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ON-FARM PROCESSING HELPS FARM FAMILIES DIVERSIFY Publications Mail Sales Agreement No. 40063866 PublicationsMail MailSales SalesAgreement AgreementNo. No.40063866 40063866 Publications

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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. 1

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 Milk Producer redesign

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Dairy products donation

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OHA partnership

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Dairy farming future

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Markets Market demand

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

Cover Story On-farm processing

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Dairy Research

Farm Management

Calf housing

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Research into practice

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New N Noted

Manure management

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Calf care

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Nutritional management

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Cover crop innovation

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EDITORIAL

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CHANGES AND CHALLENGES IN A RESILIENT DAIRY INDUSTRY

By Henry Wydeven Region 10 Board Member

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aving the opportunity to represent fellow milk producers has been a privilege. I am very proud of our dairy industry and the people I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with. Eight years later, it’s now time to reflect.

Believe it or not; my campaign goals when I originally let my name stand for the board have all been successfully accomplished. I must admit, I was very naïve, and I quickly realized there were more issues to deal with and constant new challenges. Of course, this will not change and is to be expected since we are part of a very complex industry.

My first national meeting included a presentation by then Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. His message was clear—if industry leaders don’t modernize supply management, government support will not continue in the future. I’ve never forgotten that and supported the modernization initiative since. It started with an analogy from fellow board member Sid Atkinson who said, “we need to make sure the bucket is overflowing with milk.” In other words, we need to

supply milk for all domestic milk classes and have a bit left over for market growth. With the very controversial decision to implement the ingredient strategy and a new Class 6 and not just pick and choose higher-class milk, we endeavoured to satisfy Minister Ritz’s request for modernization and Sid’s vision of overflowing the bucket.

Another highlight of my tenure has been working with young producers. I look back at the family top-up policy and how it has benefitted succession planning for many farm families.

I’ve enjoyed meeting with the newly formed organic producer committee, as well as the work that went into restructuring the research committee. Working with my Huron and Perth milk committees and seeing the support they provide to local schools and food banks has been heartwarming and a testament to the importance of rural communities. Watching the growth and development of our own marketing department has been very rewarding as we influence consumers on the nutritional benefits of dairy and dedication of our producers.

Another influencer that has impacted me during my tenure has been Temple Grandin. I will never forget her words when she stated animals are meant to be treated ethically and with respect. We, as producers, are caregivers of our animals and proAction shows everyone we take this seriously. I take excep-

tion to misinformed opinions on animal husbandry that don’t originate from an expert.

I also take exception to supply management criticism and feel it’s a direct threat to our rural communities because rural success helps keep our country strong. We are strongly regulated and operate according to a cost of production formula.

Our system stands on its own as being an integral part of many vibrant rural communities.

As we look to the future of our industry, there is the issue of quota availability. Farm efficiency and new technology will help us going forward. We need to change and continue working with processors and government to invest in the growth of our domestic market.

I’ve wholeheartedly enjoyed my tenure as a board member. Now it’s time to be more present as a husband, father and Opa (grandfather) of seven grandchildren. I can’t thank my family enough for their support and patience during a very busy eight years. I want to thank my fellow board members, my two producer committees, Dairy Farmers of Ontario staff and the producers I have represented for their guidance, support and encouragement throughout my tenure.

“The wealth of a nation, the character of its people, the permanence of its institutions, are all dependent on a sound and sufficient agricultural foundation.”

IT’S YOUR TURN TO HAVE YOUR SAY WITH THE DAIRY CODE OF PRACTICE

By Steve Runnalls Region 12 Board Member

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or the past 2.5 years, I have been on the dairy code of practice review committee.

The most recent code was released in 2009 and is reviewed every 10 years, as are other codes of practice. Livestock codes are developed by a committee of diverse stakeholders under supervision of the National Farm Animal Care Council’s (NFACC) board. The dairy code of practice committee comprises dairy producers, provincial staff, animal welfare researchers, veterinarians, beef and veal producers, processors, retailers and animal welfare groups.

The first job of the committee is to identify priority animal welfare issues and then review any research associated with the issues. The committee’s first job is to identify priority animal welfare issues and then review any associated research. As we moved through the chapters of the code during the revision process, the 4

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committee tried to land on requirements and best management practices based on science that address any animal welfare issues. Two important factors that are considered in the decisionmaking process are producer costs and whether the requirements will be attainable. I’m sure you can imagine with the wide range of stakeholders involved this was not an easy task and the process took much longer than expected.

The committee review was completed in fall 2021 and NFACC posted the draft code for public comment in late November. Anyone can read the proposed changes to the code and comment on its requirements until the end of January. Producers are strongly encouraged to review the draft code and provide comments, especially if they believe certain requirements would negatively impact their farms. To influence the code, comments need to be factual and not solely based on how one feels about the requirements. Once the public review period closes, the committee will review all comments and decide if further changes are required or if some changes cannot be implemented.

The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle is an important tool for the Canadian dairy industry. It gives consumers confidence dairy cattle are treated well and given the best care possible where that, in turn, helps preserve our milk market. It also protects producers who follow the code requirements because it confirms they are operating a well-managed farm that adheres to the best animal welfare practices.

When the final code is released, proAction’s animal care module will be amended to enforce the code on every Canadian dairy farm. That’s why I feel it’s important for every producer to read through the draft code and have their say on the future of animal care on Ontario dairy farms. If you haven’t yet had a chance to provide your comments, you can make a submission at this link: https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/Q5J965Q. Having all farms operating on a consistent platform by placing animal welfare at the forefront will create a more stable and sustainable future for our industry.

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DAIRY NEWS

MILK PRODUCER TO BE RELAUNCHED IN 2022 Long-running magazine to undergo strategic and design revamp beginning with April issue

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very year, millions of Canadians make New Year’s resolutions, hoping to spark positive, lasting change. One recurring theme that tends to be on most people’s list is a change in the way they look and feel. This might include a more active approach to health and fitness or a focus on personal and professional development.

Here at Milk Producer, we’re no different. We’ve recently undertaken a strategic revamp and are excited to reveal an updated and refreshed look, with editorial content that reflects industry issues that matter to producers and our stakeholders.

Visually, you’ll notice more people in our pages. Ontario producers will feature more prominently on our covers and throughout the magazine.

There will also be more focused subject matter and vibrant colours on every page.

Other content changes you’ll notice will be shorter, concise articles with visually clear takeaways. Though our content will continue to provide thought-provoking perspectives on news or policy, it will also build support for matters important to our readers. As much as possible, stories will provide a call to action or other visual element to convey key messages. The magazine will also feature thematic content and issue planning to provide readers with deeper coverage on current industry issues and areas of focus, such as sustainability and animal health and welfare. Editorial themes will help us further guide our content. By focusing on key topics or themes, we will endeavour to build engagement and tie together all editorial in a more cohesive manner.

Another key change will be the frequency of the magazine. Along with an updated tagline, which will now be “The voice of the Ontario producer,” the magazine will be published with the following schedule, starting with the April issue: • Early spring and late spring • Early summer and late summer • Early fall and late fall • Early winter and late winter Theresa Rogers, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) new editor, will take over the magazine starting with the launch issue from interim editor, Sharon Laidlaw, who will continue to serve as DFO’s corporate communications manager.

“We are very pleased to have Theresa join us at DFO to lead this change,” says Heather MacGregor, DFO’s director of communications.

“Theresa has a bachelor of journalism and has spent more than 20 years in communications and magazine editing roles. We know her past experience and education will serve her well with DFO as she takes on the editor role and continues to strengthen the legacy and readership of Milk Producer.”

“What will never change is the magazine’s unwavering focus on continuing to be a key point of contact for the producer community and other DFO stakeholders as we continue on the path of a best-in-class publication,” Rogers says, adding the magazine’s almost 97-year history is to be commended and readers will continue to able to count on it for many more years.

THERESA ROGERS (right) is Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s new editor. She will be leading the magazine’s relaunch in April 2022.

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DAIRY NEWS

ONTARIO MILK TRANSPORTER RALLIES PRODUCERS AND COLLEAGUES TO DONATE DAIRY PRODUCTS TO SALVATION ARMY

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MIKE CHAPMAN of M. Chapman Milk Transport in Listowel, Ont., came together with 23 producers and four milk truck drivers in Perth County to buy and donate a pickup truck load worth’s of dairy products to the local Salvation Army on Dec. 6.

CAROLYN SAUNDERS, food bank co-ordinator for The Salvation Army in Listowel, Ont., is pictured with milk truck driver Mike Chapman who filled his pickup truck with donated dairy products, popular items that are most requested by families in need during the holidays.

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hen Mike Chapman of M. Chapman Milk Transport Inc. in Listowel, Ont., heard about a donation drive on The Ranch 100.1FM in early December, his first thought was to reach out to the local Salvation Army to find out what products they needed most.

Learning dairy products are considered a treat for many when using a food bank, Chapman immediately launched a food drive in his community, rallying 23 producers and four milk truck drivers in Perth County to join him on this worthy cause.

It didn’t take long for Chapman to amass a pickup truck full of dairy products, which he delivered to the Salvation Army Food Bank on 326 Main St E., in Listowel, Ont., on Dec. 6. Chapman donated several cartons of white and chocolate milk, various cheeses, cottage cheese and cream cheese, as well as sour cream, butter and yogurt. International Cheese in Toronto, Ont., also donated three cartons of provolone cheese.

Chapman has been a milk truck driver for almost 37 years, having taken over the family business from his father, Murray. His grandfather, George, started the transport company about 90 years ago. Chapman and his wife, Carolyn, hope to make the dairy product donation a yearly occasion.

“It doesn’t take much to donate, when you break down the costs and get many people to join in, it doesn’t cost much. Dairy products like butter and cheese are wanted by so many people, so any way that we can help will make a difference,” Chapman says. “The farmers I approached in my area were quick to come on board and were more than generous for such a good cause.”

“We don’t typically get a lot of fresh items donated and sometimes fridge capacity is an issue to store non-perishables. However, Mike gave me a heads up it would be a large donation so we were prepared,” says Carolyn Saunders, food bank co-ordinator for The Salvation Army, adding some of the cheeses that were donated were included in their holiday hampers.

“We are so grateful to Mike and everyone who donated. It was such a nice gesture and helped us provide a little extra to people in need during the holidays,” Saunders says.

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DAIRY NEWS

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BUY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DELIVERS SPEECH FROM THE THRONE MADE-IN-ONTARIO FOOD

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he Ontario government is investing $1 million annually to promote locally grown food and support the economic growth and success of the province’s agrifood sector. Up to $100,000 is available for marketing projects that encourages Ontarians to buy fresh, locally grown and made agri-food products.

“Ontario farmers and food processors grow and make healthy fruits, vegetables, flowers, meat, honey, eggs, dairy, maple syrup and other processed foods throughout the year.

This funding will help boost awareness of all

the good things that are grown and made in Ontario,” says Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Making it easier for consumers to recognize and buy local not only helps our farmers, food processors, families and communities, it also helps to keep Ontario’s food supply chain strong.”

For almost 45 years, Foodland Ontario has partnered with agri-food organizations to help Ontario families recognize, prepare and enjoy locally grown foods. This targeted, cost-share funding through the Grassroots Growth Initiative complements and builds on

EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS THAT COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING INCLUDE: • Branded display bins that make it easier for consumers to identify local-grown fruit at grocery stores; • A local print or digital marketing campaign to boost awareness in target markets; • A consumer awareness campaign and launch of a new table grape variety to Ontario consumers.

“Making it easier for consumers to recognize and buy local not only helps our farmers, food processors, families and communities, but it also helps to keep Ontario’s food supply chain strong.”

- Lisa Thompson the successful Foodland Ontario program by offering project funding directly to provincial agri-food producer organizations to develop and expand their own local marketing opportunities.

Ontario’s local agri-food sector is vital to the sustainability of the province’s food system.

The cost-share funding that supports agrifood marketing projects for provincial agrifood producer organizations demonstrates the government’s commitment to support the sector’s growth and to strengthen the food supply chain.

“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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For external application to the udder only, after milking, as an essential component of udder management. Always wash and dry teats thoroughly before milking.

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Ysabel’s husband Tyler Doiron led Erbacres Snapple Shakira EX-97-CAN to 2021 World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion in October. Also Grand Champion of the 2021 Canadian National Holstein Show. Shakira is owned by Ferme Jacobs, Ty-D Holsteins, Killian Theraulaz, Ferme Antelimarck and Jacobs family members. Ferme Jacobs was premier breeder for the 9th time! https://wp.me/pb1wH7-gb

Honored to be the #1 udder product, Choice of Champions for over 10 years!

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DFO PARTNERS WITH ONTARIO HOCKEY ASSOCIATION TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED SPORTS

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airy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is continuing to support communitybased sports through a two-year sponsorship agreement with the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA).

This exclusive partnership will see DFO’s involvement in a number of areas across all four leagues the OHA oversees, which includes the Ontario Junior Hockey League, Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Provincial Junior Hockey League and the Senior AAA – Allan Cup Hockey.

Part of the partnership is the creation of the OHA Bursary Program, presented by DFO. In each year of the partnership, eight OHA members will receive a bursary of $6,000 each.

In addition, DFO will support key programming throughout the calendar year with activations and product distribution, as well as having branding on-site in OHA member-team arenas.

“We are proud of our sponsorship agreement with OHA and to provide a chance for youth to achieve their educational goals through sports,” says Cheryl Smith, DFO’s chief executive officer. “The MilkUP program provides a strong and long-lasting effect on youth sports while highlighting the benefits of milk in a healthy and active lifestyle. Winners of the bursary program will demonstrate MilkUPs values of perseverance, originality and heart through their contribution to the sport and to their communities.”

“The Ontario Hockey Association is extremely excited for the opportunity to partner with Dairy Farmers of Ontario, and we look forward to building a strong bond between our players and DFO over time,” says OHA executive director David Leger. “The partnership will have a positive impact on the experience of our members in the footprint of the OHA within Ontario.”

The agreement begins with the 2021-22 season and runs through the end of the 202223 season. For more information about the OHA, visit OHAHockey.ca.

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DAIRY NEWS

CFGA’S 12TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON SUSTAINABILITY

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he Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) holds its conference annually to provide networking and educational opportunities for all Canadians who produce hay and forage products and for those whose production is dependent upon forage and grassland production.

Its three-day conference called Forage Landscape Synergie focused on sustainability and ways to enrich the contribution of Canadian grasslands to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Farmers play an important role in the fight against climate change,” says CFGA executive director Cedric MacLeod. “Our annual conference dives into this each year, showcasing the latest knowledge in an engaging learning environment for all impacted by the forage and grassland industry in Canada.”

The conference, which took place in December, included many sessions of value to dairy producers, including best practices in dairy sector data management to inform and improve forage management systems, planning for forage needs in milk production and modern forage, and nu-

trition management of dairy herds. Sessions were recorded and will be available for a fee. Visit www. canadianfga.ca for more information.

LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNER A highlight of the event included awarding Germain Lefebvre with the 2021 CFGA Leadership Award. Established in 2012, the award recognizes individuals, groups or organizations who exemplify or enhance the goals of the CFGA and whose leadership has impact of national and-or international significance.

This year marks Lefebvre’s 50th year as a professional agronomist. He has worked in the forage sector since 1985 and was instrumental in the formation of the Conseil québécois des plantes fourragères (CQPF). He is also a producer of field crops and commercial hay, the author of several reports on forages and a public speaker on the topic.

Over the span of his career, Lefebvre established many contacts with the hay trade outside of Quebec, including Ontario, providing hay solutions to farmers. He believes forag-

Begin STRONG. Stay STRONG.

“Farmers play an important role in the fight against climate change,” - Cedric MacLeod es are the basis of the entire animal industry, including the dairy sector, as well as a natural resource for the environment and regional development, essential for diversified and sustainable agriculture.

Ray Robertson, manager of the Ontario Forage Council and past chair of the CFGA, says Lefebvre is well-deserving of the CFGA Leadership Award. “He is totally committed to the forage industry for all sectors,” he says.

To nominate someone for the 2022 CFGA Leadership Award, email info@canadianfga.ca for more information.

The CFGA conference is funded through the Program Innov'Action agroalimentaire, under the Canadian Partnership for Agriculture, an agreement between the governments of Canada and Quebec and the generous support of CFGA’s conference sponsors and annual partners. The virtual event was hosted in conjunction with the CQPF.

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n article printed in December’s edition of Eastern Farmer’s Forum and Western Farmer’s Forum contained some misinformation regarding proAction environmental farm plan (EFP). There is currently no option available and no possibility for producers to hire a consultant to complete an EFP or an electronic EFP on their behalf.

Legally, producers must validate their authority within the farm business once they start the EFP process. Then, an Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) workshop leader ensures the participant attending is the farmer themselves (or otherwise directly affiliated with the farm business), and EFP reviewers also conduct follow up calls to the registered farmer who submitted the EFP action plan to ensure they are the right point of contact.

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SICK KIDS FOUNDATION THANKS DFO FOR HOLIDAY DONATION

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he SickKids Foundation created a special thank you video to Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) for its continuous contribution and support.

This year, DFO ran its cookies and milk campaign, which focused on the importance of giving back and supporting SickKids Foundation and other Ontario children’s hospitals in London, Hamilton and Ottawa by sending a text message of support. As a result of the campaign, DFO reached its $500,000 donation goal. You can view the thank you video at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=XMSCHKb5nlU.

DAIRY DIRECT PAYMENT PROGRAM REGISTRATION BEGINS IN JANUARY Producer letters for the Dairy Direct Payment Program (DDPP) for 2021-22 were mailed on Dec. 17, 2021. Producers can register the moment they receive their letter. The Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) will start issuing payments at the beginning of January 2022.

Keep in mind: • Producers eligible to the program this year are those who held quota on Oct. 31, 2021; • The CDC must receive registrations by March 31, 2022; • Producers eligible to the program must register each year, even if they have received payment in previous years.

KNOW? ents to the DID YOUbm it your comm

You can still su e at https:// practice onlin of de co iry draft da 5Q. Ontary.com/r/Q5J96 ke on ym ve ur e www.s ed to review th are encourag nco io producers d an l tfu gh d submit thou e document an oAction modul pr e Th . ts en m m co e e iv struct practice. Onc dairy code of e th on d se is ba updated to oAction will be published, pr guidelines. the new set of s w llo fo it re ensu to be actively all producers r fo nt rta po It’s im eir voices are process so th e th in ed lv invo rm realities. de reflects fa co e th d an d, hear

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NEW DFO BOARD MEMBER ELECTED IN REGION 6 The ballot count for the second 2021 election for board member in Region 6 was held in accordance with the procedures detailed in Ontario Regulation 760, as amended, made under the Milk Act, on Dec. 14, 2021.

The candidate receiving the largest number of votes in the election in Region 6 was George Van Kampen.

Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) board passed a motion on Dec. 14, 2021, following the ballot count declaring George Van Kampen elected to serve as board member for Region 6, for a four-year term commencing immediately following the adjournment of DFO’s annual general meeting on Jan. 19, 2022.

2022 SOUTH WESTERN ONTARIO DAIRY SYMPOSIUM CANCELLED The South Western Ontario Dairy Symposium committee has decided to cancel the dairy symposium that was to take place in February 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The event is held annually in Woodstock, Ont. The committee hopes to resume the symposium in February 2023 for an in-person event with an updated program for dairy producers and exhibitors.

Committee members thank past participants for their support. For more information, visit www.dairysymposium.com.

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DAIRY NEWS

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE FUTURE OF DAIRY FARMING IN CANADA

By Dairy Farmers of Canada

CONTRIBUTOR

T

he Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle is undergoing important updates and farmers’ input is needed. Your feedback will help organizations behind the code better understand how the proposed changes will affect farmers and, since the code forms the basis for proAction’s animal care module, any updates to the code have a direct impact on all dairy farm operations in Canada.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN This is your chance to speak up and help shape the future of dairy farming in Canada. Farmers can submit their comments on the code during

the public comment period, which is open for 60 days from Nov. 29, 2021 to Jan. 27, 2022.

Individuals and organizations can provide submissions, but duplicate or “template” submissions, such as multiple submissions that are substantially similar or come from the same IP address, will be treated as one submission.

If you’re short on time, you can make a single comment that applies to the whole code or comment on just one or two requirements.

If you don’t comment, your voice will not be heard on these important upcoming changes.

A step-by-step guide to participating in the public comment period is available at www. nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/dairy-cattle.

WHY IS THE CODE IMPORTANT? The code is a set of national guidelines for the care and handling of dairy cattle. It is

QUICK TIPS: • Be constructive; • Be specific and objective; • Ensure your comment is helpful for the code committee.

For each new or revised requirement, ask yourself: • Can I implement this requirement easily? With acceptable effort? Not at all?

• If not at all, can I not implement the whole requirement or just part of it?

• Could I manage with a simple revision or with more time to adjust?

• What kind of economic impact will this revision have on my operation?

If you do not support a requirement: • Include the rationale and specific details so the committee understands your position.

• Consider proposing an alternative suggestion that will help address the animal welfare issue the revision is attempting to address.

• Consider if there is a legal obligation or other regulation that prevents you from meeting the requirement or that would take significant time to achieve (i.e. seeking a permit).

To further ensure farmers’ positions are well-reflected, consider: • Talking to other producers in your community to ensure they are aware of the public comment period and encourage them to participate; • Encouraging your family and staff members to comment; • Raising issues in the proposed code of practice at your barn staff meeting; • Discussing topics with your extended team (i.e. vets, advisers) and encourage them to comment.

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LATE WINTER 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

intended to promote sound management and welfare practices through recommendations and requirements for housing, management, personnel training, transportation, feed and water, and other animal husbandry practices.

Requirements under the code either reflect a regulatory requirement, or an industryimposed expectation outlining acceptable and unacceptable practices. Some Canadian provinces reference the code of practice within their provincial animal welfare legislation.

The code of practice development process is led by the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and the current code was released in 2009. Dairy Famers of Canada (DFC) initiated the update process with NFACC to bring the code up to current expectations and reality.

A series of briefing sessions for farmers was organized by DFC in December and farmers can consult the draft code at www.nfacc.ca/ codes-of-practice/dairy-cattle.

DFC SPONSORS NEW PODCAST FOR DAIRY FARMERS DFC is excited to announce its sponsorship of The Canadian Podcow, a new podcast made by Canadian dairy farmers for dairy producers, as well as the broader dairy community and their friends. Hosts Sarah Sache and Andrew Campbell explore issues and provide analysis, offering their perspectives about dairy farming and the dairy value chain both in Canada and internationally. A French version of the podcast called Entre deux traites is hosted by Sabrina Caron and Jean-François Janelle.

A special episode of The Canadian Podcow focused on the code of practice aired in January.

It is available for download at https://rss.com/ podcasts/canadianpodcow/.

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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[ CDC PROJECTS INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR 2021-22

T

fat. In 2021, 5.2 million kg of butterfat associated with cheese came in through imports.

“At this point, with the way everything is going right now, P5 production seems to be aligned with a more prudent scenario of demand,” Dubé says. CDC is looking at scenarios where the national demand could grow from 1.2 to 3.4 per cent in 2021-22. “If the prudent scenario doesn’t materialize then we should see the need for an increase in production, but there is no doubt there is going to be a very modest growth for domestic production with the imports that are projected to come in.”

CDC growth projections could translate into a quota allocation to P5 that remains essentially flat (prudent scenario) up to an increase of 1.7 per cent for the current dairy year.

“After 2025-26, any future growth should be essentially for domestic production but, in the meantime, imports will compete against domestic milk,” Dubé says.

“COVID-19 will pretty much dictate where the market is going to go next because its impact on the economy will have an impact on our industry,” he adds. “This has led to a lot of uncertainty and if everything is locked down

he growth in demand registered nationally for the 12-months ending at the end of October 2021 was 3.6 per cent, which translated into a quota increase at the P5 level of 3.1 per cent. This growth is experienced even if a significant increase of imports is observed.

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 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.

Two examples of products being imported that significantly impact the butterfat market are butter and cheese. In 2025-26, butter is expected to be at 10 million kg of butterfat. That would be 10 million out of the 34 million, which could be coming in if all the tariff rate quotas (TRQ) from trade agreements are filled. In 2021, butter came in at 3.9 million kg of butterfat. With cheese, in 2025-26 it is expected there will be 12.2 million kg of butter-

P10 UTILIZATION BY CLASS*

% Butterfat % Solids non-fat

For October 2021 (kg of butterfat/kg of solids non-fat) 11.97%

1a1 1b

2.76%

2a

2.67%

2b4

% Revenue

24.81%

*27.45%

14.82%

*8.59% *4.68%

5.90%

2.96%

*1.79%

0.66% 1.92% 0.12% 1.09% 1.10%

2b5 3a1 3a2

*0.99% *1.19%

4.12% 5.29%

3b2

*4.96% 14.23% 12.66%

3c1

*13.82%

0.70% 0.90% 2.20% 2.63%

3c2 3c4

*0.72% *2.65% 7.32%

3c6

*9.30%

10.76%

0.44% 0.37%

3d

*0.38% 3.36% 4.94%

*3.46%

16.03% 15.21%

4a 4d

1.26%

*12.24% *1.96%

6.03% 3.19% 3.56%

5a 5b

1.78% 1.41% 0.53%

5c 0% 16

*

5%

*2.01% 10.30%

*3.21% *0.60%

10%

LATE WINTER 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

again like it was in March 2020, we will probably need to take action.”

In November 2021, butter stocks reached close to 24,000 tonnes, down from October when stocks were at 26, 929 tonnes. November butter stock levels are almost in line with what the industry has seen in the past and is expected to be between 20,000 and 25,000 tonnes at end of calendar year.

With regards to P5 boards, there were five elements that went into the decision to cut quota by one per cent on Dec. 1: • Butter stocks for July 31, 2022; • Decreasing population growth/increasing age; • Imports; • Factory closings/slowdowns over holidays and beyond; • Milk price increase for February 2022, which will be 8.4 per cent or six cents per litre at farm level.

National dairy product sales at the retail level are indicating sales are returning to their preCOVID trends. For the 52-weeks ending November 2021, sales for fluid milk, fluid cream, yogurt, ice cream, cheese and butter increased/ decreased by -2.1, 2.1, 2.0, -2.7, 0.6 and -6.3 per cent, respectively, compared with the 52-weeks ending in November 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 WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

DECEMBER PRICES

MONTHLY QUOTA PRICES ($/kg) PROVINCE

PRICE/kg

AMOUNT WANTED/kg

AMOUNT FOR SALE/kg

AMOUNT PURCHASED/kg

$51,280 $45,055 $39,847.67

458.22 195.40 370.66

37.00 30.00 192.05

37.00 28.00 49.50

British Columbia

$36,500

2,359.20

10.00

10.00

Ontario

$24,000

20,457.24

562.25

562.35

Quebec

Information not yet available

731.30

25.50

25.50

Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba

New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island

$24,000 Exchange cancelled No clearing price established

*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

ONTARIO DEDUCTIONS, PER HL Within quota

Overquota

$85

DFO administration DFO research CanWest DHI Transportation Market expansion

$0.625 $0.050 $0.060 $2.940 $1.400

$0.625 $0.050 $0.060 $2.940 $1.400

$80

Total deductions Average total net

$5.075 $74.855

$5.075 -5.075

$75 $79.93

*These figures are based on Ontario’s average composition for November 2021 of 4.28 kg butterfat, 3.29 kg protein and 5.92 kg other solids, rounded to the nearest cent.

Nov. 2021

Oct. 2021

Sept. 2021

Aug 2021

July 2021

June 2021

May 2021

Apr. 2021

Mar. 2021

Feb. 2021

Dec. 2020

$70 Jan. 2021

For November 2021

A total 3,319 producers sold milk to DFO in November compared with 3,346 a year earlier.

P5 AND WESTERN MILK POOL BLEND PRICES*

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

*There is a three-month lag reporting these figures.

82 P5 blend price WMP blend price

80 78 76

WMP $79.35

74 Sep 2021

Oct 2021

Aug 2021

July 2021

June 2021

May 2021

Apr 2021

Mar 2021

Jan 2021

Feb 2021

Dec 2020

72 Nov 2020

The November 2021 Class III Price, US$18.03 per hundredweight, is equivalent to C$52.30 per hectolitre. This equivalent is based on the exchange rate US$1 = C$1.27766 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.

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

Blend price in $/hL

U.S. CLASS PRICES

P5 $77.94

MILKPRODUCER | LATE WINTER 2022

17

COVER STORY

ON-FARM PROCESSING HELPS FARM FAMILIES DIVERSIFY Two Ontario dairy farm families share their recent journeys to open their own processing plants, reflecting a strong provincial trend

By Treena Hein

CONTRIBUTOR

D

elicious and healthy dairy products made right on the farm— that’s the idea behind the many small on-farm processing plants getting started across Canada right now. In Ontario, in particular, the number of these plants is growing at a rapid pace.

Over the last five years, three have opened their doors in Ontario, bringing the current total to 17, with more expected to begin operating in the next 24 months, according to Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) staff. These processing farms are located across the province and produce milk and other products, such as chocolate milk, butter, yogurt and cheese. The smallest plant processes 14,000 litres of milk per year and the largest processes 825,000 litres. All the farms continue to ship milk into the provincial pool.

When you look at the factors behind this trend, it makes perfect sense. First, the desire for locally-produced foods has never been stronger. Second, on-farm processing is an excellent way for farm families to diversify and expand their operations so they can support the next generation without purchasing additional quota or land. It’s also a way for family members to innovate in terms of making and marketing products that are artisanal, vintage or another category.

Of course, adding processing to a dairy farm is a big step, but those starting out have access to many resources, such as DFO’s Start Up & Scale Up Innovation Program. It’s open to any entrepreneurs who want to start milk processing or expand their business. It started in 18

LATE WINTER 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

2016 with a small pilot and has supported 91 participants to date.

Previous to its implementation, producers received various types of assistance from DFO staff.

“Our role is to support them from start to finish by providing guidance in the process, requirements, regulations, procedures and so on,” explains Alan Grebinski, DFO’s director of business & educational development. “Other integral support comes in the form of mentoring through developing a business plan, a pitch deck, sell sheets, marketing advice, go-to-market strategy, co-packer relationships, plant setup and design.” Several graduates have also accessed one or more matching grants from DFO to aid in growing their businesses, he adds.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) also helps guide producers through the start-up process and required regulations.

“Once you begin the process of licensing an on-farm processing plant, OMAFRA will be with you every step of the way,” says Rick Bond, dairy food safety adviser at OMAFRA. Once applicants notify OMAFRA of their interest in on-farm processing, the applicant is sent licence and permit applications where they’ll have to describe their overall farm operation and proposed processing plant, Bond adds.

Included in the package are OMAFRA's guidelines and copies of relevant regulations.

After the completed applications are received, OMAFRA will begin working with the client to get started, Bond explains. “This will include on-site visits to ensure they are meeting all the relevant WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

SARGENT FAMILY Dairy Ltd. (left to right)- Bruce, Tim and Sharyn (parents), Melyssa, Daniel, Stephynie and Benjamin.

TAMARA BIRNEY is a local high school student who works in production and helps staff the store.

M

regulatory requirements at every phase of the project right up until the final inspection preceding the issuing of the operating licence.” Following licensing, plants must undergo inspection by an OMAFRA officer, usually annually.

When asked about parts of the process that may require more attention than expected, Bond notes having a good marketing plan is important, and producers should be aware sourcing new or used equipment for a smaller scale on-farm processing plant can be challenging. He adds processing is more labour-intensive than some farmers might expect and “in many cases, as much or even more time is spent cleaning and sanitizing than making the products.” He highly recommends interested farmers visit and engage with those who already run on-farm processing plants to learn the ropes.

MELYSSA SARGENT runs the processing plant and Lily Bullock, a family friend, helps with production.

DFO relations specialist Alex Hamilton also advises talking to other on-farm processors to gain valuable knowledge. He agrees a good market analysis is critical and thinks farmers should consider purchasing equipment that can handle potential future growth.

Bond says the entire permit process timeline could take 12 to 18 months, depending on several factors. Hamilton cautions applicants should expect the process to take longer than they initially think it will. “We tell them that it will take time,” he says, “likely a year or two of planning to prepare for the build. Overall, producers need to research their market, develop a business plan, complete the local permitting process and arrange financing. Once you’ve

MILK SALES, chocolate milk and cheese curds have been going very well, and the newly-launched eggnog was a bit hit during the holidays.

Continued on page 20 WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

MILKPRODUCER | LATE WINTER 2022 19

COVER STORY On-farm processing helps farm families diversify, cont’d from page 19 built the plant, it’s hard to make changes after. There will be lots of questions that need to be answered and there is lots to understand.”

It’s (on-farm processing) a new revenue stream that will support us and support farm business growth … It also made good sense for us in that I have a strong marketing background and we are situated in a region with phenomenal interest in local products.

- Bruce Sargent

JERSEY PRODUCTS A HIT

Sargent Family Dairy in Bolton, Ont., opened in June 2021. The farm is also home to a pedigree Jersey herd of worldwide fame and has 60 cows in the milking herd. Before the processing plant opened, parents Tim and Sharon Sargent ran the farm business with the help of their children Daniel, Melyssa and Benjamin.

Sibling Stephynie is an optometrist who keenly supports the farm, while Bruce runs his own marketing firm.

In recent years, the family discussed expansion options that would increase profits and allow Bruce to derive income from the operation. “It’s a new revenue stream that will support us and support farm business growth,” Bruce says. “It also made good sense for us in that I have a strong marketing background and we are situated in a region with phenomenal interest in local products. In addition, Melyssa had interest in learning how to make cheese and operate the creamery.”

In marketing Sargent Family Dairy products, the uniqueness of their Jersey herd plays a strong role. “There’s a strong connotation to old-fashioned milk with the Jersey cow,” Sargent says. “The milk also has a much higher fat content than you see with other breeds, so it’s smoother and richer, which people love.”

The permit process wasn’t overly onerous, he notes, but “COVID added quite a bit to OMAFRA’s paperwork requirements. It also prevented us from visiting other on-farm creameries to see how things worked and understand what OMAFRA was referring to in terms of specific code requirements,” he says. “But once the inspector visited and showed us, it was very fast to clear these things up. Our plumber came up with an immediate solution for one particular building code requirement and for a nominal price, so we were very grateful for his expertise.”

LICENSING A DAIRY PLANT Visit these websites for more information: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ food/inspection/dairy/page-2.htm Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) Start Up & Scale Up Innovation Programs https://new.milk.org/In-the-Community/ Innovation-Programs

Sales for their milk, chocolate milk and cheese curds have been going very well, and the newly-launched eggnog was a bit hit during the holidays. “The bulk of sales for all products is through our on-farm store, and we also sell to about a dozen other independent markets,” Bruce says. “We’ll continue to grow that number over time.”

Reflecting on the whole journey, Bruce adds that “it’s been a lot more work than we were expecting. That can’t be underscored, and we look forward to reaching a point where we can hire more help, but we’re all very happy with how it’s gone.”

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Mistyglen Holsteins in Belmont near London, Ont., with a milking herd of 55 cows, will also be the official home of Mistyglen Creamery in early 2022. The Pettit family first settled in the area in 1816, and the current location of Mistyglen was purchased in 1957 by Murray Pettit, the father of current owners Tom and Suzanne Pettit.

The brother and sister duo gets assistance with the farm’s daily operations from Tom's wife, Kris, and their teen daughters Maddie and Kadie.

The journey to processing began quite a few years ago when the family started looking at on-farm business options that would allow Kris to work on the farm full time. A creamery business really

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WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

We’re very passionate about health, quality, transparency and education, and to get back to the roots of dairy. We also think onfarm processing is important for food security. The flooding in British Columbia and watching other onfarm processors become saviours to their communities is a glaring example of why local access is pivotal.

- Kris Pettit

excited Kris so the Pettits decided to join DFO’s Innovation Program in 2016.

However, at that point, they weren’t sure which value-added products to go with. The whole idea was shelved for a few years, but during the pandemic, it came up again. The Pettit’s dairy barn had recently been destroyed by a tornado, and with a new barn to build, they decided the time had come to invest in a processing plant and retail store. Construction is expected to be complete in January and they will begin with selling milk, chocolate milk, yogurt and cheese curds.

“The paperwork was fairly straightforward,” notes Kris, “but we ran into some challenges and additional costs with the municipal perWWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

TOM AND KRIS PETTIT with daughters Maddie and Kadie, and family dog. mitting that slowed the start of the build.” She adds there were also some construction delays during fall 2021, when the wet weather made excavation difficult.

Beyond being a way to allow Kris, a long-time geriatric nurse, to be on the farm full time, processing is also an important way to connect the farm with the community. In addition to selling yogurt at their store when ready, the Pettits are working hard to distribute their product to marginalized and older people.

“It will be a full-fat, probiotic yogurt that will assist older people, in particular, with gut health and handling various chronic diseases,” Kris explains. “We’ve been working with Fanshawe College and Western University to develop the right recipe. We’re very passionate about health, quality, transparency and education, and to get back to the roots of dairy. We also think on-farm processing is important for food security. The flooding in British Columbia and watching other on-farm processors become saviours to their communities is a glaring example of why local access is pivotal.”

Treena Hein

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.

MILKPRODUCER | LATE WINTER 2022

21

FARM MANAGEMENT

[

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MANURE Webinar series highlights free AgriSuite software that can help reduce fertilizer use

By Lilian Schaer

CONTRIBUTOR

F

ertilizer prices are soaring, and supply chain delays and shortages are causing headaches on the farm. However, many farmers have a ready solution at their fingertips that could help offset some of that pain—livestock manure.

A free software package from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) called AgriSuite is available to help farmers figure out how to make the best possible use of livestock nutrients on their soil and their crops.

And this winter, a series of online workshops hosted by farmers, contractors and consultants will discuss how to best use the software modules for liquid hog and dairy manure, digestate, as well as solid beef, sheep, veal and poultry manure.

It was a similar scenario of skyrocketing fertilizer prices in 2008 that first got Janet Harrop, a dairy farmer in Wellington County, interested in AgriSuite and its capabilities. She farms with her husband, son and daughter-in-law north of Fergus, Ont., and is certified as an agricultural operator in nutrient management. The Harrops apply agricultural and non-agricultural source materials on their farm.

“I wanted to manage the livestock nutrients we applied from an agronomy perspective and also from the economics,” she explains.

“AgriSuite lets me incorporate the previous crop, the current crop and the soil and manure from my farm, so I always know what additional fertilizer I need or don’t need. It’s a science-based approach to understanding the

nutrients and the true agronomic balance within in the farm.”

According to Harrop, using AgriSuite helped her cut her fertilizer application in half, which went a long way to lessening the burden of high fertilizer prices at the time.

AgriSuite includes five easy-to-use calculators that can be used independently or in tandem to obtain simple estimates to support nutrient management decisions. Topics include field management, organic amendments, phosphorous loss, fertilizer and crop nutrients.

The popular nutrient management (NMAN) and Manure Storage Sizing (MSTOR) programs are also part of the software package.

A practical online workshop on determining the value of liquid dairy manure using AgriSuite will be hosted on Feb. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Christine Brown, OMAFRA field crop sustainability specialist, will highlight how to use AgriSuite to do nutrient calculations, and a dairy farmer, agri-contractor and agronomist will share how to put that information to use on the farm.

Additional AgriSuite workshops include liquid hog manure and digestate on Feb. 1, solid beef, sheep and veal manure on Feb. 2, and solid poultry manure on Feb. 3.

AGRISUITE TOOLS THAT CAN HELP WITH MANURE MANAGEMENT AND CROP FERTILITY NEEDS ARE: •crop nutrient tool to determine crop needs and nutrient removal; •organic amendment tool to estimate available nutrients from manure; •fertilizer tool to determine rates and blends of inorganic fertilizer; •phosphorus loss (PLATO) tool to determine the risk of field-scale phosphorus loss related to site-specific field characteristics, and associated management practices; •field management planning tool incorporates a collection of additional tools that help optimize crop production while minimizing the risk of nutrient loss.

The AgriSuite workshops are part of the Timing Matters Manure Education Project, which is funded by OMAFRA. The entire collection of AgriSuite tools is available to download at www.ontario.ca/agrisuite.

More information about manure stewardship and long-term 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

CAN A BRUSH BOOST CALF PERFORMANCE? Research from the University of Florida reveals it can

By Lilian Schaer

CONTRIBUTOR

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 their management and welfare.

Miller-Cushon’s main theory is calves will perform better when they have something to do, such as rub against a brush. Social interaction through group housing and how feed is managed will also impact calf performance, but making sure calves are occupied can also go a long way to boosting performance.

“Calves rest for about 20 hours per day and when they’re awake they want to do something,” Miller-Cushon said in a webinar hosted by Hoard’s Dairyman. “They spend more time grooming than most people would expect, so it’s important to understand this kind of behaviour.”

Grooming includes social grooming—calves grooming each other—as well as self-grooming through licking behaviour or use of calf brushes. Miller-Cushon’s research found calves in a pen with a brush, whether a free-access rotating or stationary brush, spend more time self-grooming and have greater coat cleanliness.

Not all calves respond the same way to brush availability, she noted, since grooming is a behaviour that varies in importance between calves. Overall, calves in her study used a rotating brush for 20 to 30 minutes during a 12-hour observation period.

A manual brush is a more cost-effective option and can be as simple as attaching an inexpensive scrub brush to the side of a pen.

Calves still used these brushes, although not as long, spending five to 10 minutes per 12-hour observation period brushing themselves.

“For all calves, their brushing activity

Giving calves more choice in how to express natural behaviours, such as grooming, will boost their welfare, leading to better performance. increased around the time of milk delivery or just before,” she explained. “Feeding time tends to be when calves are most active, so that’s also when they are seen using the brush the most.”

Calves with access to a brush spent less time on non-nutritive oral behaviour, such as sucking on pen fixtures (also called pen-directed

sucking). Again, most of this behaviour occurred just before or around milk delivery.

According to Miller-Cushon, this suggests the opportunity to do something, such as use a brush, could reduce calf boredom.

Researchers also noted calves with a brush lay more quickly after feeding and were less likely to spend time pen-sucking.

“Overall, (the) calves spent 40 to 60 minutes per 12-hour period on non-nutritive oral behaviour, which again highlights the importance of giving them things to do while they’re up and active—they seem to need a lot of stimulation,” she said.

Giving calves more choice in how to express natural behaviours, such as grooming, will boost their welfare, leading to better performance. It also accommodates individual differences in their behaviours and can give greater insight into how to detect illness by observing behavioural changes.

And finally, early life stimulation improves calves’ ability to learn and adapt to new situations as they go through a lot of changes in their lives.

“We can improve calf welfare performance by giving them more to do, which will impact how a calf copes with management changes throughout its life,” Miller-Cushon concluded.

This project was funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year federalprovincial-territorial initiative.

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.

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FARM MANAGEMENT

NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT OF AUTOMATED MILKING FARMS Adjusting your feeding management can result in cows using their time more efficiently

By Trevor DeVries

CONTRIBUTOR

W

ith the rapid adoption of automated (robotic) milking systems (AMS) in the dairy industry, nutritional management has been modified, mainly due to the division of the diet into a partial mixed ration (PMR) and some type of nutritional provision (often in the form of a pellet) at the AMS. Feed provided at the AMS is primarily meant to attract cows to the milking system; however, there is potential to vary the amount and composition of that feed to meet each cow’s nutritional requirements.

There are two main goals when considering your cows’ overall nutritional program when using an AMS: the first is providing a diet that meets nutrient requirements for maintenance and production and the second goal, which is unique to AMS, is stimulating cows to voluntarily 5259 Hwy 8, Mitchell, ON

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enter the AMS. Interestingly, while that stimulation was traditionally thought to occur primarily by feed provided in the AMS, we now know the PMR, its management at the bunk and a cow’s eating behaviour all play just as large of a role in voluntary milking. Specifically, in our research, we demonstrated voluntary milkings in AMS are primarily centred on times of PMR consumption. Thus, equal attention needs to be paid to concentrate fed though the AMS, as well the composition and management of the PMR to maximize milking efficiencies and performance. In fact, feeds should be considered as a whole diet rather than thinking about them as two components.

The following are some primary considerations to factor in when thinking about nutritional management of AMS farms:

1. Provide quality concentrate & forage Concentrate feed through an AMS needs to be high quality, palatable and formulated to meet cows’ needs. While this feed encourages cows to visit the AMS, it can be tailored to meet cows’ needs. Rather than just a single feed type, more people are considering secondary feed options in the AMS. These can provide more targeted feeding of cows with differing nutrient requirements. For example, in our research, we demonstrate providing fresh cows with supplemental energy (through a molassesbased liquid feed), in addition to a standard AMS pellet, resulted in fewer repeat positive subclinical ketosis tests and more stable body condition, which was indicative of improved energy balance.

In the PMR, the focus should be on high-quality forage inclusion.

Highly digestible forages are broken down and digested more quickly in the rumen, resulting in the cow being able to return to eating in a shorter timeframe. This not only results in greater dry matter intake (DMI) of PMR, but in cows having more frequent, consistent meals throughout the day. This feeding behaviour would be expected to lead to increased milking visits throughout the day as well.

2. Consider the type of cow traffic system operated All cow traffic systems (free and guided) can work when managed correctly, but nutritional considerations with each set up can differ. While both the concentrate and PMR influence voluntary milking in both scenarios, the primary nutritional impetus to visit the AMS varies between the systems.

For free traffic systems, the concentrate plays a larger role in stimulating milking visits. This means a highly palatable concentrate is essential. For free-traffic systems, the PMR on its own would support less than herdaverage production, with the remainder of the required nutrients coming from the AMS concentrate. In guided systems (“milk first”), the PMR available on the other side of the AMS acts as a greater motivator, rather than the AMS concentrate. As result, in those systems, the PMR on its own would typically support production closer to the herd average, with a reduced amount of AMS concentrate provided, on average, than would be available in free-traffic scenarios.

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3. Be careful when changing concentrate levels through the AMS The amount of concentrate fed through the AMS will impact the amount of PMR consumed. Specifically, research from our group and others has demonstrated increasing AMS concentrate allocation to an individual cow at a given stage of lactation will result in a corresponding decrease in PMR consumption. The reason is a cow’s total DMI levels is largely controlled by milk production level, days in milk (DIM), parity and body weight. Thus, if cows are consuming to capacity, total DMI comes from a balance of both the PMR and AMS concentrate. When designing diets for AMS cows, it is important to accurately predict (and track) total DMI, so the amounts allocated and nutrient densities of the PMR and AMS concentrate can be balanced and meet cows’ nutritional requirements.

4. Be realistic about AMS concentrate allocations How much can a dairy cow realistically consume in a meal in the AMS? This is influenced by various factors, including how much time cows spend in the AMS and how fast individual cows can eat. Some cows can eat concentrate at rates up to 400 to 500 grams per minute; however, research indicates the average consumption rate of concentrate is approximately 250 to 300 grams/min. Thus, if time in the AMS unit is approximately six to seven minutes per milking, the average cow can only eat ~1.8 kilogram per milking. For farms targeting three AMS visits daily, the average cow will be able to eat 5.4 kg per head per day at the AMS. For a free-traffic system, this would be a typical average level of AMS concentrate as a proportion of the total diet to include in a formulated diet. In practice, the amount fed to individual cows can be altered above and below that level depending on their milk yield and lactation stage.

5. Make sure the PMR is fresh and accessible To maximize the efficiency of an AMS, milking visits need to occur throughout each 24-hour period to limit queuing at the AMS. For both free- and guided-traffic systems, this goes hand in hand with having cows visit the feed bunk throughout each 24-hour period. We need to avoid situations where cows are all stimulated to visit the feed bunk at the same time. The stimulation to eat should primarily come from a cow’s internal hunger since her rumen empties and she metabolizes the nutrients absorbed, and not because she has been without feed for too long. Keeping the diet fresh and available at all times is important.

This includes delivering PMR as frequently as feasible, pushing up the PMR as often as possible and providing adequate feed bunk space. In our field studies of Canadian AMS farms, increasing the amount of times feed is pushed up and providing greater feed bunk space per cow were associated with increased milk yield per cow. These improvements in milk production associated with greater feed access are likely related, in part, to improvements in cow time budgets. Our research demonstrated more time spent lying by cows was associated with increased feed push up frequency and space at the feed bunk. Thus, when cows can freely eat when they want, they use their time efficiently and spend less time standing around waiting for access to feed.

Trevor DeVries is a professor and Canada Research Chair in dairy cattle behaviour and welfare at the University of Guelph.

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FARM MANAGEMENT

TOP FINANCIAL STRATEGIES FOR YOUNG FARMERS

By Matt McIntosh

CONTRIBUTOR

F

arming is an expensive business to be in, let alone break into. According to financial planning experts, as young farmers work toward ownership, they need to understand the importance of good record-keeping habits, as well as employing creativity in generating value from the business.

ESTABLISH GOOD RECORDKEEPING HABITS Though rather mundane, disciplined recordkeeping practices are critical to knowing whether a business is profitable, says Terry Betker, president and chief executive officer for

the prairie-based farm management consulting firm Backswath Management Inc. “It makes it easier to manage a larger business over time. The extension to that is, if you’re actively involved in record-keeping, it builds a base of information and understanding for future decisions,” Betker says.

“Generally, I think it’s about the timing of future cash flow needs. Being busy doing work and making regular payments is one thing – anticipating and preparing for future payments is another.”

Paying GST quarterly is a tactic Yan Lafond, a Manitoba grain farmer, finds particularly helpful in keeping records up to date. Doing so ensures he thinks about finances with greater regularity and prevents him from pushing payments back.

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Building personal equity should be a priority from day one. Doing so provides more business management options in the long term.

“I use AgExpert and try to do bare minimum, quarterly updates. I do try to do it a bit more often if I can,” Lafond says. “Being slightly more organized helps [my adviser] feel more at ease.”

PROFITABILITY THROUGH CREATIVITY For Colin Sabourin, financial and investment adviser with Harbourfront Wealth Management in Winnipeg, Man., building personal equity should be a priority from day one. Tough as it can be, doing so provides more business management options in the long term.

“Try and put away $10 dollars per acre. Don’t just take the profits and buy a new truck,” he says.

“If you’re struggling to get by, the number one priority is trying to make the farm successful.”

Betker expresses the same sentiment, adding the purchase of land, and efficiently paying debt, is one of the most effective options.

Land can be prohibitively expensive in some areas, however. Debt from land and equipment loans, a reality for many, needs to be leveraged in a way that supports business goals, such as whether a loan will be used for shorter term sales, or as a long-term asset.

In these cases, Betker encourages young farmers to employ creativity. Buying machinery for custom work, cost-sharing assets with peers in similar circumstances, incorporating a small number of livestock into existing farm infrastructure and just trying to save money wherever possible are all examples of creative equity-building. Generating off-farm income can also help pay the bills.

Regardless, keeping a budget and managing cash flow is critical.

“Don’t spend all your money. Having some of your own wealth, wherever that is, will be a good thing,” he says. “Equity compounds on itself.”

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

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DAIRY RESEARCH DAIRY RESEARCH

IS IT TIME TO CHANGE UP HOW CALVES ARE HOUSED? Housing calves in pairs to increase social behaviours will become increasingly important in the future

By Oisin Graydon and Marlene Paibomesai CONTRIBUTOR

T

he majority of dairy farms in Canada raise calves individually. In the Canadian National Dairy Study, 63 per cent of respondents indicated calves are raised individually in pens or hutches (1).

Events during the first few months of a calf's life, such as separation from the dam, a change in diet at weaning and, eventually, introduction to a larger group of calves, can be stressful.

Stress can impact disease susceptibility, growth and welfare by decreasing feed intake and negatively impacting a cow’s immune system.

In addition, the expression of natural behaviours by domesticated animals, such as play and social interaction, is a growing area of public concern for all livestock farms. Isolation of herd animals at any time in the production cycle limits their ability to engage in social interactions.

This could drive an expectation of raising calves in groups or in pairs to promote natural behaviours and maintain public trust. A collection of research over the last five years has found raising calves in pairs can decrease stress and improve growth and welfare, so is it time for change?

Calves housed individually allow the producer and-or calf manager to observe them more easily and ensure they are receiving all they need.

Sickness is limited when calves are individually housed because they have less calf-to-calf transmission, and sick calves may be identified sooner when separated (2). However, disease arises from more than just housing style; there are many factors that contribute to disease, with stress being a large contributor to disease susceptibility (2). Housing calves in pairs can reduce stress, increase average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency and improve cognitive development.

saving labour and production costs.

Another study found calves placed into pairs at 14 days of age ate for longer periods, spent more time in the feed station, performed more social behaviours and spent more time playing. This means producers may be able to individually house calves for observational purposes for the first 14 days and still benefit from pair-raising. However, it is recommended calves be paired earlier than 14 days to benefit from improved growth in the pre-weaned phase (6). Pair-raised calves had higher ADG, starter intake before weaning and post weaning starter intake as shown in Table 3.

Raising calves in pairs can influence more than just how much they eat and grow; it can also influence their social development. It is believed play behaviour in calves can promote emotional and physical development, resulting in a more stress-resilient and easier to handle cow. When animals are isolated, they are unable to practice activities that require social contact or copying others' movements (social learning) (7). This can impact how they handle stressors later in life, such as responding to novel changes, Table 1: Time spent playing and feeding and willingness to approach calf handlers of calves raised as pairs, individually or with the dam. Adapted from Duve, L.R et al. 2012.

Duration of play (seconds)

Time feeding (seconds)

Time to approach the handler (seconds)

Pair-raised - high

30.3

77

84.88

Pair-raised - low

32.2

810

Individual - high

36.2

314

Individual - low

2.41

629

Still on dam - high

24.9

322

146

194

BEHAVIOUR CHANGES OF PAIR-RAISED CALVES In stressful situations, calves can often display behaviours, such as vocalizations, latency to eat, fearfulness of outsiders and decreased duration of play (3,4). Table 1 show data collected on a small herd of 40 calves to examine how isolation or companionship and diet during weaning would influence calf behaviours. The study found calves raised in pairs spent significantly more time feeding on solids, were much faster to approach a novel person and spent more time playing (2). Table 2 show data collected in another study that recorded the amount of vocalizations calves made during a three-day weaning period while they were housed in different conditions. The study found individually housed calves vocalized more throughout weaning than calves housed in pairs (3).

FEEDING BEHAVIOUR AND AVERAGE DAILY GAIN INCREASES WITH PAIR-RAISED CALVES When calves undergo changes in their diet, it can often decrease dry matter intake and result in reduced weight gain. This is also accompanied by increased stress often due to changes in group size and introduction to a new group of calves. Decreased ADG means it will take longer to reach target weights for weaning or breeding and require more feed to reach that milestone. When raised in pairs, calves start eating sooner, visit the feeder more often, spend more time at the feeder and have a higher feed intake after a diet change (4, 5). Improving these feeding behaviours is beneficial to producers because it can decrease the time to target weights, 30

LATE WINTER 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

Table 2: Vocalizations (calls per hour) of individually raised and pair-raised calves. Adapted from Bolt, S. L. et al., 2017.

Pre-weaning

During weaning

Postweaning

Individually raised

0.86+/-1.7

2.76+/-1.14

109.38+/51.40

Pair-raised at 5d old

0.10+/-0.9

0.73+/-0.21

26.08+/20.16

Pair-raised at 28d old

0.10+/-0.13

0.46+/-0.16

45.42+/26.77

Table 3: Average daily gain (ADG), pre- and post- weaning starter intake of calves raised as individuals, early or late paired raised. Adapted from Costa, J. et al., 2015 .

ADG (kg/d) Pre-weaning Post

starter intake (kg/d)

weaning starter intake (kg/d)

Pair-raised

0.31+/-0.07

0.18+/-0.03

2.20+/-0.22

Individual

0.17+/-0.07

0.07+/-0.03

1.09+/-0.25

Pair-raised after 15d

0.18+/-0.06

0.05+/-0.03

1.26+/-0.33

W W W.MILKPRODUCER.CA

new objects in their environment or settling in with a herd.

Pair raising calves does require the farm to have top-notch newborn care and low calf mortality. According to University of Wisconsin Dairyland Initiative, to be successful at pair raising calves, a farm must have: •Less than three per cent pre-weaned calf mortality; •Failure or poor transfer of passive immunity less than five per cent in calves; •Less than 14 days age difference between calves, seven days preferred; •Resting area of at least 30 square feet per calf; •Adequate nutrition to reduce cross sucking (minimum eight to 10 litres per day by nipple) (2).

In order to maintain public trust, dairy calf housing will likely have to adapt to meet public expectation of animals being able to express their natural behaviours and reduce isolation periods. Pair raising calves is one possible change that can be made. Research over the past five years has aimed at understanding best management practices of pair raising calves. It is not as simple as putting two calves in the same pen, a farm must meet the above benchmarks, management and housing criteria to be successful at switching to pair raising calves.

4) Bolt, S. L., et al., (2017). Pair housing of dairy calves and age at pairing: Effects on weaning stress, health, production and social networks.

PLOS ONE, 12(1), e0166926.

5) De Paula Vieira, A., et al. (2010). Effects of pair versus single housing on performance and behavior of dairy calves before and after weaning from milk. J. Dairy Sci, 93(7), 3079-3085.

6) Costa, J., Meagher, R.k., Von keyserlingk, M., & Weary, D.m. (2015). Early pair housing increases solid feed intake and weight gains in dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci, 98(9), 6381-6386.

7) Costa, J., Von keyserlingk, M., & Weary, D.m.

(2016). Invited review: Effects ofgroup housing of dairy calves on behavior, cognition, performance, and health. J. Dairy Sci, 99(4), 2453-2467.

Dr. Marlene Paibomesai is a dairy specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Oisin Graydon was a summer student at OMAFRA in the summer of 2021 and is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Guelph.

PAIR RAISING CALVES PROVIDES PRODUCTION ADVANTAGES This research has shown housing calves in pairs has production advantages: it can reduce stress, improve cognitive development and increase ADG and feed efficiency. More importantly, this housing style allows calves to socialize, reduce isolation and express their natural behaviours, such as play. Housing calves to include positive social interactions will become increasingly important in the future.

References: 1) Winder, C.B. et al. (2018) Canadian National Dairy Study: Heifer calf management.

J. Dairy Sci. 101:10565-10579.

2) Van Os, J. (2021, January 21). Benchmark for calf health before pair housing. University of Wisconsin-Madison. https://animalwelfare. cals.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/ sites/243/2021/01/02-Benchmarks-for-calfhealth-before-pair-housing.pdf 3) Duve, L.R., et al. (2012). The effects of social contact and milk allowance on responses to handling, play, and social behavior in young dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci., 95(11), 6571-6581.

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31

DAIRY RESEARCH

EVALUATING COOL-SEASON CHICKPEA AS AN ALTERNATIVE POTENTIAL FEED SOURCE FOR DAIRY COWS

By Dr. Peiqiang Yu CONTRIBUTOR

L

ow-grade chickpeas or non-food chickpeas can potentially be used as alternative protein and energy supplement for dairy cows. Researchers at the Crop Development Center (CDC) at the University of Saskatchewan examined the effect of the nutritional characteristics of three cool-season chickpeas developed by CDC as an alternative protein and energy supplement for dairy cows.

The studies were carried out by graduate

student Linda Cerma at the department of animal and poultry science, college of agriculture and bioresources in collaboration with several professors and researchers. The chickpeas samples, which included CDC frontier, CDC cory and CDC alma, were harvested from three locations in Western Canada.

CDC alma is a kabuli variety with white flowers. Its seed shape has a medium ram head and can take up to 104 days to reach maturity.

It has a fair reaction from ascochyta. CDC cory is a desi variety, with good resistance for ascochyta. It can grow up to 49 centimetres and

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has a high yield. CDC frontier is also a kabuli variety and produced in brown and dark brown soil zones of Western Canada. It has a pinnate leaf type, white flowers, yellow cotyledons and cream seed coat colour.

RESEARCH FINDINGS The study showed there were no significant differences in total truly digested protein supply among varieties although CDC frontier had numerically higher truly digested protein supply (+27 grams per kilogram of dry matter) than CDC cory and CDC alma.

Using National Research Council’s dairy model analysis, the researchers found CDC frontier provided a higher total metabolizable protein for dairy cows and was lower in degraded protein balance than the other two varieties.

For feed milk value (FMV) based on total truly digested protein supply, the researchers found CDC frontier had higher milk per kilogram of feed than the other two varieties.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In general, cool-season chickpeas had low rumen undegraded protein and high rumen effective degradation protein content. The variety did impact nutritional value in terms of degraded protein balance, truly digestive protein supply to dairy cows and FMV. Dairy farmers will want to consider a precision feeding strategy when incorporating cool-season chickpeas in their dairy cows’ diets.

Dr. Peiqiang Yu

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is a professor and Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Feed research chair in feeds R&D, department of animal and poultry science, college of agriculture and bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan. Researchers Dave Christensen, Rex Newkirk and Bunyamin Tar’an provided the chickpea samples for the study. The SRP feed chair research programs have been supported by various funding agencies and industry organizations.

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DAIRY RESEARCH

GETTING RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE Making the jump from lab to on-farm implementation easier

By Lilian Schaer CONTRIBUTOR

T

here’s no shortage of research happening in the livestock industry in Canada and around the world, particularly related to dairy. Some discoveries end up being implemented by farmers and others in the sector, such as processors or veterinarians.

A lot of research—and some would argue the majority— never actually make the jump to on-farm implementation.

How to improve that conversion rate and spur more adoption of research outcomes is an issue the industry has been grappling with.

Now, efforts are underway to improve not just how research results get to producers, but also how to encourage change.

“In order for the Ontario livestock sector to be competitive and sustainable, farmers need a system that makes research results accessible in a way that encourages them to make effective decisions for their businesses,” says Mike

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LATE WINTER 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

McMorris, chief executive officer of Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC).

LRIC has been working with professor Ataharul Chowdhury from the University of Guelph’s school of environmental design and rural development to get a better handle on the issue and find ways to improve advisory services for Ontario’s livestock sector.

Since the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs dramatically reduced its involvement with extension starting, the responsibility to get research results to farmers shifted to researchers, industry organizations and farm advisers beginning in the 1990s. A similar transition has taken place across North America, creating a patchwork of regional, provincial and sector-focused efforts.

ESTABLISHING A UNIFIED APPROACH Working with graduate students Ezekiel Martin and André Melrose, Chowdhury’s research has found livestock advisory services in Ontario lack co-ordination and a unified approach.

There are significant differences between what is available for supply-managed and nonsupply managed sectors, and fee-for-service and product-linked advice has become far more prominent in the Ontario industry.

Dr. Steven Roche of ACER Consulting presented an LRIC horizon series webinar earlier this year and co-authored a white paper on the issue. He says there are challenges with under-served areas of the province where farmers don’t have the same level of access to advisers, such as veterinarians, agronomists, nutritionists and geneticists.

“If the government is relying on advisers to educate and work closely with producers, there is a significant reliance on them to have the right information-seeking behaviour and deliver it consistently across the province,” Roche notes during his webinar.

It’s about more than just access to information, he added. To be successful in getting farmers to adopt new practices, those delivering the information have to understand their audience, make their message relevant

W W W.MILKPRODUCER.CA

To be successful in getting farmers to adopt new practices, those delivering the information have to understand their audience, make their message relevant and tailor their approach to fit farmers’ needs.

- Dr. Steven Roche and tailor their approach to fit farmers’ needs.

Chowdhury’s research showed, for example, although various advisory methods and tools are used, including more digital services and online media, those that are most effective focus on one-on-one, interactive communication with farmers.

Roche suggests three factors the industry must think about for getting research into practice:

•Improve and enhance our capacity, including training, scholarships and investments; •Ensure better collaboration between industry, academia, government and non-profit sectors; •Provide more co-ordination through a centre or structure that could help guide activities and motivate change.

COLLABORATION AND CO-ORDINATION TO DRIVE RESULTS Efforts are already underway to bring more coordination, collaboration and focus to advisory services. In 2019, Canada joined the United States and Mexico to form the North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) to bring together its farm and rural development advisers.

This past summer, NAAAN launched a mapping study to get a better understanding of agricultural training, education and advisory services and needs across North America.

Results are expected shortly.

To read LRIC’s Getting Research Into Practice

white paper or watch the horizon series webinar with Dr. Steven Roche, visit https:// livestockresearch.ca/white_papers.

For more information on Dr. Ataharul Chowdhury’s research into livestock advisory services in Ontario, contact LRIC at info@ livestockresearch.ca or call 519-766-5464 (Mike McMorris) or 519-767-8583 (Jean Howden).

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 Livestock Research Innovation Corporation as part of its ongoing efforts to drive innovation in the livestock sector. For more information about LRIC, visit www.livestockresearch.ca.

?

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MILKPRODUCER |LATE WINTER 2022

35

NEW MANAGEMENT N NOTED FARM

MORE INVESTMENT NEEDED FOR COVER CROP INNOVATION

By Grain Farmers of Ontario CONTRIBUTOR

R

esearchers at the University of Manitoba (UM), working in collaboration with the Ontario cover crop steering committee, have shared the results from the 2020 Ontario cover crop feedback survey, the largest survey of its kind in Canada based on the number of responses received. The survey captured a snapshot of grower observations from incorporating cover crops into their practice.

Cover crop use in Ontario has a long history.

The practice has increased in recent years. The Ontario Cover Crop Action Strategy, created in partnership with the Ontario Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy, has set new goals to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops in Ontario.

Of the 520 respondents that grew cover crops in 2020, 91 per cent observed benefits from growing cover crops. The observations include: • 68 per cent of farms saw improved soil health; • 59 per cent observed less soil erosion; • 57 per cent reported seeing increased soil organic matter.

More than three quarters of farms reported benefits within three years of adopting cover crops.

“Ontario continues to innovate in farming practices that benefit the environment and adopt cover cropping as one strategy. We know that to continue to build on these successes and continue to help Ontario and Canada meet climate change goals, farmers will need support for these practices to help overcome the barriers that farmers face in their implementation,” says Marty Vermey, senior agronomist at Grain Farmers of Ontario and chair of the Ontario Cover Crop Working Group.

The study showed some challenges in adopting cover crops. The most common were poor cover crop establishment, the late harvest of a cash crop preventing cover crop planting, and the additional costs associated with growing a cover crop.

Although the expansion of cover crop adoption in the province is an indication of the benefits that some farms experience with this practice, barriers that hinder widespread cover crop adoption still exist. This makes it an important time to hear from Ontario farmers about the benefits and challenges they experience, their needs for research and knowledge transfer and 36

LATE WINTER 2022 | MILKPRODUCER

CALLUM MORRISON, report author, checks out the cover crops in Ontario.

Photos by Anne Verhallen

to get feedback on what could enable wider adoption of cover crops in Ontario.

The 2020 Ontario cover crop feedback project was developed to provide information to farmers, agronomists, researchers, policy makers and government organizations that will play an important role in the future of cover crops in Ontario.

The project was a voluntary online survey of Ontario farms, targeting both farms that did and did not grow cover crops during the 2020 growing season. Farms of all types and sizes in Ontario were invited to take part. A variety of questions were asked of farmers who grew and did not grow cover crops. Both groups were asked about farm characteristics, motivations, what would enable cover crop use, and where farms source information.

“Ontario‘s certified crop advisors are pleased to have participated in the survey recruitment and review processes of the cover crop report,” said Ken Currah, certified crop advisor and Ontario Cover Crop Working Group member.

“We look forward to working with our farmer customers to transfer this knowledge and providing our advisory services in support of their farm management decisions around soil health improvement, environmental stewardship and

continued cover crop adoption.”

In total, the survey collected responses from 731 farmers, 520 of which grew a cover crop in 2020 and 211 did not grow a cover crop in 2020.

“This survey was made possible by the great support of Ontario farmers. They were asked to provide their feedback about what was occurring with cover crops and the response was tremendous,” says Paul Hoekstra, vice-president of strategic development, Grain Farmers of Ontario. “We thank the farmers, researchers,and the Ontario cover crop steering committee for the incredible work they have done to represent the needs and voices of Ontario’s grain farmers to highlight the areas where we can continue to provide the best support.”

The report can be accessed at the Grain Farmers of Ontario website.

For more detailed information on the report and cover crops, contact; Victoria Berry, communications manager Grain Farmers of Ontario, vberry@gfo.ca; Anne Verhallen, soils management specialist OMAFRA, anne.verhallen@ontario.ca; Callum Morrison, graduate student, department of plant science at the University of Manitoba, morris51@myumanitoba.ca.

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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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MILKPRODUCER | LATE WINTER 2022

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2020-10-29 1:26:42 PM

NEW N NOTED

THE 2022 DAIRY SEMINAR IS RETURNING TO IN-PERSON For the 40th anniversary, we will be celebrating dairy research in Canada by providing an all-Canadian speaker lineup. Our speakers will present on a range of topics, including nutrition, calf management and reproduction, and the program will include a producer panel and student research competition. We will also bring back the exhibition hall, featuring the latest offers from our industry sponsors.

This seminar is designed for people who want to improve their knowledge and decisionmaking abilities in dairy production and management and for those looking to network

By Advisory Committee, Western Dairy

CONTRIBUTOR

T

he 40th Western Canadian Dairy Seminar (WCDS) is taking place March 8 to 11, 2022, at the Cambridge Hotel in Red Deer, Alta.

The in-person will celebrate the 40th annual WCDS. The advisory committee is planning a safe return to in-person events and will be following all health guidelines. The WCDS is a place for our industry to gather, learn and network and, above all else, we aim to protect our community.

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