Dairy industry revamp stalls Thursday, April 16, 2015 by SUSAN MANNA year after dairy farmer representatives tried to kick start negotiations with processors on a wide-ranging plan to revamp the industry’s pricing and policy framework, talks have yet to begin.Dairy Farmers of Ontario told delegates at the spring policy conference in Alliston at the end of March negotiations were to start this month. That’s about a year after dairy farmers representatives in each province first presented the eight-element plan to each province’s processor organization. Negotiations were originally slated to begin last year and Dairy Farmers representatives said last year the plan was a priority for the organization.But Peter Gould, CEO and general manager of Dairy Farmers of Ontario, says negotiations haven’t started yet “and we don’t know when they’re going to start.”The start to negotiations is stalled because “we haven’t agreed on some of the preliminary matters,” Gould explains. He declined to elaborate.But people are working diligently to get the negotiations started, he says.Gould is one of two people from Ontario (the other is DFO chair Ralph Dietrich) on both the 10-member producer negotiating team and on the producer steering committee that oversees and directs the team. Representatives on the team include two members each from: the region of the Atlantic provinces, Quebec, Ontario, the region of the Western provinces and national representation coming from Dairy Farmers of Canada. The producer steering committee is made up of the chairs and general managers from the 10 provincial marketing boards plus the Dairy Farmers of Canada chair and executive director.A seven-member technical committee made up of representatives from the same regions as the producer negotiating team supports the producer steering committee. DFO senior policy adviser Phil Cairns and DFO economist Patrice Dube are the Ontario representatives on the technical committee.Gould says there are no immediate impacts to the industry or farmers due to the delayed start in negotiations but “it’s important to get this thing resolved.”In a Dairy Farmers of Ontario document released at the organization’s spring policy conference it says the industry “is approaching a crossroads beyond which the existing policy framework is no longer sustainable.”The industry needs a “more competitive market environment within the existing domestic pricing and milk classification system” to reduce the industry’s reliance on the Canadian Dairy Commission’s surplus removal program, the document says. The industry also needs to ensure continued milk use at existing domestic price levels in Class 1-3, which are the fluid milk, yogurt and yogurt beverages, ice cream, frozen yogurt, sour cream and cheese classes.Milk sold to processors in Canada is classified and priced according to its end use. The classes range from fluid milks (Class 1) to planned exports (Class 5d). BF Border bee buzz Blend prices paid to Ontario's dairy farmers decline
Ontario's Foodbelt: A Bold Move to Protect Farmland and Food Security Tuesday, May 13, 2025 The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the National Farmers Union, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, and Ontario Farmland Trust are collaborating with Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner and Haldimand-Norfolk independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady to introduce legislation aimed at... Read this article online
OFA viewpoint on growing future farmers Monday, May 12, 2025 Agriculture is arguably among the most important industries we have. Not only is it one of the biggest sectors of the Ontario and Canadian economies, but it’s also fundamental to our very existence. After all, everyone has to eat—and in Ontario, we’re luckier than most in the wide... Read this article online
Protecting Plant Health Supports All Life Monday, May 12, 2025 Healthy plants are vital to the survival and well-being of people, animals, and nature. They clean the air, support biodiversity, and are the foundation of food and economic systems. On May 12, Canadians celebrate International Day of Plant Health. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)... Read this article online
V6 Agronomy Joins Port of Johnstown Deal Monday, May 12, 2025 V6 Agronomy has partnered with the Port of Johnstown (100 kilometres south of Ottawa) to build a national fertilizer hub. This long-term collaboration should support Canada’s food security, reduce input costs for farmers, and modernize the fertilizer supply chain using clean... Read this article online
Mother’s Day Q&A with Anna McCutcheon Thursday, May 8, 2025 Mother’s Day is only a few days away (that’s another reminder), and this week Farms.com has connected with moms in ag for their thoughts on motherhood, its challenges, and how being a parent has changed them. Anna McCutcheon (AM) and her husband Mark are the first generation on their... Read this article online