Milk Producer December 2024

DAIRY IMPACT

Ontario dairy farmers help nourish communities across Ontario

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DAIRY FARMERS OF ONTARIO

6780 Campobello Road Mississauga, ON L5N 2L8

MANAGER, COMMUNICATIONS

Sharon Laidlaw sharon.laidlaw@milk.org

ADVERTISING

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

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Katrina Teimo

CONTRIBUTORS

ACER Consulting, Steve Roche, Treena Hein, Jeanine Moyer, Robert Matson, Bita Farhang, Veal Farmers of Ontario, Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

Canada Post Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No.40063866. Return postage guaranteed. Circulation: 8,000. ISSN 0030-3038. Printed in Canada.

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Ontario dairy nourishing our communities and making a difference with milk

By John Wynands, Board Member, Region 3, Frontenac, Grenville, Lanark, Leeds and Renfrew. John serves as Chair of the Communications and Government Relations Committee and is on the Audit and Governance Committees.

Reviewing the initiatives and programs highlighted in this giving issue, it is heartening to see the many contributions Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO), our dairy producer committees (DPC), dairy farmers and the industry-at-large make in our communities across Ontario. We do it because it is our nature to nurture healthy communities.

In the spirit of spreading holiday cheer and supporting our communities, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, through our milk and cookies campaign will make a donation of $500,000 to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and other Ontario children's hospitals in Hamilton (McMaster Children's Hospitals), London (Children's Hospital) and Ottawa (CHEO). Cumulatively since 2019, DFO will have donated more than $3 million through the campaign, supporting the highest priority needs across the hospitals and patients and families spending the holidays in Ontario children’s hospitals.

Throughout the year, Ontario farmers help plan, organize and run various activities as a way of giving back and making an impact. From Santa Claus parades to fundraising events, dairy producers help nourish the livelihood of Ontarians by investing in local communities.

At a grassroots level, dairy producer committees undertake many meaningful activities to promote dairy and contribute to creating vibrant rural

communities. DPCs are not only local ambassadors for the industry, they also step up to support local teams and cultural events, fairs, schools, food banks and so much more. In this issue, Milk Producer highlights some of their work and how they continue to give back to the very places in which we live and work.

As dairy producers, we take great pride in producing high-quality milk, one of nature’s most nutrient-rich foods. It’s our nature to nourish Canadians and support healthy living. As we celebrate the holidays with loved ones and give thanks for what we have, two more community initiatives in my region come to mind that have had a tremendous impact on those seeking end-of-life care and young minds eager to learn about agriculture. The first event is the Arie van Lindenberg Memorial tournament, which started in July 2001. The event is hosted by Marja van Lindenberg and Renfrew DPC. Participants get to play a round of 18-hole golf and raise money for Hospice Renfrew. About $100,000 has been raised to date. The other event is Farm Comes to Town, which invites Grade 4 students to participate in an agricultural awareness day. Grenville DPC and our local educator help organize and run the dairy station, which includes milking demonstrations. The well-loved community program has been running for 25 years.

There are so many ways to give back and it is encouraging to know our sector seeks to nourish Canadians, such as through our longstanding milk donation program, done in collaboration with

the Ontario Dairy Council and Ontario Milk Transportation Association. Food banks are needed now more than ever as an increasing number of Canadian families are relying on them to help meet their nutritional needs. I encourage you to consider donating to the program if you haven’t already.

As we continue to come together to nurture and support our local communities, a recent survey by Abacus Data reports more than 80 per cent of Canadians say they prefer to support businesses that give back to their communities. Canadians believe businesses giving back is an important part of building stronger communities, reminding us that all the initiatives we collectively undertake throughout the year have an impact where it matters most, in our communities.

We are grateful to our producers and DPCs for a wonderful year of giving and for making such a positive impact throughout the province. You can read more about these initiatives in this issue and the impact we continue to have on Ontarians and Canadians from coast to coast.

Farm and Family

Abacus data source: https://abacusdata.ca/businessesgiving-back-an-important-part-of-building-community/.

Does your succession plan work for both?

Don’t risk your legacy, take our simple self-assessment and find out where you stand.

John Wynands

Across Ontario, Dairy Producer Committees are impacting communities

DAIRY

PRODUCER COMMITTEES (DPCS) are local ambassadors for the dairy industry.

In communities across Ontario, they step up and show up to support local teams and cultural events, fairs, schools, food banks and so much more.

These pages proudly highlight some of the work DPCs do to share and ignite our collective love for milk and dairy products, while giving back to the places we call home and the people we care about.

As dairy producers, we take great pride in producing high-quality milk, one of nature’s most nutrient-rich foods. It’s our nature to nourish caring, compassionate communities and support nutrition. Thank you to our producers and DPCs for a wonderful year of giving and for making such a positive impact in our communities.

KAWARTHA

LAKES

The Kawartha Lakes DPC is active within its communities. During 2024, the committee donated more than 7,000 cartons of milk to local sports teams and Santa Claus parades; served and scooped 200 tubs of ice cream at local events, such as the Lindsay Milk Run, Lindsay Fair and the 2024 International Plowing Match, and distributed 800 milk calendars at local events. In addition to providing products to community members and visitors alike, the committee also sponsors local sports and 4-H Ontario teams attending the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair with monetary donations totaling $3,500. Also, the committee purchases milk gift certificates annually to add to local food baskets gifted at Christmas through our local food bank.

Our DPC also participates in the Lindsay Santa Claus Parade every year. Committee members and their families hand out cartons of milk to small children and youth enroute during the parade. We can hear the excitement building when they spot our cow, Maple, and they know their milk is coming.

RENFREW

For the last two years, Renfrew DPC has sponsored a team in the Canadian Track and Field League (CTFL) using some of our MilkUP funds. We feel it is a good way to get the MilkUP logo on up-and-coming Olympic athletes.

This season was the biggest to date with 30 per cent of team Canada and 280 of Canada’s top athletes competing in the league. Our DPC sponsors the Bears, which had multiple Olympians on it. In fact, the Bears finished second in the CTFL this season with a few league record performances.

HURON

Huron DPC is grateful to all our local firefighters and graciously donated chocolate milk to five local firefighters’ breakfasts. The committee also participated in six Santa Claus parades and handed out close to 9,000 chocolate milk cartons to the excited children. This year, the committee joined with neighbouring Bruce county DPC and sponsored the FE Madill girls hockey team to feature the MilkUP logo on their team backpacks, which they proudly wore on their hockey trip to Europe.

PERTH

Perth DPC enjoyed participating at ifarm Perth County. A total 625 students took part in the agricultural displays at Stratford’s Rotary Complex on June 11, 12 and 13, 2024. Fourteen Perth County elementary schools were invited to learn about agriculture and where their food comes from. Producers representing dairy, beef, egg, grain, chicken and pork collaborated on the event, as well as staff and volunteers from Gay Lea Dairy Heritage Museum. The event was expanded to include a community open house, welcoming 800 guests of all ages. DPC members provided a free BBQ and cash donations were raised for the local food bank. There was a Rural Road Farm Safety display representing a mock road set up to educate the public on how to safely drive on roads around large farm equipment.

HALDIMAND

The Haldimand DPC attends and participates in Agstravaganza each year. A total 237 Grade 5 students, as well as teachers and parents from across Haldimand County, visited the Caledonia Fairgrounds and were educated on multiple agricultural sectors. The dairy farmer setup enabled Haldimand dairy educators to provide students a quick rundown of where their milk comes from, what and how much a dairy cow eats and how a dairy cow is milked. We held a live milking demonstration where some students got to help dip, wipe and attach a milker. After the milking demonstration, students got to feed a baby calf or experience what the inside of the milking machine felt like. Students and teachers really appreciate this event since it may be the only time they are able to get to see these activities in person.

GRENVILLE

Grenville County DPC takes part in multiple parades yearly in which we hand out thousands of cheese strings. It is always a great time with many farm families joining in to spread Christmas cheer! We love sharing our love of dairy with our community and we're always warmly appreciated.

HASTINGS

Hastings DPC had a booth with a dairy educator and Hazel the Cow at the Hastings Plowing Match in late August. The committee handed out cheese strings and stickers to children and answered dairy-related questions from the public.

GREY

Grey County DPC kicked off the Christmas season early this year with a float in the Owen Sound Santa Claus parade on Nov. 16, 2024. DPC members and fellow dairy producers handed out 2,000 cheese strings to promote 100% delicious Canadian milk products.

BRANT

Brant County DPC has participated in the Santa Claus Parade in Burford, Paris, and St. George communities in Brant County for many years. Our DPC provides two heifers, and usually 4-H projects from the Cain family farm. About 10 to 20 volunteers of all ages help hand out chocolate milk and milk calendars. We get many great responses, such as “Look, our Santa Claus Parade has cows.” The cows and the chocolate milk are one of the highlights of the parade every year, receiving many cheers and applause. These events help us educate people about the dairy industry since we can answer questions along the parade route and talk to the public about our sector.

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PETERBOROUGH

On a beautiful October afternoon, Peterborough County DPCs Kate and Niels van Beek hosted their son’s Hucklebug Rural Routes Daycare Centre, their families and friends for an interactive farm tour. Visitors got to experience the cows and calves and learn about the day-to-day operations. The committee provided chocolate milk and ice cream for visitors.

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

Prince Edward County DPC handed out more than 1,000 chocolate milk cartons to Prince Edward County Marathon participants as they crossed the finish line. More than 800 runners participated in full and half marathons as they competed to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

DPCs also took part in these community events:

Carleton

Breakfast on the Farm

Grenville

Brockville Angels "February Freeze" Hockey Tournament

Kindergarten school tour

Grey

Town of Blue Mountains Open Fields Farm Tour

Haldimand Trucks for touch

Middlesex

YMCA Family Day

Fall Fairs: Western, Glencoe, Thorndale, Ilderton Dorchester Ag Awareness & Fair

Niagara

Dinner at the Dairy

Niagara Farm Day

Peel

Brampton Fall Fair

Bolton Fall Fair

Perth

Scenic Holstein & Stonetown Cheese Processing Plant Open House ifarm Perth County 2024

Listowel Agricultural Fair "Where Country Meets Town"

St. Mary's Farmers Market Kids Agricultural Day

Skeletons on Vivian Line

Breakfast on the Farm ~ Farm & Food Care Ontario

Temiskaming

New Liskeard Fall Fair

Earlton Farm Show

Waterloo

Elmira Maple Syrup Fest

Big Cheese Days

Wellesley ABC

KW Oktoberfest GOAT fest

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MilkUP

The MilkUP DPC program’s goal is to increase brand awareness, foster community-based initiatives and consumer engagements, build appreciation for local dairy and drive dairy product consumption. The objective is to empower youth to reach their full potential.

In 2024, DPCs gave out 88,000 litres of milk and chocolate milk at various sporting events to nourish young athletes across Ontario. They also wrapped six Zambonis and sponsored more than 90 rinkboards, wallboards, banners and in-ice logos in local arenas and community centres in their regions. There were 348 sponsorship requests sent in this year, compared with 20 in 2019 when the program started.

New signage and exciting branded giveaways were added to DPC activation kits, which are meant to support Ontario dairy farmers engaging in local events and initiatives. This year, the activation kits have been used at more than 55 events, a beloved way to experience milk moments.

Celebrating milk one school at a time

Johnston family of Maplevue Farms gives back during World Milk Day

By Treena Hein

“NOT EVERY CHILD HAS MILK AT LUNCHTIME AT SCHOOL OR EVEN IN THE HOME THESE DAYS,” notes Dave Johnston, who runs fifth-generation Maplevue Farms in Listowel, Ont., with his brother Doug. That’s why they decided four years ago to ensure all school kids within their county can have milk for free once a year, and to celebrate dairy products and dairy farming on World Milk Day every June.

It all started when a new local radio station opened, called The Ranch. “The manager was ready for all kinds of ideas,” says Dave, adding they'd met him before a few times, so decided to ask if the station could broadcast from their milking room on World Milk Day. "He said yes and it was so easy. The announcer just uses a cell phone.” Maplevue also donated a calf that day, with contenders for the prize having to do their best ‘moo’ on air. “The first year, a kid in Grade 5 won, which he gave back. The calf was sold twice more and, in the end, we raised $3,500 that went toward delivering milk to schools,” Dave says, adding he and his brother quickly thought about what they could do next.

Over the past four years, the brothers have arranged and delivered Gay Lea Foods milk to every school in the county for both students and staff. They’ve also handed out Ivanhoe cheese. For winter deliveries, they use a simple trailer, which keeps the milk cold during transport. One day during an ice storm, they delivered milk to 16 schools.

Growth over time

The brothers have diligently grown the venture during the four year-period. The second year, an announcer from The Ranch broadcasted the Word Milk Day program with Doug from the top of the silo. A calf was born that day, which they named Ranch. She’s since become a mascot for the radio station and the community. Local businesses and a local Rotary Club have also donated to the cause. DFO staff and board members, local dairy producer committee members and elected officials have attended World Milk Day broadcasts yearly.

Doug and Dave have even gotten their kids on the air. “They’re very comfortable talking about farming,” Dave says. “We are a public family, and they are not nervous. I’m seven terms on local council and an auctioneer and Doug is on many boards.”

Since the program has been up and running, they’ve raised $14,000 to deliver milk and cheese (they’ve also replaced a broken freezer at one of the area schools). “It’s cheap promotion to broadcast live from the farm and a lot of fun,” says Dave. “Everyone loves it. Covid prevented us having on-farm ice cream events, and it’s a bit challenging when World Milk Day happens on a weekend because the radio audience is much higher on weekdays. However, it shows how you can start with a small idea and see where it goes. It’s taken on a life of its own.”

The Johnstons are truly doing their part to educate the community and promote dairy products. “The public needs to understand dairy farming,” Doug explains. “In Listowel, there’s one school that has 500 kids representing 16 spoken languages. They may not have even tried milk before, so a free sample is not a bad thing.”

Doug Johbston, right, with ranch owner Greg Hetherington broadcasting from on top of the silo.

provincial DFO makes milk & cookies mean even more

Dairy farmers give back through annual holiday donation and the magic milk glass initiative

By Dairy Farmers of Ontario

FOR THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is making its holiday donation of $500,000 to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and other Ontario children’s hospitals in Hamilton (McMaster Children’s Hospitals), London (Children’s Hospital) and Ottawa (CHEO). Cumulatively since 2019, DFO will have donated more than $3 million through the milk & cookies campaign, supporting the highest priority needs across the hospitals and patients and families spending the holidays in Ontario children’s hospitals.

In the spirit of spreading holiday cheer and supporting communities, DFO launched its sixth consecutive milk and cookies holiday campaign to support children and families spending the holidays in four Ontario children’s hospitals.

To make the magical ritual of leaving milk and cookies out for Santa mean even more, DFO has brought back the beloved magic milk glass initiative, which invited Ontarians to join Ontario dairy farmers in showing support for patients by submitting holiday-themed magic milk glass drawings. The magic milk glasses feature select drawings by children from across the province. DFO transforms the drawings into the #MagicMilkGlass featuring drawings and matching built-in cookie cutters that are given to all children spending the holidays at Ontario children's hospitals, so they can experience the magical tradition of putting out milk and cookies for Santa no matter where they are. Ontario consumers were able to submit their #MagicMilkGlass drawing on social over a two-week period ending in November, using @ontariodairy and the hashtag.

This year, DFO hosted the first-ever magic milk truck experience, a mobile pop-up that stopped at SickKids on Nov. 21 for an exclusive interaction with patients, family, hospital staff and media, and again for consumers at Shops at Don Mills in Toronto, Ont. on Nov. 23. All children and families were invited to enjoy complimentary milk and cookies and were provided with crayons and stencils to create and submit their magic milk glass drawing onsite.

"Dairy Farmers of Ontario is committed to supporting communities across Ontario. We want to show children and their families spending the holidays at a hospital that we are thinking of them,” said Cheryl Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Dairy Farmers of Ontario. “Our magic milk glass initiative goes beyond the donation to ensure children spending this holiday season in an Ontario children’s hospital are able to experience the special Christmas Eve ritual of leaving milk and cookies out for Santa.”

.

“We are grateful for the ongoing support and partnership from Dairy Farmers of Ontario,” says Jennifer Bernard, President and CEO of the SickKids Foundation. “The holiday season can be particularly challenging for families spending

it in the hospital. With DFO’s commitment, we can bring joy and comfort to our young patients, ensuring they feel the magic of the season even in difficult circumstances.”

The campaign continues to strengthen dairy industry perceptions and demonstrate DFO’s commitment to nourishing communities, with the goal of increasing milk consumption by reinforcing milk’s role in a beloved holiday tradition. It is anchored by the successful 30- and 15-second “Home for Christmas” TV commercials that aired for five weeks starting on Nov. 25, and further supported by billboards, cinema, social media, influencers, public relations and custom digital content featuring celebrity pastry chef Anna Olsen.

Supporting local food banks to nourish local communities provincial

Ontario dairy industry donates more than one million litres of milk yearly

By Dairy Farmers of Ontario

DFO IS COMMITTED TO NOURISHING ONTARIO COMMUNITIES through partnerships that help families and individuals access highquality, nutritious milk and dairy products.

A commitment that is needed now more than ever as an increasing number of Canadian families are relying on food banks to help them with their nutritional needs. According to Feed Ontario, one millionplus people visited a food bank in the province in 2023, up 25 per cent from the previous year. The organization represents a network of more than 1,200 food banks and hunger-relief organizations across Ontario. With this increase, food banks are looking for support to secure enough healthy, nourishing food items, especially perishable food items.

As proud members of communities across the province, Ontario dairy farmers believe in supporting families who need it the most. Over the years, DFO has partnered with food banks across the province to support their individual needs.

The milk donation program has been providing food banks throughout the province with regular monthly donations of fresh, nutritious milk to distribute to their clients. Thanks to the more than 500 producers who donate to the program, along with industry partners—the Ontario Dairy Council (ODC) and the Ontario Milk Transportation Association (OMTA)—Ontario food banks know they can rely on a monthly milk supply. In fact, members of the ODC and OMTA support the program by donating all costs of processing and transportation.

As Feed Ontario’s longest running program, the Ontario food bank donation program has been an essential component of its work for more than 25 years. Through DFO, ODC and OMTA, the program delivers more than 1.4 million litres of milk to people in need each year.

The milk donation program would not be possible without the generous support of more than 500 dairy farmers, 30 milk transporters and 10 dairy processors.

Program impact

1.4 M+

litres of fresh milk provided to food banks across Ontario each year

135+

local and community food banks across the province receive fresh milk every month through the Ontario Milk

Program

25+

years of supporting families in need. Thanks to the generosity of the dairy industry, the Ontario Milk Program is Feed Ontario's longest running program

Data source: https://feedontario.ca/food-program/milk-program/ and Dairy Farmers of Ontario.

We’re proud of our long association with Feed Ontario. The dairy industry has an important and influential role to play in helping feed hungry people in our province and it’s important to ensure everyone has access to high-quality, nutritious dairy products. This program reflects dairy farmers unwavering commitment to giving back to their communities every year.

–

We know milk continues to be an important source of much-needed nutrition for individuals served by food banks. Ontario dairy farmers are extremely proud to be associated with Feed Ontario through the food bank donation program and to be part of the solution to hunger in Ontario. Not only is the program an important initiative for local communities throughout the province, the donated milk products make a significant difference in the lives of so many people, which makes it all worth it.

provincial

Have you signed up for the food bank donation program?

If you’ve been thinking about signing up for Ontario’s food bank donation program, you only have until Jan. 1 to do so.

– Mark Hamel - Chair, Dairy Farmers of Ontario

Originally intended to be a temporary solution in tough economic times, food banks have increasingly become vital community services. Milk donated to the program is the first out of the tank, and the volume is deducted from a producer’s monthly shipments. There are no deductions for transportation, administration or promotion.

Food bank collaboration with DPCs

To help meet the needs of their communities at a grassroots level, dairy producer committees (DPCs) have established strong relationships with their local food banks to provide support financially, as well as through equipment or milk and dairy donations. Through these relationships, DPCs have gained insights into the challenges and priorities of their local food banks and are using these insights to help them where it’s needed most. To read more about how local DPCs are supporting their area food banks and other community-based initiatives DFO is involved in, visit DFO’s new corporate responsibility page at https://new.milk.org/corporate-responsibility/. Here you’ll read about some of the ways Ontario’s dairy farmers embrace their responsibility to communities, the environment and the economy.

Letters asking you to sign up for the program were sent out with Milk Producer’s November issue and via the Weekly Update newsletter. If you have not donated to the program before, please consider participating in this worthy and gratifying cause. If you would like to begin donating milk in February 2025, fill out the form that was included with the magazine or newsletter and return it in the prepaid envelope via fax or email. The minimum level to donate is 30 litres per month.

To ensure a consistent supply of milk to Feed Ontario, DFO removed the renewal process a few years ago. Producers who opt into the program will continue to stay in the program until they provide written notice to DFO to opt out.

There are two opportunities every year to opt out—before the dairy year begins in August and halfway through the dairy year in February. To opt out, producers must provide written notice at least 30 days before Aug. 1 or Feb. 1. Producers will then be removed from the program starting in August or February of that year.

A reminder that the food donation tax credit is available to Ontario farmers who donate agricultural products to eligible community food programs, including food banks. This credit provides a 25 per cent non-refundable tax credit to Ontario dairy producers based on the fair market value of the donation and is based on the volume contributed and the specific producer blend price as per DFO records. Tax receipts will be issued by Feed Ontario to participants in February of each year for the previous calendar year.

Cheryl Smith - CEO, Dairy Farmers of Ontario

local dairy

CARES

Inspiring other Ontario milk producers to give back

By Treena Hein

ONTARIO DAIRY FARMERS, like many of their peers throughout the world, have a tradition of community involvement. Whether it’s the local Christmas parade, helping with community events or sponsoring sports teams, local milk producers often give back. These activities not only improve quality of life, but also help promote dairy product consumption.

But there’s one other important benefit. Contributing to the needs of the local

community can also provide a very meaningful personal experience, one that stays with a person for a lifetime.

That’s certainly been the case for Dairy Cares 4 SDG, which comprises a group of about 230 dairy farmers in eastern Ontario. Through the last two years, “there was immense pride people felt by being involved,” says co-founder Don Johnston. “Committee members, all the dairy producers, sponsors and event attendees

felt so proud to be part of this. It was fantastic to raise the money but the pride people had in being part of something that gave so much back to the community was palpable.”

Group origins

In the early stages of the Covid pandemic, Johnston says he was spending a lot of time online because there wasn't much to do. That's when he came across Dairy Cares, organized by a group of farmers in Wisconsin. He thought it was a great idea to replicate in his region once Covid was over. "I mentioned it to a few other farmers and a year or so later, we started throwing the idea out at farm meetings and milk committee meetings.”

The group in Wisconsin focused on hospitals, which sounded like a wise move. “We wanted to pick a cause that affected everyone and with one hospital in each of the three counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, it was a logical choice,” says Johnston. They named the new initiative Dairy Cares 4 SDG.

Beyond that, the group didn’t look into what the Wisconsin farmers did or how they did it. “We just started brainstorming,” Johnston says. “We came up with a long list of potential contributors. We formed a committee and started having meetings. We then decided to have one big event with a meal and music and a live auction. We pictured an informal night to maybe raise $10,000.”

But one farmer named Ryan Wert (who became Dairy Cares 4 SDG chair) wondered about that. He thought if they were going to spend a lot of time organizing an event, they might as well go big – as big as possible, in fact. “He was right,” says Johnston.

First and second year

The first gala in April 2023 raised a whopping $187,000. The fundraisers at the three hospitals were a little shocked. They’d heard about the event and attended but hadn’t understood the scale of the donations. Leading up to the 2024 event, they gave their full support, making sure it got maximum press coverage ahead of time through radio and other media avenues. Virtually everyone in the community knew when the second event was happening.

Committee members - (left to right) Adam Beaudette, Arnold Reijmers, Ryan Wert, Don Johnson, Julia Booijink, Kathryn Speck, Thomas Kuipers, Brandon Scheepers.

When the total contribution was added up from the second event, it was almost $235,000. The group raised the amount from gala tickets, a live auction and cash donations. Committee member and auctioneer Brandon Scheepers kept the audience entertained during the gala, which took place at the Bonnie Glen Pavilion in Alexandria. Many unique items were donated for bidding, including local art, a stay at Mont Tremblant resort and cuts of organic beef. “The support from our local farmers, industry and community partners was nothing short of amazing,” says Wert.

All the organizers, dairy farmers, businesses – the entire regional community – were over the moon. “We had a really great group of people who were really keen to give back and show appreciation for the communities we live in,” says Wert. “No one wants recognition. We are just happy to be a part of it and pleased it all went well.”

Reflections on the journey

Committee members, such as Kathrin Speck, explain that with the group being farmers/farm business owners, they all have a similar mindset of ‘go until the job is done.’ She says, “luckily, we meshed well as a group. I don't think organizing an event like this was in anyone's wheelhouse, but we committed to it and there was a job to do. We quickly realized we may have bit off more than we could chew but that's just another day in the office for us. Determination goes a long way. We were all juggling farms, families and households while organizing the event, so I think the success of it made it that much more fulfilling.”

Leadership

“Ryan was our visionary leader,” says Johnston. “He’s a ‘find a way, think big, be positive’ sort of person. You really need that to make it happen.”

Arnold Reijmers adds that with he and other committee members running farm operations full time, they had to rely on family members to pick up the slack, especially during the months leading up to the event both years. “It’s been a family effort,” he says. “Committee members were on the road a lot seeking donations and finding the right items for the auction. It was all worth it of course and we are really happy we’ve bettered our community. A big personal motivation for me is that I’m an immigrant from Holland. Canada has been good to me and my family and so it was a chance to give back.”

Thomas Kuipers says the committee never fathomed what the resulting donations would be. “We all got really motivated once we settled on raising money for the hospitals,” he recalls. “For me and my family, the hospitals have always been there when we needed them the most, for happy occasions and for those less than happy. Donating money to support them wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to give my time.”

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Personal Connections

“We had significant success asking for support in person,” says Johnston. “We were fortunate to have support from many segments. Retired farmers were very keen. We had people from 16 to 90 years of age attending the gala. Thomas was able to announce the grand total amount of funds raised shortly after the live auction was done. That made for a great atmosphere since everyone in the room shared in the success. And the press having the total that night really increased the impact for sponsors."

Julia and Thomas Booijink

Improving hospitals

Committee member Julia Booijink notes that while hospitals serve everyone in a rural community, they really matter to farmers.

“For us, because we work 365 days a year, having well-equipped hospitals nearby is really important,” she says. “We looked at working with other charity organizations, but found with the hospitals that all the money goes right to equipment. I’d never worked with hospitals before and didn’t realize how much hospital foundations lean on community support.”

Indeed, Ontario’s rural hospitals used to be strongly supported by the farming community years ago, notes Johnston, adding over the ensuing decades, hospitals became a government responsibility. “I think it’s back to where we now have more input about our needs and more community involvement,” he says. “If you want your local hospitals to survive, you have to show interest. You have to show they are important and, hopefully, elected officials will also consider them important.”

The three hospitals are using the Dairy Cares donations in different ways. Cornwall Community Hospital is upgrading its emergency department, while Winchester & District Memorial Hospital is focusing on its cancer care ward, and Hôpital Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria is purchasing various pieces of equipment.

Growth of a movement

Looking back on the last two years, all team members say Dairy Cares has been an unprecedented personal experience. “We all feel a responsibility to give back and it’s also good to inspire others to help where it’s needed,” says Johnston. “There was a Dairy Cares event in southwestern Ontario as well this year and that’s fantastic. It would be nice to see it go around the whole province. It’s a really good concept for the industry.”

“We really do want to inspire other dairy farmers across the province,” says Booijink. “We don’t want to intimidate anyone with what our community has achieved; we just want others to get on board. We made a snowball, but let’s all make it bigger and keep it rolling!”

DairyTrace, alongside Dairy Farmers of Canada, is working with governments, provincial veterinary offices, and industry organizations to use the traceback system in the event of an animal health emergency.

To

Mélissa Lalonde, Senior Advisor - Traceability, DairyTrace

Calves for a local

Cause

Initiative raises more than $150,000 for Children's Hospital over four-year period

By Jeanine Moyer

IN 2019, BROOKS MARKUS SPENT 120 DAYS IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU) of the Children’s Hospital London Health Sciences Centre. Thanks to the amazing love and care received during this challenging time, parents Darryl and Sarah Markus began brainstorming ways they could give back. That’s when the idea for Calves for a Cause was born – to raise funds to support the hospital’s NICU, pediatric critical care unit and child life specialists.

Since 2021, the Markus family has been organizing Calves for a Cause, a fundraising dairy calf sale to support the children’s hospital. The sale honours Brooks, the second youngest of the family’s seven children who was born with two very rare medical conditions – Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS), which is defined by the brain’s inability to measure CO 2 levels, mostly while sleeping, and Hirschsprung Syndrome, which causes digestive issues that has resulted in multiple surgeries for Brooks.

“The purpose of the sale is to give back to the children’s hospital foundation so other families can have the same supportive experience we’ve had,” says Markus, whose family has spent more than 300 days at the London facility since Brooks was born in October 2019.

An Ingersoll-area dairy farmer, Darryl had the idea to host an online sale, and together with the help of Russell Gammon, organized his first event that turned out to be an amazing success. Everyone rallied to support the event where more than 60 animals were sold. Nearly everything was donated for the inaugural sale, including animals and the online auction platform, which raised $71,000.

Calves for a Cause has grown considerably since the first impromptu event. After hosting online auctions for two years, with major support from Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX) owner Jordon Underhill, the sale moved to CDX where the live event now draws more animals and buyers. The organizing committee has expanded to include sales manager, Jeff Stephens, and event co-ordinator Christina Benjamins. Not only does the sale attract supporters of the hospital, but Calves for a Cause has also developed a reputation for sourcing superior dairy genetics.

In 2024, Calves for a Cause brought together more than 100 lots that raised $30,000 to bring total hospital donations to more than $150,000 over four years. The funds raised are a combination of the consignment commissions and donated animals. Every year, Darryl donates animals for the sale and says many people who donated to the first sale also continue to contribute. While the event takes an increasing amount of work to organize each year, Darryl and his family are grateful for the support. Hosting the live event at CDX has raised the exposure of the sale and caliber of genetics offered. “We’re so thankful for our team for making Calves for a Cause what it is today,” he says.

“And for our event host, CDX - where else can we bring together 16,000 people in the dairy industry to make a difference in our community?”

Plans are already underway for the 2025 event at CDX, where the Calves for a Cause organizers hope to raise their largest donation yet.

Markus says most people don’t realize how important the children’s hospital is to the community until they need it. “A highlight of every sale is talking to fellow farmers who have had their own experience at the hospital and appreciate giving back.”

Free Mental Health Training for the Agricultural Community

the Know

training

Dairy Ambassadors: A Global Commitment

Experts from the International Dairy Federation are at the forefront of promoting dairy’s nutritional, economic and social benefits worldwide

By Bita Farhang, Senior Advisor, Science and Sustainable Nutrition, Dairy Farmers of Ontario

IN AN EVER-EVOLVING WORLD, the role of dairy ambassadors has never been more critical. The International Dairy Federation (IDF) has such ambassadors that comprise more than 1,200 highly qualified dairy experts in 39 member countries around the world. These individuals and their organizations are at the forefront of promoting dairy’s nutritional, economic and social benefits across the globe. Since its inception in 1903, IDF has stood as the authoritative voice for the dairy sector, advocating for the importance of dairy in fostering healthy, balanced diets while ensuring sustainable practices.

These dairy experts' efforts span continents, highlighting dairy’s universal relevance. In regions facing food insecurity, the leaders work tirelessly to provide access to nutritious dairy products, bridging nutritional gaps and promoting health. Through educational initiatives, they empower local farmers with sustainable practices that enhance production while safeguarding animal welfare and environmental integrity.

At the heart of these efforts is IDF, which plays a pivotal role in shaping policies that advocate for dairy’s place in global food systems. By engaging with key intergovernmental organizations like the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), Codex (International Food standards), and UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme), IDF ensures dairy remains integral to international discussions on food safety, nutrition and sustainability. This advocacy is crucial, especially in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where dairy’s contributions to food security and nutrition are paramount.

The 1,200-plus IDF dairy experts exemplify a robust global commitment to promoting the importance of dairy in health, nutrition and sustainability. Through collaborative efforts with intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, they work to ensure dairy’s benefits are recognized and integrated into global food policies.

Task force established to reinforce dairy’s protein profile

In 2024, IDF established a task force focused on dairy’s role in global protein transition. This initiative aims to shift narratives around protein consumption, emphasizing dairy’s holistic contributions to sustainable food systems. By developing science-based communication materials, the task force enhances awareness of dairy’s nutritional value.

IDF advocates for sustainability, food security and health by engaging experts across various fields. Their collaborative efforts ensure dairy remains a vital component of diets worldwide, bridging nutritional gaps and promoting environmentally responsible practices.

IDF, with its experts, actively supports science-based nutrition policies to ensure dairy remains a vital component of diets for all age groups. These efforts focus on enhancing understanding of dairy’s importance by sharing information on its nutritional value and its role in healthy, sustainable diets. Additionally, the effort aims to increase awareness of dairy science and its impact on nutrition, further reinforcing dairy’s position in the global dialogue on food security and health. As the global voice of dairy, IDF with its dairy expert ambassadors, ensures the sector’s expertise is effectively utilized by:

• collaborating with experts from intergovernmental organizations like FAO and Codex to share vital dairy knowledge;

• engaging with organizations, IDF fosters partnerships that leverage individual expertise, enhancing best practices and sustainability in dairy production;

• advocating for dairy’s role in sustainable food systems and highlighting dairy's health benefits, IDF provides science-based information through consultation with nutrition experts;

• encouraging sustainable practices that reduce the dairy sector's environmental footprint;

• promoting advocacy for food safety and quality, such as defending food authenticity and engaging food safety experts to ensure dairy products are safe, nutritious and accurately labeled, building consumer trust;

• providing guidance and tools to dairy farmers, consulting with agronomists and animal welfare experts to promote economically sustainable and socially responsible farming practices;

• equipping the dairy sector to achieve socio-economic sustainability across the entire supply chain.

The role of Canadian experts as ambassadors

Canada has been a proud member of IDF since 1971 and continues to play a significant leadership role on the global dairy stage. Through the Canadian National Committee of the IDF (FIL - IDF Canada), Canada has established itself as a key player in advancing the global dairy industry while promoting sustainability, safety and innovation. This influential committee brings together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including dairy producers, processors, federal and provincial governments, regulatory bodies, academic institutions, research organizations and private companies, all working collaboratively to shape the dairy sector’s future.

As a roundtable for all sectors of the dairy industry, FIL - IDF Canada serves as a critical forum for discussion and development of industry practices, guidelines and standards whose mission is to be the premier source of scientific advice, industry knowledge and regulatory expertise.

Its goal is to foster an efficient and sustainable dairy value chain that ensures the delivery of safe, nutritious products to consumers worldwide.

FIL- IDF Canada comprises more than 65 Canadian specialists drawn from industry, academia and research institutions who are actively involved in international committees and help shape the global dairy agenda. Their work reinforced Canada’s position as a leader in dairy science, innovation and policy development.

Canada’s influence within the IDF extends beyond its national contributions. The 65-plus Canadian experts also help drive forward initiatives that benefit both Canadian dairy producers and the broader global community. This collaboration, which unites industry players, academic researchers and government agencies, is key to Canada’s ongoing success as a global dairy leader.

New IDF leader draws from Canadian experience

Canada’s leadership in the global dairy sector has been further strengthened with the election of Gilles Froment as IDF’s new president. Froment’s vision aligns closely with Canada’s ongoing contributions to the dairy industry. As senior vice-president of government and industry relations at Lactalis Canada, Froment brings more than 20 years of experience and a deep understanding of the IDF’s mission, work program and financial strategy. In his new role, Froment is well-positioned to continue championing Canada’s role as a dairy ambassador, advocating for sustainability, innovation and global collaboration to address challenges facing the dairy sector worldwide.

P5 demand expected to align with CDC’s optimistic forecast for 2025

DEMAND IN SEPTEMBER has not been as strong as it should have been because of an anomaly in the September 2023 butter stocks reporting, which brought down the 12-month P5 demand average (from 2.6 per cent to 1.2 per cent). This anomaly from last year should be corrected over the next couple of months, and as a result, P5 demand should get back in line with the CDC’s optimistic forecast. For the 2025 calendar year, CDC is forecasting P5 demand reaches 2.6 per cent.

“Butter stocks are declining at a normal rate for the fall period. Cheese stocks have also dropped, which is also what we want for the fall period,” says Patrice Dubé, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s chief economics and policy development officer.

From a milk allocation perspective, the holiday period will be a little bit challenging because Christmas and New Year fall on a midweekday this year, which basically represents

the equivalent of managing five weekends over two weeks. DFO will be utilizing all the tools available to minimize this impact.

At the beginning of 2025, there will be a reassessment of the market and production situation for the remainder of the dairy year. Butterfat content in milk will continue to be monitored because recent months have been higher than the same months in 2023, which was already at record levels. This means it takes less volume of milk to fill the same quota that is based on butterfat. January numbers will help determine next steps. Production on a butterfat basis continues to be very strong, which reflects the incentive days fill rate (over 45 per cent fill rate in Ontario for October incentive days).

For the rest of the dairy year, production is expected to initially continue to lead the market with P5 quota currently being significantly overissued at more than 103 per

cent. Expectations for the rest of the dairy year are that demand will grow faster than production in the coming months, which will allow it to align and maybe surpass the CDC’s optimistic forecast model for 2025.

In October 2024, butter stocks reached 30,975 tonnes, down from September by 2,557 tonnes. October butter stock levels are higher than they have been for the same month in at least three years.

The cheese stock level for October 2024 was at 99,390 tonnes, which is lower compared to September by 1,777 tonnes, and higher than they have been for the same month in at least three years.

For the 52-weeks ending Nov. 2, 2024, sales for fluid milk, fluid cream, yogurt, ice cream, cheese and butter increased/decreased by 0.1, 1.5, 3.5, 1.7, 2.5 and 4.5 per cent, respectively.

A monthly recap of markets and production trends in Canada and Ontario

CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND PRODUCTION

Canadian butterfat requirements in kilograms and actual butterfat production across the P10.

12-month production (in millions of kilograms)

12-month requirements (in millions of kilograms)

Canadian production has increased by 1.8 per cent over the previous 12 months, and requirements have increased by 2.1 per cent over the previous 12 months.

This graph shows Ontario’s SNF-BF ratio for the last 12 months.

As of March 26, 2022 NATIONAL

RETAIL SALES

Average increase in retail sales for dairy products sold in Ontario and the dairy product’s share of the total market sales, including at hotels, restaurants and institutions.

OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS

• For the 2025 calendar year, CDC is forecasting P5 demand reaches 2.6 per cent;

• In October 2024, butter stocks reached 30,975 tonnes, down from September by 2,557 tonnes;

• The cheese stock level for October 2024 was at 99,390 tonnes, which is lower compared to September by 1,777 tonnes, and higher than they have been for the same month in at least three years.

* Source: AC Nielsen & StatsCan NOTE: There is a two-month lag in the national retail sales data.

ONTARIO UTILIZATION

Percentage of the total milk produced in Ontario that was used to produce dairy products.

Fluid Milk & Cream Yogurt and Ice Cream Cheese

Butter & Powders

Skim Milk Non Marketed

October 2024

P10 UTILIZATION BY CLASS

For October 2024 (kg of butterfat/kg of solids non-fat)

*There is a two-month lag reporting these figures

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

ONTARIO MONTHLY PRODUCER AVERAGE GROSS BLEND PRICE

A total 3,169 producers sold milk to DFO in October compared with 3,213 a year earlier.

ONTARIO DEDUCTIONS,

PER HL

For October 2024

* These figures are based on Ontario’s average composition for October 2024 of 4.3245 kg butterfat, 3.3117 kg protein and 5.9196 kg other solids, rounded to the nearest cent.

P5 AND WESTERN MILK POOL BLEND PRICES

*

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

*There is a two-month lag reporting these figures

U.S. CLASS PRICES

The November 2024 Class III Price, US$19.95 per hundredweight, is equivalent to C$63.62 per hectolitre. This equivalent is based on the exchange rate US $1 = C$ 1.40485 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.

Source: USDA

Co-ordinated by Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s communications and economics divisions. Questions? Please email questions@milk.org.

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How Cranberry Creek Dairy Farms improved animal care

Lessons learned from Ontario dairy farmers

By Acer Consulting

LOCATION: KARS, ONTARIO

JAKE MEEKS IS A DAIRY FARMER IN KARS, ONT., where he manages Cranberry Creek Dairy Farms. The farm milks around 130 cows in a freestall barn. They are a robot herd but recently added a milking parlour to reduce pressure on the robots. This addition created the best of both worlds for the farm; with robots not being overstocked and more options for training heifers and milking cows that don’t suit the robots.

As an Ontario dairy farmer, Jake participates in the proAction program and receives regular on-farm assessments like all other farmers across Canada. Cranberry Creek Dairy Farms was identified as a farm that showed substantial improvement in reducing hock injuries in their herd over two proAction assessments. Here are some of Jake’s perspectives on animal care as an Ontario dairy farmer and the on-farm changes he made to improve his herd’s health.

The farm has diversified over the years, with raising steers and cash cropping. As a consequence of this diversification, Jake reports he is busier than ever. He loves the cows but his time in the barn is now more limited. This isn’t all bad since Jake has had to become a better manager and delegator. He credits his staff and excellent communication among everyone on the farm for their success. Jake leads with an expectation that everyone reports any cow issues they notice back to him.

A straightforward philosophy for animal care

Jake’s philosophy on animal care is to treat the cows the way you would want to be treated. He doesn’t go in for breakfast before the cows are fed. The farm focuses on creating a low-stress environment for the cows, ensuring cows are moved calmly with no raised voices. When Jake first heard about the proAction animal care assessment he wasn’t concerned since he didn’t think they had any major problems. However, when opportunities to improve were identified for lameness in particular, Jake was quick to act in several key areas.

It starts with a focus on feet

Being a robot herd, it is particularly important to keep the cows happy on their feet since sound cows will visit the robot more often. Prior to his proAction assessment, Jake used to trim every three months and 20 per cent of the cows would be treated for digital dermatitis. To address the lameness in his herd, they made numerous changes to improve hoof health, including hoof trimming more frequently, with every cow seeing the hoof trimmer multiple times per lactationa , switching to a new footbath

product and beginning footbathing on a regular basis. The footbath Jake made for the robot’s exit lane was not expensive. It was made locally out of thick stainless steel with rubber mats on the bottom. For Jake, the footbath is not expensive to run and was a great return on investment. Other hoof health changes made within the barn focused on reducing forces on cows’ feet, including reducing overcrowding and changing the timing of the automatic alley scrapers to avoid cows needing to step over it.

With these changes, Jake has seen the number of digital dermatitis cases drop dramatically.

Taking

a

closer look at dry cows

Jake knew from experience lameness in dry cows can get out of control very easily and he wanted to prevent cows from coming back from their dry period lame. Footbathing dry cows is a challenge since it isn’t part of their routine, and it can be hard to push them down the barn and through the robot. To make up for this, the cows are seen by the hoof trimmer more frequently, including during the dry period. Jake encourages other farmers to make hoof trimming easier and more efficient with better gate setupsb Having a better barn design for sorting and restraining cows ensures the job gets done and creates fewer headaches.

Improving efficiency and oversight with records and visual assessment

Jake is now doing a better job with paperwork and keeping track of hoof trimmings. With this added oversight, he can better time hoof trimmings for each cow. Jake also emphasizes the importance of walking the barns to look for lameness and other issues. He is always watching the cows, and all the staff know what to look for and can report any issues they notice.

It takes a team

Jake says they are fortunate to have a good team of advisers, and particularly credits their nutritionist, Robin Gowan from Agribrands Purina. Robin has worked closely with Jake for eight years and has seen a lot of growth and improvement during that time. Robin walks the herd every

Jake’s philosophy on animal care is to treat the cows the way you would want to be treated. He doesn’t go in for breakfast before the cows are fed.

Decisions supported by science

A. Frequent preventative hoof trimming is associated with a lower prevalence of lameness.

B. Careful consideration around handling is important for the safety of cows and people. Cows that are stressed and rushed are at higher risk of injury.

C. Overcrowding is associated with development of white line and sole ulcer hoof lesions.

time he’s at the farm and likes to observe the cows for body condition, standing, waiting and injuries. He is always thinking about his cows’ experience in the facility and has made suggestions to improve cow flow and avoid overcrowdingc. Jake encourages farmers to ask for help and work as a team with their advisers. He also advises farmers to call their field services representative (FSR) if they have a problem since FSRs are there to give guidance. Jake wants to work with advisers who can act as a second set of eyes on the farm and aren’t afraid to challenge him.

Jakes knows animal care is all about improvement since nothing is ever perfect. He suggests farmers try not to panic because every farm has problems, “don’t beat yourself up ... do little bits at a time,” and when it comes to working on a problem, “make your budget and make your plan.” He says problems won’t be solved overnight and it is all about slowly working to make things better.

References

“Decisions supported by science” statements are supported by the lameness and injuries section of the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle: Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues. 2020.

This project was developed by ACER Consulting and funded and supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, and the University of Guelph.

Sign up for an Environmental Farm Plan Workshop

The environmental farm plan (EFP) is an assessment that will help improve the sustainability of your farm business. Through the EFP process, you will highlight your farm’s environmental strengths, identify areas of concern and set realistic action plans with timelines to improve environmental conditions.

There are many upcoming opportunities available across the province. Workshops are open to new and established producers. Farm families and management teams are encouraged to attend together. Attendance at both day 1 and day 2 is mandatory (with the exception of 1 day renewal workshops). There is no cost to attend but registration is required.

For more information and to register, visit https://www. ontariosoilcrop.org/canada-ontario-environmental-farm-plan/.

Are you passionate about soil health?

The OSN Network Challenge is a one-year program with a six-week winter course (five virtual sessions and one in-person) that helps you build real skills to grow your network, connect with other farmers and assist you on your journey to improving your soil. The OSN Network Challenge begins in January 2025. Throughout the year, you’ll share ideas and learn about proven practices that work for your operation. As part of the program, OSN will also assist you in planning and actioning your own network-building project to make a real difference.

Why the Network Challenge matters:

• Collaborative impact: Forge partnerships that multiply the benefits for everyone involved;

• Community resilience: Learn strategies that help your farm and community stay strong;

• Knowledge sharing: No ivory towers here, just practical, actionable wisdom;

• Collective responsibility: The soil under your boots? It’s our shared foundation.

All farmers interested in improving their soil and learning best management practices can apply. The deadline to submit your application is Dec. 31, 2024. Visit https://ontariosoil.net/networkchallenge/ to learn more and submit your application or view the application directly at https://soil.typeform.com/NC2025.

Vince Trudell, President

Ontario Milk Transport Association announces 2024 scholarship winners

The Ontario Milk Transport Association (OMTA) is delighted to announce Ethan Ringelberg and Alana Bartja are the recipients of its 2024 scholarship awards.

Ethan is in his second year of a heavy equipment/farm equipment diesel mechanic diploma at Conestoga College. Coming from a family of dairy producers, he is planning an agriculture career as a dairy farmer and farm mechanic. Ethan’s scholarship application was sponsored by Blue Water Milk Transport Co-op.

Alana is a third-year nursing student at Canadore College in North Bay. After first pursuing a career in health care, Alana decided to learn about the dairy industry and was sponsored by her father who is the general manager of Allan Johnston Ltd.

OMTA represents the collective interests of Ontario’s independent milk transporters through one strong voice with a focus on: upholding the highest standards in the transportation industry, supporting a culture of driver and food safety, being a trusted partner in the dairy supply chain, and being dependable as its drivers work 365 days a year to ensure milk moves uninterrupted from Ontario’s farms to processors.

Maizex to host in-person agronomy meetings in January

The Maizex Winter Agronomy Meetings will provide Ontario farmers with a day of access to agronomy experts at no cost to them. The speaker series is being spearheaded by Maizex market development agronomists Henry Prinzen and Adam Parker.

The meetings will take place on the following dates: Jan. 28 in Kemptville, Ont.; Feb. 19 in Stratford, Ont.; Feb. 25 in Chatham, Ont.

The Ontario meetings will also feature topics tailored to the concerns of farmers in those regions. More details will be available at maizex.com as they become available.

Farmers interested in learning more about the events can visit maizex.com. The direct registration link is https://maizex.com/winter-agronomy-meetings/.

The venue location and a detailed agenda will be sent to registered guests one week in advance of each event.

Alana Bartja

Ethan Ringelberg

Optimizing winter airflow: proven techniques for calf barns

Proper ventilation ensures optimal air quality and temperature control in calf housing

By Veal Farmers of Ontario

EFFECTIVE VENTILATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR CALF BARNS, especially during Ontario's winters. This article explores various options and considerations for ensuring optimal air quality and temperature control in calf housing.

Natural ventilation

Natural ventilation relies on large, adjustable sidewall openings and chimneys to allow airflow, which is ideal if the barn can be oriented to optimize wind direction. Automated curtain systems can adjust for changing conditions, ensuring consistent airflow and temperature control. This method is suitable for standalone calf barns or separate rooms within larger barns.

Fan-powered ventilation

Fan-powered ventilation uses ceiling-mounted adjustable air inlets to distribute fresh air and exhaust fans to remove stale air. This method is more controlled and can be tailored to the calf’s specific needs and the barn's layout. It is essential to size the fan capacity correctly to meet the required air exchanges and maintain air quality without drafts.

Key ventilation considerations

Humidity control

Strive to maintain barn temperatures below 21 ⁰ C (69.8 ⁰ F) and relative humidity between 40 to 60 per cent. This is important to prevent moisture accumulation, which can lead to respiratory issues in calves. Proper ventilation ensures moisture is removed effectively, even in cold conditions. High humidity levels can promote bacterial growth and compromise calf health.

Air distribution

Ensuring fresh air is distributed evenly throughout the barn is essential. Baffled inlets and ceiling inlets can help achieve this, preventing pockets of stale air and maintaining consistent air quality. Uniform air distribution helps avoid drafts, which can stress the calves and reduce their overall health and growth rates.

Recommended air exchange rates in cold weather for calves:

• less than 56.7 kg (125 lbs.) is at least 0.28 m3/min/calf (10 ft3/min/calf);

• greater than 56.7 kg (125 lbs.) is at least 0.34 m3/min/calf (12 ft3/min/ calf).

Heat management

In colder months, it is vital to balance fresh air intake without introducing cold drafts. Systems like insulated attics and soffit inlets can help precondition incoming air, reducing the risk of cold stress for calves. This balance is crucial to maintain calves' comfort and health without excessive energy use.

Insulated attic systems

Use the attic as an air space to help precondition air before it enters the barn. This method involves pulling air through soffit inlets, which then passes through insulated attic spaces before being distributed via ceiling inlets. This set-up helps maintain warmer air temperatures and reduces the risk of cold drafts. The use of insulated attics also contributes to energy efficiency by minimizing heat loss.

Automated systems

Incorporating automation in ventilation systems can significantly enhance performance. Automated curtains and fans can adjust based on real-time temperature and humidity readings, ensuring optimal conditions are maintained without manual intervention. This reduces the labour required and ensures consistent environmental control.

Regular maintenance

Regularly inspecting and maintaining ventilation equipment is crucial, especially in harsh winter conditions. Ensuring fans, inlets and chimneys are free of obstructions and functioning correctly can prevent unexpected failures and maintain air quality. Maintenance routines should include checking for wear and tear, cleaning ducts and inlets, and ensuring all automated systems are calibrated correctly.

Summary

EFFECTIVE 200 IgG BOVINE DRIED COLOSTRUM

PACKED WITH A HIGHER CONCENTRATION OF IGG, IMMUNOLIFE | 200 IS THE ULTIMATE CHOICE FOR YOUR CALVES' HEALTH AND VITALITY.

Ventilating calf barns in Ontario presents unique challenges, especially in winter. By following the recommended guidelines for temperature control and air exchange rates while avoiding drafts, you can significantly improve calf comfort. Providing deep, long straw bedding helps manage thermal stress and ensures a cozy environment for calves. Additionally, regular maintenance of ventilation equipment is crucial to prevent unexpected breakdowns, ensuring your system operates efficiently throughout the winter.

Calf Care Corner, brought to you by Veal Farmers of Ontario, delivers the latest information to help you improve the way calves are raised on your farm. Follow @CalfCareCorner on Facebook and sign-up for monthly e-newsletters on calfcare.ca.

FIND A LOCAL DEALER

Supporting a healthy community

By Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

Tips to prevent injuries on the farm

FARMERS ARE NOT ONLY FARMERS. They are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, coaches and players, community volunteers. When someone suffers an injury while working and needs to take time off to heal, they are often also taking time off from the other parts of their life.

“Living in smaller rural communities, we depend on each other. When someone gets hurt while working, it impacts more than the business. It often impacts the community as well,” says Ryan Dick, health and safety consultant with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS).

One of the ways farmers give back to their communities is by proactively taking steps to protect themselves and their workers. However, if an injury occurs, another way farmers can contribute to their communities is by having a return-to-work plan. “A good return-to-work plan that includes Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage will help an injured worker take the necessary time to heal and return to work when ready,” says Ryan. “Having a plan helps minimize the disruption to the worker’s family and community.”

Manage injuries to minimize impact

Farmers should complete a risk assessment to protect themselves, their family and their workers. “You need to understand what the hazards are and how someone could get hurt in order to plan properly and mitigate the risk,” says Ryan. Here are a few other recommendations to minimize the impact of an injury if something happens.

1) Have an emergency response plan

Once you have identified the potential dangers that could lead to a serious injury, develop emergency response plans and train your workers so you can act quickly if something goes wrong. Getting to a worker right away may reduce the severity of the injury, which could reduce recovery time.

2) Consider WSIB coverage

Insurance coverage from WSIB is another way to protect your workers. Financial stability really helps reduce the impact an injury has on the injured workers’ family, which has a positive impact on the community. “If you have family members working on your farm, you can apply for WSIB coverage for them. You can also apply for yourself as the owner,” says Ryan.

3) Verify that contractors have WSIB coverage

If you hire contractors to build a barn or do some other type of construction work on your property, it’s a good idea to verify the people you hire have their own WSIB coverage. “In certain circumstances, the farm owner could be considered the constructor, which means they could be liable if someone gets hurt,” explains Ryan. “When the contractors you hire have their own WSIB coverage, it protects you in a situation like this and provides the injured worker with compensation.”

4) Report critical injuries

Ontario workplaces are required to report a critical injury (ontario.ca/ page/reporting-workplace-incidents-and-illnesses) that occurs during the course of work—even if the injured worker is temporary or a hired contractor. When injuries are reported and an investigation is conducted, it helps determine why it happened. This information is very important to prevent the same thing from happening to someone else.

5) Support each other

“When you suddenly can’t do the things you are used to doing, it can be difficult to accept,” says Ryan, adding thinking about strategies to maintain positive mental health during these types of situations is important. When someone suffers a serious injury and is going through recovery, they need the support of their family, friends and community.

– Ryan Dick

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (wsps.ca) and the Canadian Agriculture Safety Association (casa-acsa.ca) have health and safety resources. Use them to keep your workers, your family and your community safe.

DFC IN ACTION

DECEMBER 2024

CANADIAN DAIRY FARMERS KEEP TAKING STEPS TOWARDS NET ZERO WITH NEW GHG CALCULATOR PILOT PROJECT

In an effort to continue our collective sustainability efforts, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) and the provincial dairy associations are proud to announce the launch of a pilot project to test an on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculator. The pilot project will determine whether this specific calculator, called the Cool Farm Tool (CFT), will provide accurate measurements within the Canadian dairy landscape while also assessing its ease of use.

When DFC announced its goal to work towards net-zero GHG emissions from onfarm dairy production by 2050, we knew it w a s an ambitious milestone. Dairy farmers across Canada have already been taking action towards a sustainable future, with Canadian milk production continuing to have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world – half the global average.

The CFT is designed to build upon this progress by helping measure a farm’s carbon footprint, provide farmers with data, and enable them to customize environmental plans and lower energy costs. Forty farms across Canada have volunteered to test this tool over the next year. These participants will benefit from the knowledge of CFT-certified advisors for ongoing technical support, assessment completion, and advice on how to turn results into an implementation plan that aligns with best management practices. Farmers will then evaluate their complete experience, including the CFT’s usefulness and ease of use.

REGISTER NOW FOR DFC’S ANNUAL DAIRY POLICY CONFERENCE

We live in a time of constant innovation and change both in the dairy sector and beyond. In response, our industry has continuously adapted to global instability, changing political policy both at home and abroad, evolving consumer tastes and preferences, and the ever-growing need for increased sustainability efforts to mitigate climate change. Amidst this landscape, Canadians have come to understand, in very concrete ways, what it means to be vulnerable to supply issues and the importance of Canadian food sovereignty as we endeavor to protect our national food security and self-sufficiency.

Join us from February 3-6, 2025, as we discuss the key issues affecting our sector today and the tools we must use to succeed and thrive in times of change.

The pilot project will determine if the CFT provides accurate insights for Canadia n dairy farmers; for instance, understanding w h er e energy and transport e missions are highest can help farmers improve efficiencies and lower costs. The data from the project will then be compared to DFC’s Life Cycle Assessment results and used to identify the most significant areas of on-farm emissions contributions. While the pilot project’s focus is on carbon footprints, farmers can also use the CFT to voluntarily explore other desired sustainability projects, including identifying hotspots and mitigating risks beyond GHGs, such as water conservation and soil health.

Canadian dairy farmers want to help shape a sustainable future for the dairy sector, a nd many want to measure their own footprint to learn how they can take practical i ndivid ual a ctio n. The pilot project will demonstrate whether the CFT can be used on individual farms to paint an accurate picture of the dairy sector’s sustainability. DFC looks forward to updating our sector on the progress of this project.

This pilot project has been made possible through Agriculture and Agri-food Canada funding via the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. For more information on DFC’s sustainability partnerships, please visit dairyfarmersofcanada.ca/sustainability.

Register now: dairyfarmersofcanada.ca/ en/2025-annual-policy-conference

Commitment to RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Advancing the industry through dairy microbiology

By Robert Matson, Production Research Manager; Dairy Farmers of Ontario

DAIRY FARMERS OF ONTARIO (DFO) Invests in several initiatives at research institutions across Canada as part of its sustained commitment to research and innovation. One of the most historic of these programs is the DFO microbiology research chair at the University of Guelph. This chair position was first established in 1989 upon an agreement signed between the then Ontario Milk Marketing Board and the university.

Over the years, this position evolved and over the past 10 years has adapted even further to the industry's changing needs.

In 2013, the DFO microbiology research chair shifted to examine the potential positive and negative impacts of micro-organisms on processing and how these findings could be implemented at the farm level. In support of this vision, Dr. Gisèle LaPointe joined the University of Guelph in 2015 and was appointed to the DFO professorship in dairy microbiology. She was then awarded the NSERC/DFO industrial research chair (IRC) in dairy microbiology in 2016. The IRC program, established under the Natural Science & Engineering and Research Council of Canada (NSERC), was created to provide mutually beneficial collaborations between Canadian universities and sector partners that would lead to advancements resulting in economic, social or environmental benefits for the country.

With the support of NSERC and industry partners, including DFO, Lactalis Canada and Lallemand Inc., Gisèle’s research under this program (2015-2020) focused on three main themes:

• Milk and dairy product quality and food safety;

• Probiotics, lactic acid bacteria activity and gut microbiota;

• Ingredient functionality in dairy products.

In 2021, a new partnership was formed with the support of NSERC, DFO, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Novalait Inc., Lallemand Inc., and Lactalis Canada. Under this new ‘dairy alliance’ initiative, Gisèle’s research now focuses on four themes that align with DFO's research priorities.

The project’s main goal is to enable knowledge transfer between dairy production and processing to reduce contamination and spoilage along the entire value chain, building upon a multidisciplinary approach that leverages the latest molecular science and technologies. The research team is using state-of-the-art molecular technologies to track the composition of microbial communities in response to treatments applied to feed, bedding and milk processing (biocontrol agents, sanitation practices), as well as gut ecology.

Are you ready for winter?

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

Why is this important?

• creates a safe environment for milk transporters;

• ensures timely milk pickup;

• reduces DFO’s winter transportation costs;

• mandated through DFO’s Farm Yards and Lanes Policy.

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

This year, three projects have reached publication stage:

• Tara Wilson (current PhD student) and Yueqi Xi (graduated MSc student) examined microbiota on farm compared with a washed-rind cheese-making facility to determine the potential transfer of bacteria. Over a six-month period, Brevibacterium was most frequently found to be common to both facilities1

This species can produce yellow or orange pigments that can contribute to the development of cheese rind’s colour;

• Myra Siddiqi (current postdoctoral scientist) characterized the variation among strains of starter bacteria for yogurt, developing tools which will help standardize starter performance and improve product quality2;

Adding Promix Dry Cow increases feed intake and rumen health in transition cows.

Research by the University of Guelph shows adding Promix Dry Cow allows for:

> Better rumen pH

> Less sorting

> Higher dry matter intake

The diversity of the partnership organizations, along with the range of themes and topics covered, will have a lasting impact on the industry, showcasing DFO’s commitment to give back by fostering excellence through research investment.

• In collaboration with Dr. Ismail Fliss at Université Laval, Tianran Wang (MSc graduate) studied the ability of spore-forming bacteria to produce cracks in cheese. Only some strains were able to produce gas that could cause cracks, but most strains could reduce the quality of cheese through degradation of proteins, fats and carbohydrates 3 . Further work needs to be done to figure out how to control these spore-forming bacteria.

The diversity of the partnership organizations, along with the range of themes and topics covered, will have a lasting impact on the industry, showcasing DFO’s commitment to give back by fostering excellence through research investment.

References

1. Wilson, T., M. Siddiqi, Y. Xi and G. LaPointe. 2024. Tracking the microbial communities from the farm to the processing facility of a washed-rind cheese operation. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15:1404795.

2. Siddiqi, M., A. Tarrah, Z-H Chen, G. LaPointe. 2024. Phenotypic differentiation of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus isolates found in yogurt starter cultures. Fermentation, 10:601. (additional Mitacs funding)

3. Tianran Wang MSc. Thesis 2024: An investigation of the role of Paenibacillus spp. in cheese spoilage and a preliminary step towards their control (manuscript in preparation).

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