New dairy goat cost of production study released; shows feed to be greatest expense Thursday, July 16, 2015 by SUSAN MANNFeed is the largest expense for dairy goat operations, accounting for 31 per cent of overall expenses in producing milk, according to a new cost of production study by Ontario Goat.The second biggest cost is interest debt at 8.7 per cent while labour is third at 6.4 per cent. The study released Wednesday also revealed the cost of production for a standard litre of goat milk is $1.37.This is the first time the industry has had a cost of production study done, says Ontario Goat executive director Jennifer Haley. “We can’t just look at this and say this is the be all and the end all. This is just one snapshot in time.”What’s important about this study is it’s specific just to the goat operations on the farms, she notes. The study “separated out other ventures on the farm or any kind of off-farm income.”She says the study shows the industry is in a growth and development phase.“Lots of other livestock sectors have had huge (government) investments over the past 30, 40 years to get them where they are today,” she explains. “What we see in this cost of production study is the goat industry has self-financed any growth that it has had through its own investment.”The cost of production study is based on a random sample of 2014 data 2014 from 14 licenced Ontario dairy goat farms. A third-party accounting firm collected the data from the farms.Haley says the farms varied in herd size, feed management systems, barn types and milk marketing methods and are statistically representative of Ontario’s licenced goat producers.Haley says some people might say the cost of production number is too high “but I think it’s reflective of investments that producers are making back into their farm.”Ontario Goat is hosting workshops in the fall where the cost of production will be discussed. The organization also plans to develop ideas on how the industry can reduce its costs of production and increase productivity. Furthermore, it plans to find ways to get government funding for research in various areas, such as dairy goat nutrition so feed costs can be reduced.The cost of production study will be updated this year, next year and in 2017. The study was funded by Ontario Goat and Growing Forward 2, the national agricultural policy framework. BF Trade talks cloud Canadian supply management's future Big changes to Ontario's dairy quota policy
Festival of Guest Nations returns to Leamington Thursday, September 18, 2025 On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Seacliff Park in Leamington, Ontario, will come alive with music, food, and celebration as the Festival of Guest Nations returns to honour the migrant worker communities who play a vital role in Essex County’s agricultural economy. With more than 20 years... Read this article online
Ontario’s most problematic weed -- Canada Fleabane Cuts Corn and Soybean Yields Wednesday, September 17, 2025 At the , Dr. Peter Sikkema of the University of Guelph highlighted the persistent challenge of Canada fleabane, one of Ontario’s most problematic weeds. Once easily controlled with glyphosate, the weed has now developed resistance not only to glyphosate but also to multiple herbicide... Read this article online
Augusta Van Muyen selected as the 67th Grape King Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Grape Growers of Ontario and Farm Credit Canada have announced that Lincoln vineyard manager Augusta Van Muyen has been chosen by her peers as the . Currently, the vineyard manager at Tawse Winery, Van Muyen, followed a path to success that took her across Ontario and the world.... Read this article online
Grain Growers of Canada calls on Carney to Prioritize Upgrades to the Port of Vancouver Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is calling on the federal government to urgently prioritize major upgrades to the Port of Vancouver and its connecting rail infrastructure. The organization warns that without these improvements, Canada’s economic growth and global trade reliability are at... Read this article online
Strategies to Optimize Market Returns in Ontario Monday, September 15, 2025 Berkley Fedorchuk, grain marketing specialist with Hensall Co-op in Southwestern Ontario, recently shared insights into the current corn market and strategies for forward marketing during his presentation at the . With a focus on the Ontario and Eastern Canadian grain sectors,... Read this article online