Dairy prices rise Thursday, August 7, 2008 by SUSAN MANNThe P5 decided in mid-July to raise the fluid milk by $1.45 a hectolitre effective Sept. 1. This is the same amount the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) approved as the increase for industrial milk, which is used to make cheese, butter, yogurt, and skim milk powder. It approved the industrial milk price increase in early July in response to a request from Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) for an emergency increase. Normally the CDC reviews costs of production data in the fall and announces any price changes in December for implementation the following February.But this year DFC put in a special request for an immediate increase. DFC says dairy farmers need the increase to cover rapidly rising costs this past 12 months for items, such as feed (up 19 per cent), fuel and oil (up 42 per cent), and fertilizer and herbicides (up 46 per cent). “We’ve informed the processors that we would be seeking the same increase (for fluid milk price) as the CDC took on industrial,” says Bruce Saunders, chair of Dairy Farmers of Ontario.The need for an emergency increase in the fluid milk price is the same as it was for the industrial hike. “The entire industry, both producers and processors, are experiencing these high costs, which is causing some hardship,” Saunders explains, adding normally the fluid milk price only goes up once a year on Feb. 1.Will the price increase affect demand? It’s up to retailers and processors to determine what happens in the marketplace, Saunders says.“I’m sure that there will be some reaction from the consuming public over it,” says Tom Kane, president of the Ontario Dairy Council, which represents processors. But the decision has been made “so it’s a done deal at this point in time.”An agreement between processors and producers requires farmers to give 45-days notice to processors of any price increases. That 45-day notice requirement was met, Kane says. BF Council anticipates plenty of uptake on new on-farm food safety certification Feds offer up clarification on tobacco buyout
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Research Projects and Companies Supported Through OAFRI Tuesday, September 9, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced an investment of up to $4.77 million to strengthen the province’s agri-food sector. This funding, delivered through the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable... Read this article online
Two-pass Weed Control Critical in Managing Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp in Ontario Monday, September 8, 2025 Dr. Peter Sikkema of the University of Guelph recently shared insights into the growing challenge of multiple herbicide-resistant water hemp at the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour final event in Woodstock Ontario. Dr. Sikkema research highlights both the biology of the weed and practical... Read this article online
First Northern Cohort Joins Ontario Vet Program Thursday, September 4, 2025 This September, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph welcomed its inaugural Northern Cohort of 20 students through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP). This initiative, created in partnership with Lakehead University, marks a milestone... Read this article online
Manitoba Farmers Defend Their Whisky Roots Amid Ontario Backlash Thursday, September 4, 2025 As most reader will know by now, on August 28, beverage alcohol giant Diageo announced it will be closing its Amherstburg, Ontario bottling plant. Located just 25 kilometres from the nearest U.S. border crossing, the company says the decision is part of a strategy to streamline its supply... Read this article online