy Twitter: @OntarioDairy Instagram: @ontariodairy

Digital dairy farming

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Dairy Research Pairing calves

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Reduce feed costs

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New N Noted

Farm Management Manure management

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Calf care

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2022 CDX deferred to 2023

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EDITORIAL

[FORGING THE ROAD AHEAD

By Murray Sherk

DFO CHAIR

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ith the effects of dramatic weather events, the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, high commodity and fertilizer prices and political tensions, it becomes near impossible to forecast what’s ahead for 2022. Attaining sustained market growth in the days ahead is a focus of your board; however, I want to draw your attention to three factors that we need to pay close attention to this year.

EFFECT OF RISING MILK PRICES Prices paid to producers will increase by an average of 8.4 per cent, effective Feb. 1, 2022. (see Peter Ruiter’s producer opinion article below). Processors will face a corresponding increase to the cost of milk used to make dairy products. They’ve also had to contend with other costs increasing significantly during the pandemic, some of which will be passed on to consumers.

Elasticity of demand, known as the change in quantity demanded due to a change in price, differs for most dairy products. That said, the effect

of these price increases on demand will be revealed in the coming months as consumers react to these increases and hence, the overall demand for milk.

IMPORTS Three relatively recent trade deals—the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and CanadaUnited States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)— have traded more of our domestic markets away to be filled by imports. We are now under the full effect of these agreements, and as the impact is being felt, it will be difficult to maintain significant domestic market growth.

A factor influencing import levels under CUSMA has to do with a recent trade panel arbitration ruling. This past year, the United States asked an arbitration panel of the Canada/U.S./ Mexico Agreement to determine whether Canada’s current dairy tariff rate quota (TRQs) allocation method is consistent with its obligations under CUSMA. The panel found it was not. The exact implications of this ruling are not known at this time. It will be critical for the Canadian government to keep in mind both the panel and the U.S. government have acknowledged Canada has the right to determine its own TRQ allocation approach, provided it is in keeping with

CUSMA. We expect our government to maintain that independence with a view to arriving at a solution that supports Canadian dairy. Dairy Farmers of Ontario will work with its partners to ensure an acceptable outcome for producers.

Again, this is one to watch in the coming months to determine the full impact.

CONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR Consumers today have more dairy alternatives available to them than ever before and, if we want them to keep buying real dairy products, we need to be aware of what is important to them and what they value, which includes increased transparency, environmental sustainability and animal welfare. We are already addressing some of these important matters. For instance, Canadian dairy producers significantly invest in marketing, promotion and business development programs to retain and grow markets for dairy products. And, it is increasingly important for us to show transparency in the way we farm and care for our animals through our proAction program, in addition to communicating dairy’s nutritional benefits.

While we certainly don’t know what the future holds, your board and staff are very dedicated to being adaptive and capturing every market opportunity possible.

PRICING OUR PRODUCT COMPETITIVELY AND FAIRLY IS NECESSARY OPINION by Peter Ruiter, an Ontario dairy farmer in Nepean, Ont.

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id we need to increase our price of milk by 8.4 per cent? That is a question several reporters have asked me over the past three months. My answer to them is yes, definitely.

We’ve all seen prices for everything go up astronomically over the past 24 months—from feed to seed to equipment and even scarcity of labour. However, our milk cheque will not go up by 8.4 per cent. About 30 per cent of solids non-fat on our milk cheque is at a competitive price and that number continues to grow. As an industry, we can see both sides. We know when we increase prices, we risk losing sales. However, we know our costs keep increasing and we should see a fair return for our labour. This 4

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does not mean we should not look for efficiencies on our farm to try to mitigate higher costs.

For instance, we can look at some of our industry programs, such as proAction, implemented over the last 10 years. There are two costs to this program: the first is the time to fill out paperwork, comply with the new rules and verify all our records. The other factor is the cost our suppliers additionally charge to comply with our new rules. However, these rules, though made with good intentions, have raised the prices of our products compared with the world prices for these same products. We know more of our dairy products have to compete with the world price.

As well, our consumers continually say they want regulations (in our industry). We have to remind them these regulations come with a cost.

Some producers have questioned me on whether we should have taken a price increase. I remind

them the compensation package they received last January was not meant to help with cashflow in a single year. Rather, it was compensation for the loss of sales for the foreseeable future under the Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Those funds should be used to make our farms more profitable, not to cover higher operating costs. Besides, the compensation ends in 2023.

We have a great industry but we must take responsibility to price our product competitively and fairly so producers can receive a fair return. We are one of the few industries that has the ability to set a fair price.

I can confidently say when I look at my costs, an increase of 8.4 per cent is very necessary. This way, I can continue to be a dynamic, productive, growing Canadian dairy farmer.

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Dairy Lane Systems Komoka — 519 666-1404

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NOVA-SCOTIA

Dairy Lane Systems Leduc — 780 986-5600

Dairy Lane Systems Osler — 306 242-5850 Emerald Park — 306 721-6844

McCann Farm Automation Ltd. Seeley’s Bay — 613 382-7411

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DAIRY NEWS

MILKUP OFFERS STUDENTS A CHANCE TO EARN AN $8,000 POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION BURSARY

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layers know first-hand the commitment needed to succeed at a high level on the ice and in the classroom. With this school year providing extra challenges, the hard work put forth by graduating students deserves to be recognized.

The Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) is proud to partner again with Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) to present the bursary program, which provides minor hockey players recognition of their outstanding commitment to: • Community service: assisting in building stronger and healthier communities; • Athletics: on-ice success/achievement, as well a passion for the game of hockey; • Academics: dedication to studies and attainment of high grades in the classroom.

The OMHA Bursary Program is composed of two awards – the Dairy Farmers of Ontario Bursary and the Wally Scott Bursary. It reflects the achievements of young hockey players who are committed to their community, athletic ability and academic achievement. Each recipient will receive financial support toward their post-secondary education. Bursaries will be issued to the applicant’s post-secondary institution.

Five DFO bursaries will be awarded at

director Ian Taylor says. “These bursaries are a testament to the time commitment, focus and dedication needed to succeed at a high level both in the classroom and on the ice.”

$8,000 each and up to two Wally Scott Bursary recipient(s) can receive between $1,000 and $2,500.

“Dairy Farmers of Ontario supports Ontario youth in achieving their goals, both on and off the ice,” says Cheryl Smith, DFO’s chief executive officer. “MilkUP represents perseverance, originality and heart and these values are the focus of this bursary program. Dairy farmers and their families proudly recognize the dedication and commitment of young athletes across Ontario, in their journey to pursue athletic, academic and community excellence.”

“This is the third season we are partnering with Dairy Farmers of Ontario to highlight the top student-athletes in the OMHA who are entering post-secondary education. We hope these bursaries help our players achieve their goals and that they can continue to give back within their communities,” OMHA executive

ALL APPLICANTS MUST ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES: • Requests can only be made for active players aged up to 20 years and must have been a registered player in the OMHA for a minimum of five years; • A player attending a post-secondary institution during the 2022-23 school year; • Maintain a high standard of academic excellence; • Active in their local community programs (any community sport or social program); • Must be applying to a post-secondary institution in Ontario.

Candidates must complete the application form and submit it to the OMHA by Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. Each application will be reviewed by a panel and only the winning recipients will be contacted by the OMHA. For more information on the bursaries, visit https://www.omha.net/awards.

SCHOLARSHIP CREATED TO HONOUR BELOVED INDUSTRY LEADER

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n partnership with the University of Guelph, the Eric McLeod Memorial Scholarship was created by friends, family and colleagues to honour and celebrate Eric McLeod, who was Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) western field service manager. The scholarship will provide $1,000 per year over 10 years to students pursuing a degree at Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) and who demonstrate involvement in athletic activities and have an interest in dairy or equine farming.

Eric was well-loved and respected by many. He was a passionate leader and dedicated his career to the Canadian dairy industry. He joined DFO after graduating from OAC in 1976 and was with the organization until his passing in April 2013. He passed away while on the farm leading a proAction training session to industry stakeholders.

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Eric volunteered countless hours in Stratford minor sports leagues, particularly with hockey and baseball leagues. Although Eric enjoyed all sports, his true passion was baseball. After he passed away, all players in the Stratford minor baseball leagues wore an EM decal on their hats in his honour.

His achievements, both personal and professional, did not go unnoticed. Eric was inducted into the Perth County Agriculture Wall of Fame for his knowledge and guidance to three generations of producers. He was the first non-farmer to be honoured. In addition, he was also inducted into the Baseball Wall of Fame in the right field at National Stadium.

Eric was married to Linda and had two children, Carly and Bret, who were involved in establishing this scholarship to honour their father.

ERIC MCLEOD had served as DFO’s western field service manager. The scholarship created in his memory will provide $1,000 per year over 10 years.

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DAIRY NEWS

TWO ONTARIO VETERINARIANS WIN BOVINE AWARDS wo Ontario veterinarians have been awarded two separate bovine awards for their accomplishments in advancing animal welfare in the Canadian dairy industry.

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Ontario Association of Bovine Practitioners (OABP) continuing education programs.

She previously received the OABP Award of Excellence in 2017.

DR. KELLY BARRATT

DR. TREVOR DEVRIES

Dr. Kelly Barratt of Listowel, Ont., is this year’s recipient of the Bovine Practitioner of the Year award from the American Association of Bovine. She is also the first woman and the youngest to win this award, which honours a veterinarian who is active in practice and involved in organized veterinary medicine, and who has made significant contributions to bovine medicine.

“I am extremely humbled and honoured to have received this recognition. I hope my children look at my career and contributions as a positive influence on the dairy industry, the lives of cattle and animals in general, and my community,” Barratt says. “I also hope I am an inspiration to both future and fellow vets and that the people I get to work with know how much I care and want to help them to succeed.”

Barratt currently works part-time for Dairy Farmers of Ontario as a quality assurance analyst for proAction. As well, Barratt serves as a veterinarian representative for Canada on the dairy code of practice revision process led by the National Farm Animal Care Council and is a partner with Heartland Veterinary Services.

Additionally, Barratt is involved in the

Dr. Trevor DeVries of Guelph, Ont., was named the recipient of the 2021 Metacam 20 Bovine Welfare Award for positively impacting the well-being of Canadian dairy cattle. The award recognizes his accomplishments as a researcher, scholar, educator and mentor, as well as his commitment to advancing animal welfare in the dairy industry.

The Metacam 20 Bovine Welfare Award is presented annually by the Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians/Association Canadienne des Vétérinaires Bovins in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Canada Inc. "I am honoured to be the recipient of the Metacam Bovine Welfare Award,” DeVries says. “My group’s work in advancement of dairy cattle welfare through research and outreach is primarily attributable to the hard work of my students, the support of industry, and the many collaborators I have both within and outside the University of Guelph.”

DeVries is a professor and Canada Research Chair in dairy cattle behaviour and welfare at the University of Guelph, department of animal biosciences.

WOOD SHAVINGS INC.

REGISTER FOR THE DAIRY DIRECT PAYMENT PROGRAM

BY MARCH 31

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roducers who have not already signed up to receive the next payment under the Dairy Direct Payment Program (DDPP) still have time to register for the 2021-22 deadline.

Letters were sent to all eligible producers on Dec. 17, 2021. This letter contains important information producers require to register. Producers can register online or use a paper form, and can choose to receive their payment by direct deposit or cheque.

Producers eligible for the program must register each year, even if they have received payment in previous years.

If you are a producer and have not received your registration package or misplaced it, call Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s contact centre at 1-877-246-4682.

For more information on the program, visit https://bit.ly/3IW3xcH.

W? DID YOUa spKecNiaO s of l Dairy Farmer

You can read rt insert in this ) annual repo Ontario (DFO ge document g. The one-pa issue’s polyba stry and lights of indu provides high m throughout l milestones fro e organizationa n also read th l year. You ca the past fisca at te si eb rt on DFO’s w full annual repo ry-resources, st du /in ry st /indu e www.milk.org Report” on th “Read Annual then click on and side. upper right-h

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DAIRY NEWS

DFO ARMS HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WITH FACTS ABOUT DAIRY’S BENEFITS

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uring 2021, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) made great strides with creative platforms and communications that focused on the power of milk and all the naturally occurring nutrients it offers under its nutrition program and “What Can’t Milk Do” campaign.

Now it’s time to influence the influencers and build brand trust and milk loyalty among Ontario health care professionals (HCPs) by getting them to recognize milk’s potential.

DFO’s nutrition team is currently targeting a variety of HCPs, such as general and family practitioners, nutritionists and dietitians, with fact-based information they can share with their patients and clients.

The HCP program is aimed at tackling misinformation about milk’s nutritional and health benefits among the medical community through targeted and tested messaging. It ensures relevant messaging is shared with HCPs to help keep them informed, which they can share with their patients. The program also features targeted communications by medical specialty to ensure information is tailored to a variety of health topics, combatting milk myths directly and with evidence. The messages are being shared through

various channels, including social and digital media, podcasts, print assets and hosted collaborative environments.

WHAT MESSAGING IS DFO USING AS PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN? The program centres on the idea that milk is a simple answer to the complicated questions around health and wellness. Just one glass of milk provides protein, vitamins and minerals that support immune function, and is delicious to boot.

To help inform the messages, DFO’s nutrition team will be undertaking a research survey to reveal and understand attitudes, perceptions and habits among Ontario-based HCPs, which will be used to develop customized messages by specialty.

“We’re providing HCPs with information that shows the value of dairy in our lives. This information will educate HCPs on the benefits of milk and dairy products,” says Lily Bennett, DFO’s assistant marketing manager. “Our goal is to inform their thinking, remind them milk is a healthy op-

tion for most Ontarians and encourage them to share their learnings with patients.”

The program launched in late fall 2021, with preliminary activities that included engagement and outreach to HCP ambassadors and the creation of an HCP advisory panel. Other elements of the program will launch early in 2022.

“This is the launch of an ongoing strategy that will allow DFO to become a respected and valued resource in the Ontario health care community,” Bennett says.

PROGRAM GOALS: REKINDLING OUR LOVE FOR MILK • Build affinity for milk with health care providers by demonstrating its nutrition benefits in new and unique ways; • Debunk many of the myths around milk among Ontarians by leveraging credible voices within the health care space as validators; • Increase milk consumption among Ontarians by gaining support and recommendations from the health care community; • Re-establish milk’s leadership position as the health drink of choice for Ontario families.

“We believe in Udder Comfort.”

— Ysabel Jacobs “We believe in Udder Comfort™ and are using it over 10 years for our show cows and our fresh cows to bring the quality and texture to the udder,” says Ysabel Jacobs of Ferme Jacobs, Cap-Santé, Quebec. They apply Udder Comfort lotion daily at shows and to all fresh udders after each milking for 3 days after calving.

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DAIRY NEWS

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

APPOINTS FIRST WOMAN AS CANADIAN DAIRY COMMISSION CHAIR

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FROM LEFT are Murray Sherk, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) board chair, Nick Thurler, DFO’s vice-chair, and Adam Petherick, DFO’s second vice-chair.

2022 DFO BOARD EXECUTIVE

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t a Special Board meeting held on Jan. 19, 2022, following Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) 2022 annual general meeting (AGM), DFO’s Board elected its 2022 board executive. Murray Sherk, board member for Region 8, was re-elected as chair; Nick Thurler, board member for Region 2 was

re-elected as vice-chair; and Adam Petherick, board member for Region 4, was elected as 2nd vice-chair.

Roger Boersen, who was elected by acclamation for Region 10, and George Van Kampen who was elected in Region 6, began their four-year terms following DFO’s AGM.

ennifer Hayes has been appointed as the first woman chairperson of the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) for a four-year ....term, effective Dec. 23, 2021.

Hayes was first appointed to the CDC in January 2017, in the role of commissioner and has held the position for four years.

A dairy and beef farmer on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, Hayes is the third generation to farm at PineCrest Farms in Shigawake, which she co-owns with her father and uncle. She has extensive governance experience obtained through her active participation with the L’Union des Producteurs Agricoles, defending regional interests in dairy, beef and agricultural development.

In 2016, the Canadian government implemented an open, transparent and merit-based process for selecting Governor in Council appointees. Appointees play a fundamental role in Canada’s democracy by serving on commissions, boards, crown corporations, agencies and tribunals across the country.

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DAIRY NEWS

DFO FOCUSED ON PROFITABLE, GROWING DAIRY INDUSTRY Editor’s note: Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) held its annual general meeting virtually on Jan. 19, 2022. More than 600 guests, including producers, processors and industry partners, joined DFO’s Board and staff to receive industry updates from DFO and industry leaders. This article provides a brief highlight of the presentations.

To watch the year-in-review video, visit DFO’s website at https://bit.ly/3ATAtj8.

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airy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) board was very engaged in tackling issues throughout the past year, with the overall goal of sustaining a profitable, growing dairy industry, says Murray Sherk, DFO’s chair in his opening address.

“We continued to execute on the immediate needs of our farms, supply chain and staff while staying focused on our longer-term vision. There were many instabilities in demand for dairy products, but there were some encouraging results last year,” Sherk says.

Some highlights in 2020-21 included dealing with the ongoing fluctuating demand for milk and adapting to a changing marketplace, ensuring there was enough milk for innovation and growth, implementing the proAction environment module, as well as working on DFO’s sustainability strategy.

Partnerships were also a key focus area this past year, with DFO increasing its collaboration with the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission, Ontario Dairy Council, Ontario Milk Transporters Association, the University of Guelph and Dairy Farmers of Canada.

With the effects of dramatic weather events, the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, high

commodity and fertilizer prices and political tensions, it has become near impossible to forecast what’s ahead for 2022, Sherk concedes, adding the board will continue to focus on achieving sustained market growth, with particular attention on consumer buying patterns considering the recent price increase.

“Consumers today have more dairy alternatives available to them than ever before and if we want them to keep buying real dairy products, we need to be listening to what is important to them; and for many that is an emphasis of transparency, environmental sustainability and animal welfare,” he says.

Cheryl Smith, DFO’s chief executive officer, echoes Sherk’s view on providing transparency in the industry.

“This year, we will work to grow our influence and credibility, to reinforce a culture of accountability and customer service, and to increase productivity,” she says during her business update.

Canada’s supply management system has shown its resilience and flexibility to deal with market volatility during the pandemic and has put the sector in a strong position as it continues

DFO’s 2020-21 fiscal concluded with a $1.6 million surplus. Revenue were favourable to budget by $600,000, of which $400,000 was from licence fee revenue increases, says Rey Moisan, DFO’s chief financial officer.

Looking at the current fiscal year (Nov. 1, 2021 to Oct. 31, 2022), DFO is forecasting a $900,000 deficit. There will be no increase to licence fees. Revenues are budgeted to increase by $500,000 due to a 3.1 per cent budgeted increase in production volumes and a small increase in interest income. However, expenses are budgeted to increase by $3.2 million to $23.2 million and capital expenditures are expected to further decrease by $200,000 to $580,000.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF DFO’S BUDGET

Expenses for the fiscal year came in at $1.7 million favourable to budget, but in line with 2020 results. Capital expenditures were $450,000 favourable to budget, comprising $250,000 favourable in the general fund and $200,000 in the marketing fund.

It’s more than your livelihood, it’s your life.

14

to face uncertainty, she says, adding DFO remains anchored in its objective to increase dairy consumption across the province by continuing to make dairy an inspired food choice with consumers.

Given recent data from NielsenIQ, both Ontario’s and Canada’s dairy industries are poised to continue benefitting from increased dairy consumption throughout 2022. According to keynote speaker Francis Parisien, senior vicepresident of sales for small and medium businesses in Canada for NielsonIQ, 62 per cent of Canadians are still cooking at home instead of eating out due to the pandemic, which is not expected to decrease any time soon. He adds outlook and growth opportunities remain positive for dairy categories in Canada.

“Canadians are telling us they will continue to spend on dairy products, such as breakfast categories and coffee … this is a great opportunity to get into cross-marketing opportunities in the coffee department,” he says. “Forget about going back to normal, it’s about being innovative and adapting to a changing market.”

“There are always uncertainties in budgets.

We monitor results monthly and update our forecasts,” Moisan says, adding DFO reviews risks and opportunities for both revenues and expenditures and adjusts plans accordingly.

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2. Gerdts V, Muywiri GK, Tikoo SK, and Babiuk LA. Mucosal delivery of vaccines in domestic animals. Vet. Res. (2006) 37:487-510 DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2006012. Available at: https://www.vetres.org/articles/vetres/pdf/2006/03/v6030.pdf (Accessed December 2020.)

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DAIRY NEWS

A MESSAGE FROM DAIRY FARMERS OF CANADA’S PRESIDENT

By Dairy Farmers of Canada

CONTRIBUTOR

A

s we move into 2022 with its new and familiar challenges, many of us will gather virtually for our sector’s advocacy day on Feb. 1 and our 2022 annual dairy policy conference on Feb. 2 and 3. These events provide excellent opportunities to discuss some of the issues facing our sector and identify future opportunities in dairy farming. Both will feature a range of guests discussing different aspects of this year’s theme: sustainability.

Environmental sustainability is a subject that touches all of us. Last year, when faced with drought, fire and floods, dairy farmers across Canada showed great community spirit in helping those affected by these events.

Part of our support efforts included a staff fundraiser, where DFC employees pulled together more than $9,000 for the B.C. dairy fund. As well, in collaboration with brands, such as Gay Lea Foods and Lactalis Canada, DFC was proud to help cover the transportation costs for much-needed donations of milk replacer sent to B.C. farms, which provided nourishment for calves affected by floods.

From severe weather to a global pandemic, Canada’s dairy farmers have worked hard over the past year to adjust to the unprecedented conditions of our times. However, the sharp rise in inflation caused by the pandemic is a problem for all Canadians, and farmers are not immune.

To help offset these rising costs, the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) announced an increase in the farmgate prices for milk and butter, to be implemented this year.

Regarding compensation promised for the 16

EARLY SPRING 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the third payment under the dairy direct payment program has become available to producers. For those who have yet to do so, you must register by March 31, 2022 to receive payment. Letters were mailed to eligible producers containing required information.

A SUMMARY OF THE CUSMA PANEL FINAL REPORT On Jan. 4, 2022, a final report was released to the public from the CUSMA panel after the U.S. activated the dispute settlement system under Chapter 31 of CUSMA in December 2020.

The panel concluded Canada cannot establish “pools” to reserve access to tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for processors. The panel offers no opposition to the majority of TRQs being allocated to processors, only against the use of pools in administering these allocations. This means Canada cannot, in substance, ring fence and limit a reserved pool of TRQ amounts to which only processors have access.

Though it is not possible to appeal this decision, the panel was clear Canada’s administrative discretion in allocating TRQs is not at issue and the U.S. has conceded this fact.

The panel has recognized Canada’s sovereignty in establishing its own TRQ allocation policy and now it is for the Canadian government to assign TRQs and demonstrate support for its domestic dairy sector.

In the meantime, we continue our discussions with government officials to secure compensation for the negative impacts to our industry in the wake of CUSMA. Despite all we’ve faced and will face, dairy

PIERRE LAMPRON, DFC’s president.

farmers are resilient, and I know we will keep striving and evolving to be our best. In this spirit, I would like to extend my congratulations to Jennifer Hayes on her landmark appointment as the first female CDC chair. We look forward to working with the CDC under her experienced leadership and trust she will continue the important work of keeping our industry competitive and innovative for the benefit of all Canadians.

Here’s to another great year producing some of the best milk in the world!

Stay informed with DFC’s Dairy Express Sign up for the Dairy Express e-newsletter.

Email communications@dfc-plc.ca to have your name added to the mailing list.

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DAIRY NEWS

REGULATION 121 AND REGULATION 761 UPDATES The proposed amendments to Regulation 121: Raw Milk and Cream Quality Program and Regulation 761: Milk and Milk Products, all under the Milk Act, are now filed and in effect.

Markets section will no longer be published in the magazine, but as a standalone publication

Below are the links to read the proposed amendments in full: • Amendment of Regulation 761 - https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r21901 • Amendment of Regulation 121 - https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r21902

I

Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) application for use of vertical bulk tank is available in both English and French on DFO’s website, behind the producer password.

UPDATES TO THE QUOTA POLICY BOOKLET At Dairy Farmers of Ontario's (DFO) Jan. 26 and 27 board meeting, the board approved changes to the Quota and Milk Transportation Policies book, effective Feb. 1, 2022. The changes relate to: • New Entrant Quota Assistance Program (NEQAP) and New Producer Program (NPP) applicants: the timeframe for NPP and NEQAP applicants to commence marketing milk after acquiring quota has been increased from three to six months; • New Entrant Quota Assistance Program: selection priority will be given to applicants with no previous connection to a supply-managed sector.

• Shared Facilities: providers can host no more than two additional licences at one time.

To view the Quota and Milk Transportation Policies book, visit DFO’s website at https://new.milk.org/Industry/Programs-and-Policies.

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EXCITING CHANGES COMING TO MILK PRODUCER

EARLY SPRING 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

Michael Stabling Developments

mpyfferoen@gmail.com www.sgate.ca

f you read our last issue, you likely saw the sneak peek of the redesigned Milk Producer magazine.

We’re working hard to bring this evolution of our official publication to life. As we adapt and evolve, our goal is to advocate for Ontario dairy producers. Through the new Milk Producer magazine, we’ll do just that by sharing stories that are important to you, including policy analysis on decisions that impact your businesses and providing strong takeaways that highlight the Ontario dairy agenda.

Starting next edition with our Late Spring issue, watch for an updated and refreshed look, as well as a new approach to editorial content. We’ll delve into the politics of dairy with a mix of grassroots stories you can look to for inspiration, as well as interviews with some of the major players shaping the face of Ontario agriculture. We hope to give you food for thought and simple, actionable items in advance of the provincial election this June.

In addition, we’ve made a strategic decision to create a new, standalone publication that will house all markets information in one easy-to-reference document. Beginning in March, the twopage Markets section will no longer be available in Milk Producer magazine, but will be provided as a separate document.

The new report will continue to be published monthly and made available in both English and French. It will also combine information on retail markets data from the monthly markets report that is currently mailed with the monthly milk cheque statement.

The publication will be sent by email and mailed to select producers, and will be posted on Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) website, behind the producer password.

Look for more detailed information on these changes in DFO’s regular communication vehicles.

We are excited about these changes and can’t wait for you to see them!

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

[

MARKETS

CDC PROJECTING UP TO FOUR PER CENT INCREASE IN TOTAL DEMAND FOR 2022 This could translate into a P5 quota increase of 2.1 per cent kg by 2025-26. Four million kg of butterfat is equivalent to one per cent of national demand, so when looking at the 34 million kg, that’s more than eight per cent of the market nationally that could be filled by imports, says Patrice Dubé, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s chief economics and policy development officer.

“With regards to the forecast on butter stocks, the projection for July 2022 is now at 23,000 tonnes, which is below the 35,000 tonnes target,” Dubé says. “For December 2022, we are looking at 11,000 tonnes at a time where we would expect stocks to be over 20,000 tonnes.”

“All indications show there will be a need for more milk in the system,” he adds. “However, all these projections don’t take into account the

By Constantin Urtilescu GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SPECIALIST

T

he Canadian Dairy Commission has stated the growth in demand registered nationally for 2021 is expected to be around 3.8 per cent, which would translate into a quota increase at the P5 level of 2.6 per cent.

This growth is being experienced over the recent year even if a significant increase of imports is observed.

As discussed last month, when looking at butterfat, 13 million kilograms of butterfat came in from all the trade agreements at the end of the dairy year in 2021. It is expected this number could go up to close to 34 million

P10 UTILIZATION BY CLASS* For November 2021 (kg of butterfat/kg of solids non-fat) 12.83%

1a1 1b

2.95%

2a

2.76%

2b4

0.10% 1.11% 1.18%

3a1

% Solids non-fat

*

% Revenue

27.10% 15.31%

*4.83%

6.21%

*2.21%

1.50

*0.77% *1.24%

3a2

4.13% 5.42%

3b2

*4.98% 13.72% 12.01%

3c1

*13.09%

0.63% 0.84% 2.12% 2.47%

3c2 3c4

*0.65% *2.49% 6.65%

3c6

*8.45%

9.94%

0.41% 0.36%

3d

*0.35% 3.46% 5.09%

*3.52%

19.31% 15.63%

4a 4d

-1.26%

5a 5b 0%

*14.35% *-0.40%

4.25% 3.16% 3.54%

1.67% 1.53% 0.44%

5c

*29.03% *8.85%

3.74%

0.80%

2b5

% Butterfat

5%

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

*2.06% 8.90%

*2.93% *0.60%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

effect of the Feb. 1, 2022 price increase on the market, as well as any additional slowdowns associated with the pandemic.”

In December 2021, butter stocks reached close to 23,037 tonnes, down from November when stocks were at 24,057 tonnes. December butter stock levels are almost in line with what the industry has seen in the past and is within the range of what was expected for the end of the calendar year. Cheese stocks are the lowest they have been in the past three to four years.

For the 52-weeks ending December 2021, sales for fluid milk, fluid cream, yogurt, ice cream, cheese and butter increased/decreased by -3.1, 0.8, 1.5, -4.3, -0.5 and -4.6 per cent, respectively, compared with the 52-weeks ending in December 2020.

Class 1a1 (includes Classes 1a2, 1a3, 1c and 1d for confidentiality reasons) Fluid milk and beverages Class 1b Fluid creams Class 2a Yogurt, yogurt beverages, kefir and lassi Class 2b4 (includes Classes 2b1, 2b2 and 2b3 for confidentiality reasons) Fresh dairy desserts, sour cream, milkshakes and sports nutrition drinks Class 2b5 Ice cream and frozen yogurt Class 3a1 Specialty cheese Class 3a2 Cheese curds and fresh cheeses Class 3b2 (includes Class 3b1 for confidentiality reasons) Cheddar cheese and aged cheddar Class 3c1 Feta Class 3c2 Asiago, Gouda, Havarti, Parmesan and Swiss Class 3c4 (includes Classes 3c3 and 3c5 for confidentiality reasons) Brick, Colby, farmer’s, jack, Monterey jack, muenster, pizza cheese, pizza mozzarella and mozzarella other than what falls within 3d.

Class 3c6 Paneer Class 3d Mozzarella used strictly on fresh pizzas by establishments registered with the Canadian Dairy Commission Class 4a Butter and powders Class 4d (includes Classes 4b1, 4b2, 4c and 4m for confidentiality reasons) Concentrated milk for retail, losses and animal feed Class 5a Cheese for further processing Class 5b Non-cheese products for further processing Class 5c Confectionery products MILKPRODUCER | EARLY SPRING 2022

19

IMPORTANT NOTICE Markets section to be provided as a new standalone publication

D

airy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is eagerly looking forward to relaunching a brand new magazine in April. The change means we’ve made a strategic decision to create a new standalone publication that will now house all markets information in one easy-toreference document. Beginning March 2022, the markets section will no longer be available in Milk Producer magazine.

The publication will continue to be published monthly and made available in both English and French. It will also combine information on retail markets data from the monthly market report that is currently mailed with the monthly milk cheque statement.

The new publication will be sent by email and mailed to select producers, and will be posted on DFO’s website, behind the producer password.

Look out for more detailed information on these changes in DFO’s regular communication vehicles.

REMINDER: OVERPRODUCTION AND UNDERPRODUCTION CREDITS PERMITTED Editor’s note: This message was previously announced in the October 2019, August 2020, April 2021 and July 2021 issues of Milk Producer.

M

atching P5 milk production with variable markets has been an increasing challenge in recent years.

Some producers are accumulating underproduction credits, which create milk shortages, and then use those credits when there is already enough milk in the system. This explains, in part, quota increases and decreases, as well as the credit limitation policy observed in recent years. As such, farm underproduction credits have become a significant issue when trying to fill provincial or P5 markets.

P5 boards reviewed the overproduction and underproduction credits permitted and approved an adjustment, which will take effect by Aug. 1, 2022. Currently, all P5 producers are permitted to borrow a maximum of 10 over-

production credit days (10 x daily quota) and can accumulate a maximum of 30 underproduction credit days (30 x daily quota). This policy is in place to help producers manage their quota during milk production variations, while providing enough milk to meet yearly P5 demand. Current overproduction and underproduction credits permitted have been harmonized across P5 provinces since 2009.

• As of Aug. 1, 2022, the maximum number of underproduction credits permitted will change from -30 days to -15 days; • Overproduction credits permitted will remain at +10 days, for 25 total credit days instead of 40.

Producers are reminded of the changes and are free to adjust their credit day position at their own pace, as long as they are within the revised underproduction credit limit by the effective date.

Any underproduction credits below the revised limit by the effective date of Aug. 1, 2022, will be lost.

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MARKETS

JANUARY PRICES

MONTHLY QUOTA PRICES ($/kg) PROVINCE

PRICE/kg

AMOUNT WANTED/kg

AMOUNT FOR SALE/kg

AMOUNT PURCHASED/kg

Alberta Saskatchewan British Columbia

$53,245 $46,300 $36,500

489.60 145.00 2,477.74

62.94 87.62 111.10

62.94 45.00 111.10

Manitoba

$40,000

336.84

487.08

196.60

Ontario

$24,000

21,401.86

201.79

199.30

Quebec

$24,000

20,066.14

411.21

410.77

New Brunswick

$24,000

775.60

2.00

2.00

$24,000

Cancelled 521.60

1.00

1.00

Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island

*Newfoundland does not operate a monthly quota exchange. Quota is traded between producers. **Quota cap price of $24,000 in effect in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec.

ONTARIO MONTHLY PRODUCER AVERAGE GROSS BLEND PRICE

Within quota

Overquota

$85

DFO administration DFO research CanWest DHI Transportation Market expansion

$0.625 $0.050 $0.060 $2.760 $1.400

$0.625 $0.050 $0.060 $2.760 $1.400

$80

Total deductions Average total net

$4.895 $78.659

$4.895 -4.895

$75 $83.55

*These figures are based on Ontario’s average composition for December 2021 of 4.26 kg butterfat, 3.28 kg protein and 5.92 kg other solids, rounded to the nearest cent.

Dec. 2021

Nov. 2021

Oct. 2021

Sept. 2021

Aug 2021

July 2021

June 2021

May 2021

Apr. 2021

Jan. 2021

$70 Mar. 2021

For December 2021

Feb. 2021

ONTARIO DEDUCTIONS, PER HL

A total 3,313 producers sold milk to DFO in December compared with 3,343 a year earlier.

P5 AND WESTERN MILK POOL BLEND PRICES* *There is a three-month lag reporting these figures.

82 P5 blend price WMP blend price

80 78 76

WMP $79.40

74

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

Nov 2021

Sep 2021

Oct 2021

Aug 2021

July 2021

May 2021

June 2021

Apr 2021

Feb 2021

Mar 2021

Jan 2021

72 Dec 2020

The December 2021 Class III Price, US$18.36 per hundredweight, is equivalent to C$53.03 per hectolitre. This equivalent is based on the exchange rate US$1 = C$1.27251 the exchange rate when the USDA announced the Class III Price.

The Class III Price is in $ US per hundredweight at 3.5 per cent butterfat.

One hundredweight equals 0.44 hectolitres. Canadian Class 5a and Class 5b prices track U.S. prices set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Blend price in $/hL

U.S. CLASS PRICES

The graph below shows the 12-month blend price for the P5 provinces and Western Milk Pool (WMP).

P5 $77.99

MILKPRODUCER | EARLY SPRING 2022

21

COVER STORY

Dairy farms today are increasingly using robots, artificial intelligence, data-driven techniques and other farm management software to increase efficiency and improve cow health.

DIGITAL DAIRY FARMING

By Trudy Kelly Forsythe

CONTRIBUTOR

J

ack Rodenburg, a dairy management consultant with DairyLogix, has seen a lot of technological changes and improvements during his career. He says when robotics, specifically ....robotic milking, first came along, the industry was concerned farmers would have less ability to manage animal health without the personal contact and close observation one is able to get during milking. As a result, early developments built in a lot of checks and balances and sensor-driven information to compensate for that.

“From the beginning, all robotic milking systems included information about milk conductivity and information about milk colour as a substitute for the farmer squeezing that first strip of milk out of the teat at the start of milking,” he says, adding robots today give substantially better data at every milking than earlier versions.

In the past decade, a big shift has been the improved functionality of wearable technologies and in-line milking analysis systems, primarily because battery capacity has greatly improved.

“We worked a fair bit with pedometers and devices that had to be read in the milking parlour and one of the reasons for that was because battery life was an issue,” Rodenburg says. “Because of developments in other industries, our batteries have gotten 10 times better in the last 10 years, so now pretty much all that technology has shifted to signaling receivers located throughout

Dairy farming has become increasingly digital since farmers installed the first robotic milkers in the late 1990s.

These days, it’s not unusual to find dairy farmers using automatic feeders, artificial intelligence, data-driven techniques, farm management software and smartphones, to better manage their farms and improve cow health and welfare.

the barn so you can get a lot more real-time information.”

One area this is quite helpful with is reproduction. Since cows in heat are more active, and tend to not voluntarily go to the milking robot, the activity pedometers provide data to farmers earlier than the robotic milker would.

“The system knows that cow is in heat, but you don’t if you don’t get a readout until she goes into the milking system,” Rodenburg says. “In the robotic milking applications, the systems that can pick up data in real time throughout the barn have proven to be a substantial improvement.”

The same sensor can flag when a cow may be sick, although Rodenburg says this technology is in its infancy and needs to be improved.

“We have new technology coming out that will measure inner ear temperature or internal temperature with a bolus that’s in the rumen, but very few of them have been picked up by mainstream milking equipment companies at this point,” he says, adding he sees a bright future for when it does make its way into dairy barns.

There is also potential in feed preparation and feed delivery, the second largest labour factor on a dairy farm after milking. The big challenge, however, is maintaining feed quality since feed is moved from storage into the system.

“Most of the bigger dairies store their feed in bunker silos or piles and these robotic systems don’t really have the capability of removing that from the silo,” Rodenburg says. “When you do that, you loosen the material and then it gets exposed to air and you run the risk of spoilage from that point on.”

People are taking different approaches to deal with this issue, and more adoption of automatic feeding systems is expected in the future.

Rodenburg is hopeful the advances being made with automation and sensor-based technology will benefit smaller operations as well as larger ones.

“When we were dealing with just mechanization technology, things like milking parlours and total mixed ration mixers, everything was always about bigger because bigger is what made those investments financially feasible,” he says. “I think this makes it possible for a family-run dairy to be much more sustainable and economically viable than the earlier technologies did.”

Holmdale Farms increasing efficiency and improved cow health Holmdale Farms in Elmwood, Ont., is one of those farms. Operating since 1874, the farm had one of the first rotary milking parlours installed in Canada in 1974 to improve efficiency.

It has since been upgraded to a robotic milker and now has robots that also clean the barn and feed the cows and calves.

Todd Holm, a fifth-generation farmer who operates the farm with his wife, children and two employees, says the robots have changed everything for the farm and the way it’s run.

“We have a lot more efficiency, a lot more data, a lot more individual management of animals instead of treating everything as a herd,” he says, adding the farm’s robotics take the place of two employees, an important task given the challenge of finding farm labour. “No one is available and the industry can’t carry on with no people to hire.”

At Holmdale Farms, while the cleaning and collecting robot keeps the barn clean, the calf program feeding robot feeds milk to calves at the times they need it. On the other hand, the robotic milker milks the cows when they want to be milked.

It also monitors cow health, weight and milk production and gives each cow a specific amount of grain based on their individual milk production.

“The lower (cow) producers aren’t getting waste and the higher producers are getting what they need,” Todd says. “It helps with their health a lot.”

We have a lot more efficiency, a lot more data, a lot more individual management of animals instead of treating everything as a herd.

- Todd Holm

COVER STORY

The Campbell Family has joined the digital revolution Andrew Campbell, Bellson Farms, is a fifth-generation farmer in southern Ontario’s Middlesex County where he and his family milk cows and grow corn, soybeans, wheat and hay.

CAMPBELL FAMILY, from left are Jess, Bella, Cash and Andrew who continue to progress with their farm automation. Above photo shows their current new barn construction.

The Campbell family is currently building a new freestall barn to replace their tiestall one that will incorporate various improvements such as a robotic milker, robot calf feeder and robot feed pusher.

While labour savings is one reason for the investment, like so many dairy producers making the shift, Campbell says a big reason is the health and welfare benefits for their cows.

“I’m quite excited to see how it goes in terms of the ability for the cow to decide her own schedule, rather than it being up to us whether she gets milked two times a day, three times a day or at specific times,” Campbell says, adding he is also excited about the software that will allow them to analyze trends.

TECHNOLOGY HAS enabled the Campbells to increase crop yields while reducing their labour costs.

“That way, we have a combination of all the data points from movement to eating to milking to milk quality,” he says, explaining the information the robot provides will let them know if everything is okay, out of the ordinary or needs immediate attention.

Campbell is confident the upgrades will contribute to improvements in animal health and welfare.

“I think they’re going to be amazing,” he says. “This technology is going to help us be even faster at detecting problems and getting cows on the path to recovery because we will know as soon as she slows down in movement or milk production.”

Campbell is also adding a system that will automate the barn’s ventilation and lighting to help control temperature and lights based on more than time of day, making the farm more energy efficient and the cows more comfortable.

ANDREW SAYS technology has increased health and welfare benefits for their cows.

24

EARLY SPRING 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

“It’s a big investment, but it’s one that is going to build our future in the dairy industry, as well as be a pretty good place to be a cow in,” he says.

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

THE NEED FOR HIGH SPEED INTERNET

We have a lot of advisers and technicians on computers trying to keep us more efficient and right now they get frustrated with the slow connection and getting booted off the system.

Access to high-speed internet has long been a challenge in rural communities and, as dairy farms become more digital, that need becomes even greater.

Dairy management consultant Jack Rodenburg explains with the amount of data going into computers on the farm, how they interact with computers on other sites is going to influence how dealers can work with farmers.

- Todd Holm County, are both waiting for high-speed internet to reach their farms.

He gives examples of farms working with off-site nutritionists who need adequate speeds to view herd performance in terms of an individual cow’s eating behaviours, and equipment dealers who need to troubleshoot and examine maintenance requirements by remotely monitoring performance in robotic milking systems.

“Those things will all get better and easier if we have good internet connections,” Rodenburg says.

Both federal and provincial governments are working together to address the issue. Last July, both governments announced investments to support large-scale, fibre-based projects to bring highspeed internet to nearly 280,000 rural Ontario households by 2025.

Like many in rural communities, dairy farmers Todd Holm, in Elmwood, Ont., and Andrew Campbell, in southern Ontario’s Middlesex

“We have a lot of advisers and technicians on computers trying to keep us more efficient and right now they get frustrated with the slow connection and getting booted off the system,” Holm says.

“We could do a lot more with better internet.”

Campbell is in a similar situation. “The (internet) speed definitely holds us back from being able to really utilize the cloud as much as we’d like to,” he says. “I think faster internet days are ahead and I look forward to it, but it’s not quite here yet.”

Trudy Kelly Forsythe is an award-winning contributor to many publications in Canada and beyond, specializing in business and technology issues in the sectors of agriculture, food, manufacturing and more.

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MILKPRODUCER | EARLY SPRING 2022 25

FARM MANAGEMENT

PLANNING IS KEY TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF SOLID MANURE Contingency planning helps avoid winter spreading, nutrient loss, risk to water quality

By Lilian Schaer

CONTRIBUTOR

T

he risk to the environment and water quality from manure application on frozen or snow-covered ground is considerable. When fields are frozen, the soil has little to no capacity to absorb moisture. With winter rain and melting events common, this means any nutrients applied late in the winter are likely to be washed away into watercourses.

Not only does that negatively impact the environment, farmers will also lose the nutrient benefits of the manure they’ve just applied. And despite popular belief, solid manure can be just as susceptible to runoff as liquid.

Good planning can help avoid these challenges, says Chad Anderson, a Lambton County livestock farmer and crop consultant who is also the current president of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association.

“Manure is a terrific resource; those who have access to it are the envy of those who don’t. But it isn’t always greener on the other side of the fencerow (because) to maximize its benefit, good nutrient maanagement planning is critical,” Anderson says. “If the last few years have shown us anything, it’s that having contingency plans in place is important to help deal with Mother Nature when things don’t go as they should.”

Work by the Timing Matters Peer to Peer committee, led by Ontario’s livestock commodity organizations in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), has shown farmers mostly likely to spread manure in the winter don’t have enough storage capacity, are challenged by wet weather that keeps them from getting manure out in the fall, or incorrectly believe there is less risk of soil compaction in the winter.

“Not having all your applications all planned for one window, having adequate storage and using temporary field storage are all good practices to have in place with solid manure so you can apply manure in a timely fashion when soil conditions permit and environmental risks are low,” Anderson adds.

To avoid winter application, determine how many days of storage you have and when you want to spread manure. If the only application window is after corn harvest, consider shifting some spreading to the spring to reduce time pressures in the fall. Adding different crops to your rotation can also provide more opportunities to spread manure at different times of the year.

Manure application in the summer after wheat harvest is a popular option, for example. So is adding a cover crop that can act like a battery to store nutrients and have additional yield or soil health benefits or even serve as a

26

EARLY SPRING 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

supplementary feed source for livestock in the fall.

OMAFRA’s free AgriSuite software package can help you calculate how much storage you have, as well as plan applications and crop rotations. It’s available at www. ontario.ca/agrisuite.

LOCATION IS KEY

Part of good nutrient management planning includes considering the economics of expanding manure storage capacity. That could mean building new or renting unused storage nearby if that’s an option. For solid manure, temporary in-field storage is an approved solution for bedded-pack manure from cow or heifer barns or even calf hutches.

To minimize manure’s impact on water and neighbouring properties, it’s important to pick the right on-farm spot for temporary in-field storage.

The more bedding is in the manure, the more likely it will stay where you’ve placed it. Manure with high nutrient levels is best stored on a concrete pad instead of directly on the ground so any runoff can be collected or even prevented entirely by covering the storage area.

Sandy or light-textured soils have higher nitrogen leaching risks. Avoid tiled fields or ensure the temporary storage pile is at least three metres (10 feet) away from the closest tile and isn’t placed near exposed bedrock.

Keep your temporary storage as far away from your closest neighbours as possible, at least 100 metres from the edge of the field or 125 metres from the nearest residential building, which is equal to about a two- to three-minute walk under normal conditions. This same approach applies to rivers, streams, catch basins or areas known to have water flow during a thaw or heavy rains.

Keep in mind, a distance of about 150 metres will help keep manure out of water sources.

In-field storage isn’t a long-term solution; manure stored this way temporarily should be applied to the land during the next available growing season.

More information about manure stewardship and longterm nutrient management options is available at https:// www.farmfoodcareon.org/timing-matters/.

Lilian Schaer is a freelance agricultural journalist, writer and communications professional based in Guelph, Ont. She was born in Switzerland and raised on a dairy farm in Grey County. Follow her on Twitter @foodandfarming.

This article is provided by Farm & Food Care Ontario as part of the Timing Matters project. The project is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

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FARM MANAGEMENT

HIGH IMMUNE RESPONDER COWS What benefits do these types of cows provide to calf health?

By ACER Consulting Ltd

CONTRIBUTOR

T

he immune system protects dairy cattle against many bacteria, viruses and parasites in early life, through the transition period and through lactation.

Recently, University of Guelph researchers created a technology that tests dairy cattle’s immune responsiveness that identified a wide variation in immune response.

They identified three cattle groups: 1. High-immune responders; 2. Average-immune responders; 3. Low-immune responders (based on their cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immune responses.

Several research studies have been conducted—predominantly focusing on dairy cows—that highlight how immune response

Immune system is tremendously important in protecting dairy cattle against disease. High-immune responders are cattle that have an improved immune responsiveness and have been shown to have lower levels of disease in dairy cows and lower mortality in calves. influences disease risk and how the trait of high immune response can be transmitted from the dam or sire to their offspring.

WHAT HAS BEEN SHOWN IN COWS? Tremendous benefit has been identified in high-immune responder cows with lower levels of disease identified in this group.

Specifically, it has been found high-immune responder cows have a lower occurrence of

K

eeping calves busy during their early lives can lead to healthier, more productive animals. That’s according to research by Dr. Emily Miller-Cushon, an associate professor of animal science at the University of Florida, where she examines calf behaviour to gain insights into how to improve

mastitis, metritis, ketosis and retained placenta compared with cows that have average and low immune response. Higher immune responders have shown a better response to vaccination with fewer adverse effects. It is also important to note, as highlighted previously, immune responsiveness has a large genetic component, which means a high level of immune response can be passed from cow to calf.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CALVES? Although this is a new field of research, there is some evidence to suggest there are benefits to a calf when it is born from a high-immune responder cow or sired by a high immune responder bull. First off, high immune responder cows will produce higher quality colostrum.

Specifically, high immune responders had 25 and 16 grams per litre higher Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in their colostrum compared with average- and low-immune responder cows, respectively. Given colostrum quality plays such an important role in preventing failed transfer of passive immunity, higher levels of IgG in colostrum in high-immune responder cows could lead to improved passive immunity, contributing to lower levels of disease in calves.

Another study identified positive results, with calves that were sired by a high-immune responder bull having lower mortality levels. In a study that evaluated records from 24 farms and 33,320 cows, researchers found calves sired by high-immune responder bulls had 16 per cent lower mortality than those sired by non-high-immune responders. In addition, although not a statistically significant finding, calves sired by high-immune responder cows had lower levels of diarrhea.

Continued on page 30

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FARM MANAGEMENT

SELF-HELP STRATEGIES THAT WORK New resource lets farmers gauge how their mental health may be impacting their life and learn valuable coping strategies

M

ental health is a topic that is being discussed more and more freely and being recognized as a legitimate workplace hazard, including in farming.

That said, as the world continues to deal with the fallout of COVID-19 and the months turn into years, there may be farmers and other workers in the agriculture community who are struggling with ongoing stress but are not yet ready to reach out and even if they wanted to, might not know where to start.

In fact, COVID may only be the tip of the iceberg that may be sitting on top of other stressors, such as financial stress, equipment breakdowns, personal and-or family issues, weatherrelated anxieties and everything else that can keep farmers up at night.

Fortunately, there is a resource that lets farmers gauge how their mental health may be impacting their life and learn valuable information that could help them better understand mental health as a whole and the available solutions to suit their specific needs.

DAILY CHORE: HANDLING STRESS ON THE FARM

The Daily Chore: Handling Stress on the Farm was developed by The Agriculture Health and Safety Network of which Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) is a part. It is a 16-page brochure and is available to download for free on the WSPS website at www.wsps.ca. The following are a few key areas of this ag-centric perspective on mental health: • Defining stress The brochure opens with a section on stress that defines the term and details the symptoms that can take their toll on farmers’ mental and physical health, which may be a surprise to some.

These include heart disease, weakened immune system and mental health disorders. It also categorizes stressors into physical, emotional and behavioural to help farmers identify what they may be experiencing.

• Understand personal stress levels The resource also features a personal survey that asks questions relevant to agriculture workers to better understand how much stress they are dealing with at any given time and scores it. These include questions about debt load, production loss due to disease, delays in planting or harvesting due to weather, and other stressors that are of concern to farmers along with more personal issues, such as identifying feelings of isolation and personal conflict. It highlights the numerous stressors that can impact farmers at any time and those that often pile on top of each other. The Daily Chore helps you measure how well you cope with stress. It offers insight on a wide range of proven coping methods, as well as a tool to help you detail your own specific concerns and ways to deal with them.

Finally, it has a list of resources to help you get the support you need to deal with stress. To download this free resource, visit https://wsps.news/stress.

Want to measure your mental health and coping strategies?

Download a free resource at https://wsps.news/stress 30

EARLY SPRING 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

High immune responder cows, cont’d from page 28 WHAT NEXT? Selecting for high-immune response is becoming more mainstream with some genetic companies incorporating it into their breeding programs.

The positive effect of using high-immune responders in your herd can be seen through lower occurrence of disease in lactating cows, improved colostrum quality and lower levels of mortality in dairy calves sired by high-immune responders. A clearer understanding of the impact of highimmune responders on calf disease and growth is required; however, there is some evidence showing pigs highlighting that immune responsiveness may influence those parameters since pigs that had high immune response grow faster and have lower levels of disease.

This project was funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a fiveyear federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Acer Consulting Ltd.

This project was funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a fivespecializes in animal health research and scientific education.

Calf Care Corner delivers the latest information and ideas to help you improve the way calves are raised on your farm. If you have any comments or questions about Calf Care Corner, send an email to info@calfcare.ca. Follow Calf Care Corner on Facebook and Twitter @CalfCareCorner, and sign up for monthly e-blasts at www.calfcare.ca.

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KEEP BUSINESS AND PERSONAL FINANCES SEPARATE

By Richard Kamchen

CONTRIBUTOR

S

eparate your farm business and other finances to better understand your operation’s performance and remove unnecessary headaches from the tax season.

“It’s good business practice, and it’s good personal finance practice,” says Vanessa Stockbrugger, founder of Womencents.

Mingling finances only complicates things and misses getting a clear picture of how your farm and household are running, she says.

PREVENT BLENDING FINANCES One of the best ways to keep your business and personal finances separate is to have separate bank accounts and credit cards, says Erich Weber, business finance specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

He also recommends separating assets by ensuring farm assets are under the farm name, while personal assets are kept in your personal name.

OTHER INCOME Financial mingling can also be an issue for those generating outside income.

When working off-farm, tax deductions are taken off every cheque, with the net amount ideally going into your personal account, Stockbrugger says. But if it winds up in the farm account, you can’t know where you’re drawing money from, she adds.

Issues could also arise during tax season when you’ll need clarity on how revenue will be taxed, adds Manitoba Agriculture farm management specialist Sharon Ardron.

RISKS It’s important to have separate bank accounts, especially if the farm is incorporated since there’s a corporate tax for the business and a separate personal income tax, Stockbrugger says.

Weber says including a personal expense or asset on your farm income tax return can lead to your income tax returns being filed incorrectly, resulting in higher tax owing and possible penalties, with perhaps added accounting costs.

Another danger of not separating finances is causing a shortfall in farm working capital that might have been needed to cover business obligations, Ardron says.

DIGITIZE One way to navigate these waters is to use farm accounting software that allows users to separate their books. Separate accounts can help determine if the farm is truly self-sustaining, notes Laurier Poirier, FCC AgExpert product specialist.

COVID-19 financial support for farmers has heightened the importance of accurate bookkeeping as governments seek specific figures.

“The better your bookkeeping, the easier it is to apply or qualify for different programs,” Poirier says.

The pandemic has also factored into the growing popularity of AgExpert’s web-based subscription, he notes. With the challenges of inperson meetings, it makes accounts more accessible and easier to share.

This article is reprinted with permission of the author and Farm Credit Canada.

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31

DAIRY RESEARCH DAIRY RESEARCH

PAIRING CALVES How dairy calves are motivated to be with another calf

By Thomas Ede, Daniel M. Weary and Marina A.G von Keyserlingk CONTRIBUTORS

D

airy calves are often individually reared early in their life.

However, a large body of research suggests housing dairy calves in pairs or groups early in life is important for their social development and cognitive skills. Studies also suggest older calves are motivated to access a conspecific (member of the same species) of similar age, but little is known about younger dairy calves’ social motivation.

A recent study from the University of British Columbia (UBC) Animal Welfare Program investigated how motivated young dairy calves are to access a conspecific using weighed push-gates.

Researchers used 20 bull calves (10 subjects and 10 ‘rewards’) of approximately five days of age at the start of the study. Calves were housed for 15 days in a pen with two identical push-gates (see Figure 1) that provided them with access to two pens: one empty (the control) and one containing another calf (the ‘reward’). After each successful push, the weight of the push-gate was increased at the next feeding (8 a.m. or 4 p.m.). The pen with a social partner was randomized after each push.

Weighted push-gates have been successfully used by researchers at the UBC Animal Welfare Program for evaluating cows’ motivation to access a mechanical brush and pasture, but this paradigm is novel for testing motivation in young calves and did not require timeconsuming training.

Researchers found calves pushed more weight to access a pen that contained another calf compared with an empty pen, suggesting dairy calves are socially motivated. Out of the 10 calves tested, nine pushed more weight to access a social partner. One calf was very motivated and pushed twice the weight to access their partner (7.5 kg) than any other calf pushed. Calves learned to use the push-gates quickly without training, making this a promising new method for testing dairy calves’ motivation.

The findings from this study suggest dairy calves are motivated to access a social partner, even at a very young age. These findings contribute to a growing body of research supporting housing dairy calves in pairs or groups.

1 The results described in this article are based on the study ‘Calves are socially motivated,’ published in JDS Communication (https://doi. org/10.3168/jdsc.2021-0132).

FIGURE 1. Experimental set-up used to test calf motivation to be with a social partner. Motivation was evaluated using weighted push-gates. Over 15 days, the test calf (depicted in the middle pen) could push to access either an empty pen or a pen with a social partner. Weight was increased after each push. Illustration by Ann Sanderson.

General funding for the Animal Welfare Program during the time of this study was provided by NSERC Industrial Research Chair program with industry contributions from Alberta Milk, BC Dairy Association, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lactanet, BC Cattle Industry Development Fund, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, Intervet Canada Corporation, Saputo Inc., SaskMilk and Semex Alliance.

Thomas Ede is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia.

Marina von Keyserlingk is a professor in the animal welfare program in the faculty of land and food systems at the University of British Columbia and a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Chair in animal welfare.

Daniel Weary is a professor in the animal welfare program in the faculty of land and food systems at the University of British Columbia and a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Chair in animal welfare.

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DAIRY RESEARCH

REDUCE FEEDING COSTS BY ADDING OATS Research examines using processed prairie oat grain to replace barely grain in dairy cow diets Processing Impact on Rumen Bypass Protein of Oat vs. Barley

By Dr. Peiqiang Yu CONTRIBUTOR

Processing Impact on Rumen Bypass Starch of Oat vs. Barley

R

ecently, new varieties of oats have been produced by the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan with the aim of improving nutritional values, health compound and yield. These new oat grains can also be used for animals, particularly ruminants, such as dairy cows and beef cattle.

However, to date, there has been limited research on the effect of processing methods, such as rolling, flaking and pelleting, on feed degradation kinetics for dairy cows and replacing conventional barley grain with processing prairie oat grain. Researchers set out to determine if these processing methods could decrease rumen degradation and increase rumen bypass protein and starch for dairy cows.

RESEARCH FINDINGS The results showed flaked oats and rolled barley had higher values of rumen bypass protein (48 and 43 grams per kilogram of dry matter (DM), respectively, as shown in Figure 1. Rolled oats presented the highest value of rumen effective degradable protein at 112 g/kg DM, followed

FIGURE 1. Processing impact on rumen bypass protein of prairie oat compared with rolled barley (source: Marcela Ribeiro Tosta, 2019, University of Saskatchewan.

Thesis)

FIGURE 2. Processing impact on rumen bypass starch of prairie oat compared with rolled barley (source: Marcela Ribeiro Tosta, 2019, University of Saskatchewan. Thesis)

by pelleted oats, which was 102 g/kg DM. The values for rumen bypass starch ranged from 34 g/kg DM for pelleted oats to 156 g/kg DM for rolled barley. The rumen bypass starch was impacted by grain type, but it did not differ between different processing of prairie oats (see Figure 2). Effective degradability of starch was similar for flaked oats and rolled barley when measured on a gram per kilogram DM basis, and they showed higher values when compared with the other oat’s treatments. However, rolled

barley contained the highest amount of starch at 66.58 per cent DM, followed by flaked oats at 52.59 per cent DM.

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TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Based on the current study, rolling, flaking and pelleting can be used to change rumen bypass protein and starch profile in prairie oats for dairy cows. This knowledge could be applied to reducing feed costs by increasing use of oats in dairy cattle diets.

Dr. Peiqiang Yu This dairy feed research project was carried out by the SRP Feed Chair Dr. Peiqiang Yu and his team in the department of animal and poultry science at the University of Saskatchewan, in collaboration with several professors, researchers and industry members including Dave Christensen, John McKinnon, Aaron Beattie, Rex Newkirk, the Prairie Oat Growers Association, Canadian Feed Research Centre, Rayner Dairy Teaching and Research Facility and SaskMilk, and was supported by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture strategic research chair in the feed research & development program and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s collaborative research and development grant.

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DAIRY RESEARCH

COST-SHARE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT SPECIES AT RISK ON ONTARIO FARMLAND

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airy producers can now apply for the new species at risk partnerships on agricultural lands (SARPAL) intake. SARPAL is an Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) initiative that works with Ontario farmers to support the management and recovery of species at risk (SAR) on agricultural land.

SARPAL provides up to 50 per cent costshare funding to support farmers and agricultural landowners to implement best management practices (BMPs) that protect and enhance healthy SAR habitat while sustaining production and profitability. Wetlands, field edges, fencerows, buffer strips, windbreaks and other grassy areas on farms are habitat, travel

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corridors and food sources for SAR, including the Loggerhead Shrike, American Badger, Eastern Foxsnake, Monarch and more.

Beginning Feb. 14, 2022, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) will accept applications for projects, such as delayed haying, planting of trees and shrubs, grassland and wetland restoration, and rotational grazing BMPs. Applicants can receive up to $20,000 per farm business. The intake will remain open until 5 p.m. on Feb. 18, 2022, or until funds are fully allocated.

Farm businesses and farmland owners must have a valid premises identification number and a fourth edition environmental farm plan to be eligible for the program. As part of SARPAL, landowners enter into a conservation agreement with ECCC. These agreements will ensure the maintenance of funded projects and habitat protection for SAR for the length of the agreement.

Visit the OSCIA website at: www.ontariosoilcrop.org/oscia-programs/sarpal/ For more information, email OSCIA at sarpal@ontariosoilcrop.org or call 519-826-3035

Are you ready for winter?

Dairy Farmers of Ontario is reminding producers to clear their laneways of ice and snow.

Why is this important?

• creates a safe environment for milk transporters; • ensures timely milk pickup; • reduces DFO’s winter transportation costs; • mandated through DFO’s Farm Yards and Lanes Policy.

Yards and laneways that bulk tank milk graders travel on must be cleared of snow and clearly marked with poles and reflecting markers. Ice buildup should be salted and-or sanded.

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DAIRY RESEARCH

IS THE YIELD POTENTIAL OF ALFALFA IN In wetter environments, such as Ontario, newer varieties show improved regrowth and disease resistance

By Christine O’Reilly CONTRIBUTOR

T

he relationship between alfalfa breeding efforts and yield potential is complicated. While most literature on annual grain crops shows yield improvements with the release of new varieties over time, a literature search on alfalfa yield will show improvement, stagnation and declines, depending on the paper. One of the latest attempts to discern what is really going on comes from Lei Ren and colleagues from the University of Saskatchewan.

Ren and colleagues summarized data from the Western Forage Variety Testing System from 1997 to 2011 to see how breeding has changed the yield potential of alfalfa varieties over time. They recognized environmental conditions and harvest management are factors that can affect alfalfa yield that are not always included in reviews on this topic. Since the Prairies receive significantly less annual precipitation than Ontario, data from the irrigated sites in the Western Forage Variety Testing System are of particular interest in Eastern Canada.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS The researchers found no significant trends between forage yield and the year a variety was released when they examined data from irrigated sites for varieties released between 1997 and 2011. There was also no significant improvement in regrowth for second cut.

However, when they restricted their analysis to varieties released between 2000 and 2011, second cut yields and total yields (first plus second cut) improved about one per cent per year across the two irrigated sites. This stronger regrowth could be the result of reduced fall dormancy in newer varieties.

In addition, the cumulative temperature above 5 C from April to June had a significant impact on alfalfa yield at the irrigated sites.

This makes sense since growing degree day models (base 5 C) can predict alfalfa development with reasonable accuracy. Warmer temperatures above 5 C would speed up alfalfa development in the spring and allow for more first cut growth. The amount of precipitation between April and June at rain-fed sites significantly impacted yield. This trend was not apparent at the irrigated sites because water was not limiting in those plots.

The irrigated sites had a more aggressive cutting schedule (three cuts per year) than many of the rain-fed trial locations (one to three cuts/year). Trial data showed yields from stands that were

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EARLY SPRING 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

harvested more frequently were not as affected by precipitation during the growing season. The researchers attributed this to reduced vigour because of stress from frequent cutting. A weakened plant with a reduced root system is less able to take advantage of moisture following rain. Increased snow cover during winter increased alfalfa yield on the irrigated sites. While it is known snow cover helps protect alfalfa crowns from cold injury, this relationship may be more significant when the plants are stressed from aggressive cutting schedules.

HOW DIFFERENT VARIETIES COPE Keep in mind, the variety trial sites all have good soil fertility to support alfalfa production. Any responses to limited or unbalanced nutrition will not be apparent from this data set. How different varieties cope with nutritional stresses is another management factor that could influence alfalfa yield.

Other work on this topic can provide more context for the inconsistent conclusions around alfalfa breeding and yield potential.

In a field study from 1999 to 2003, Lamb and colleagues assessed the yield of alfalfa varieties released between 1940 to 1995. Plots were established in Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and Iowa. While the sites in Minnesota and Iowa showed little yield advantage to using newer varieties, there was a significant yield difference between older and newer varieties in Ohio and Wisconsin. Stand persistence was also significantly better for newer varieties in these states. This was attributed to improved disease resistance in newer varieties and the environmental conditions in Ohio and Wisconsin that increased disease pressure.

ONTARIO PRODUCERS CAN BENEFIT FROM GROWING NEWER VARIETIES With environmental factors playing such a strong role in the yield potential of alfalfa, there is not a universal answer to whether breeding has improved alfalfa yields. In addition, alfalfa breeders have selected for multiple traits – such as winterhardiness, yield, persistence and quality – simultaneously, even though these traits sometimes work against each other. Right now, it is only when growing conditions allow improved traits to shine that genetic advancements appear in yield data. However, in wetter environments, such as Ontario’s, newer varieties show improved regrowth and disease resistance. Both traits contribute to higher yields and persistence. Therefore, Ontario producers can benefit from growing newer varieties on their operations. Purchasing certified seed ensures desirable traits are present in the alfalfa to be seeded on the farm.

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ATTENTION FARMERS USING A TIE STALL BARN

NCREASING? A weakened plant with a reduced root system is less able to take advantage of moisture following rain.

Increased snow cover during the winter increased alfalfa yield on the irrigated sites. While it is known snow cover helps protect alfalfa crowns from cold injury, this relationship may be more significant when the plants are stressed from aggressive cutting schedules.

References J.F.S. Lamb, C.C. Sheaffer, L.H. Rhodes, R.M. Sulc, D.J. Undersander, and E.C. Brummer. 2006. Five decades of alfalfa cultivar improvement: impact on forage yield, persistence, and nutritive value. Crop Science.

46(2):902-909.

L. Ren, J.A. Bennett, B. Coulman, J. Liu, and B. Biligetu. 2021. Forage yield trend of alfalfa cultivars in the Canadian prairies and its relation to environmental factors and harvest management. Grass and Forage Science.

76:390-399.

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2022 CANADIAN DAIRY XPO DEFERRED TO 2023 2022.” The next operation dates of CDX will be planned for April 5-6, 2023 LIVE!” Says President & Founder Jordon Underhill.

In lieu of CDX this year, CDX management launched the CDX Milk House Calendar.

Moving forward this calendar will become an annual project that will run April to April (CDX calendar year), and can be found in the April edition of Milk Producer magazine. CDX is currently running a context on its Facebook page to find photos for each month from industry professionals and producers. Please visit the CDX page to learn more about how your best photo can appear in our calendar and a chance to win family pack tickets for the 2023 CDX. CDX management heard loud and clear from dairy producers - once we overcome COVID, there will be an immediate need for producers to reconnect with each other, industry and innovation.

CDX organizers sincerely thank the industry and producers who have shown immense support for the CDX project over these unprecedented times.

The encouragement has been overwhelming.

By Kate Mehlenbacher

CONTRIBUTOR

T

he management at Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX) along with a steering committee of exhibitors, sponsors, producers, vets and AG marketers has decided to cancel the 2022 CDX and defer to April 2023.

This decision has come with the following factors in mind: • Provincial government restrictions at the time of the decision prevent CDX from operating; • International travel restrictions for out-of -country exhibitors; • Corporate policies restricting travel and participation in trade shows for 2022; • Vast uncertainty of government restrictions between now and April 2022; • CDX 2022 current requirement to inject nonrecoverable funds to plan/promote.

“We are disappointed and broken-hearted to defer the XPO to 2023, we were planning for a safe in-person return this year but have found no other option but to cancel the nearly sold out 2022 CDX. Our goal is to protect the Canadian Dairy XPO for both exhibiting/sponsoring companies and attending Canadian dairy farm families. We plan to take this extra time to extensively plan for the 2023 XPO and come back stronger than ever, as we will not be operating a virtual XPO in

LIVE Canadian Dairy XPO April 5 and 6 2023

Stratford Rotary Complex, Stratford, Ontario.

For more information, please contact CDX Operations Manager Kate Mehlenbacher 519-265-8300 ext. 204 kate@dairyxpo.ca or visit www.dairyxpo.ca

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actalis Canada, together with Canadian milk replacer manufacturer Mapleview Agri donated 24,500 kilograms of calf nutrition or “formula” to help support dairy farms as they recover from the devastation caused by severe flooding in British Columbia late last year.

In collaboration with Dairy Farmers of Canada, Summit Calf Solutions and Abbotsford B.C.-based Ritchie-Smith Feeds, 1,225 bags of donated premium milk replacer were delivered to B.C. dairy farms in need in mid-January, providing nourishment for approximately 500 calves for over two months.

“Dairy farms and farmers in British Columbia have been incredibly hard hit by the severe flooding that occurred late last year and the subsequent effects of this devastating event, including supply chain disruption impacting food availability for animals,” says Mark Taylor, Lactalis Canada president and chief executive officer. “While many B.C. dairy farmers continue the difficult road to rebuild, Lactalis Canada is pleased to join forces with Mapleview Agri, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Summit Calf Solutions and Ritchie-Smith Feeds to offer some relief to impacted B.C. dairy farmers through this partnership.”

“Mapleview Agri Ltd. is proud to support the dairy farmers of B.C. who have been impacted by the recent flooding,” says Aaron Keunen, Mapleview Agri vice-president. “We are grateful to Lactalis Canada for providing the Canadian skim milk powder used in the manufacturing of this milk replacer, Dairy Farmers of Canada for assisting with transportation costs, as well as Summit Calf Solutions and Ritchie-Smith Feeds for handling distribution of the product to affected farmers. We are encouraged by the resiliency of B.C. dairy farmers throughout these challenging times and hope this collaborative donation can assist with the recovery and restoration of their livelihoods.”

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