Americans aim to meet European (and Canadian) standards Monday, December 6, 2010 The National Milk Producers Federation in the United States has passed a resolution to increase standards for somatic cell counts (SCCs) in steps over the next three years to a legal limit of no more than 400,000 SCCs per millilitre of milk by Jan. 1, 2014. The current standard is 750,000. High somatic cell counts arean indication of infection in the udder. (Dairy Farmers of Ontario considers an SCC over 400,000 to be "elevated" and penalizes producers.)Jamie Jonker, the federation's vice-president of scientific and regulatory affairs, says the resolution has nothing to do with pressure from the European Union to have a similar standard on dairy products that are exported to that trading bloc.The federation is made up of 31 co-operatives producing the bulk of the U.S. milk supply and representing 40,000 dairy producers, according to the organization's website.The resolution will be passed to the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments for a final decision next April. BF EU policy convoluted on cloned farm animals The Queen of Egypt would not have been amused
Colouring a Safer Future for Farm Kids Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Teaching children about farm safety is an essential part of protecting the future of Canadian agriculture. With that goal in mind, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has launched the Kids FarmSafe Colouring Contest, a creative initiative designed to help young people learn... Read this article online
Spring Economic Update Sets the Stage for a Challenging Year on the Farm Tuesday, April 28, 2026 The Federal Government released its 2026 Spring Economic Update on April 28, outlining the country’s current economic position and federal priorities for the months ahead. While the update does not contain new direct funding announcements for agriculture, it offers important signals for... Read this article online
Bluetooth Meets Bumblebees in Groundbreaking Guelph Study Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Queen bumblebees at the University of Guelph Arboretum will be carrying some of the smallest tracking devices ever used in pollinator research this summer. Fifty queens are being fitted with ultra-lightweight Bluetooth radiotransmitters as part of a study aimed at better understanding... Read this article online
Ontario Plans New Law to Protect Farmland Friday, April 24, 2026 Ontario is taking new steps to protect its farmland and strengthen the agri-food sector. The provincial government plans to introduce legislation that would limit the foreign acquisition of Ontario farmland. The goal is to keep farms in domestic hands and protect local food production for... Read this article online
Fuel Tax Suspension Offers Timely Relief for Canadian Farmers Ahead of Peak Growing Season Friday, April 24, 2026 Canadians are set to see short-term relief at the fuel pump following a major federal policy announcement that directly affects on-farm operating costs. On April 14, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the federal government will temporarily suspend the Fuel Excise Tax on gasoline, diesel,... Read this article online