Milk price increases, restaurant operators stew. What else is new? Wednesday, December 3, 2008 © Copyright AgMedia Incby BETTER FARMING STAFFCanadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association spokesman Ron Reaman says he’s disappointed the Commission announced Wednesday that the price increases – nearly seven cents a kilogram for skim milk powder and more than five cents a kilogram for butter – will take effect Feb. 1, 2009.The increases are the equivalent to a one per cent rise in industrial milk revenue for producers, or $0.74 per hectoliter (one hectoliter equals 100 litres). The increase applies equally to all provinces.“We’re just really concerned that we are not going to be able to continue to pass through the kind of premium pricing on dairy products and be an effective sales channel for the dairy industry,” says Reaman.He explains that the country’s foodservice industry is projecting a 2.2 per cent decline in overall sales and growth in 2009 and adds milk consumption has dropped in recent years.The association also objected to an unscheduled industrial milk (used to make products such as ice cream, cheese and yogurt) price increase of two per cent on Sept. 1.Tom Kane, president of the Ontario Dairy Council, which represents dairy processors and marketers, calls the Feb. 1 increase routine.“It was expected,” he says. “I don’t think there’s surprises in it.”“It happens every year as of Feb. 1.”While no dairy processor wants the price increase, “it is part of the system,” he says. “We don’t have much say in the matter.”He says industry figures show consumption of milk products have decreased slightly but are remaining relatively stable, despite the economic climate.In the Commissions news release, its chair, Randy Williamson, states: “Our data show that Canadian dairy producers’ revenues are lagging behind the increases that we saw in the cost of feed, fuel and fertilizers for most of 2008.”The new price for butter includes a reduction of two cents per hectolitre in the carrying charges collected by the Commission to pay for butter stocks storage. BF PKI incorporation emerges as key issue Pigeon King's interim receivership order stands, bankruptcy on hold
Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025 Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online
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