New risk assessment management protocols for dairy producers Tuesday, April 30, 2013 by SUSAN MANN All licensed dairy farmers must now complete a risk assessment management program form for cattle health and have it on file when their farm is being inspected to see if it meets Grade A standards. The form must be completed annually, according to a report on provincial raw milk quality released at the Dairy Farmers of Ontario spring policy conference in March. The form includes a verification the farmer and veterinarian must sign of animal health and proper use of drugs. The form also indicates a vet-client relationship exists. The requirement to complete the form was included in Ontario’s milk regulations under the provincial Milk Act. Inspectors will check to see if farmers have their completed form while doing Grade A and Canadian Quality Milk inspections. Farmers will be notified three months before their inspection is to be done. The requirement for farmers to have the form on file every year comes into effect today. In other milk quality news, DFO reports that 1,438 farmers or 35.5 per cent were registered under the Canadian Quality Milk (CQM) program as of Jan. 31. A total of 99 per cent of farmers are meeting the requirements of the dairy industry’s on-farm food safety program in their validation month or in the following month. To date, only 14 producers or one per cent who have been validated have incurred a CQM penalty. DFO operations division director George MacNaughton says by email that “milk quality has improved significantly over the last year and producers should be commended for their efforts.” For other raw milk quality parameters, DFO reports that: The number of somatic cell count penalties was lower in August and September 2012 than the previous year but increased in October 2012 and has remained higher than in the previous year since then. The new somatic cell count standard of 400,000 cells per millilitre came into effect on Aug. 1, 2012. Previously it was 500,000 cells per millilitre. There was a significant increase in the number of warning and penalty levels for the freezing point estimate test in June and July 2012 compared to the same time in the previous year. DFO, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the lab investigated but “a clear cause was not identified,” the report says. For example, in June 2012, there were 1,352 samples in the warning range compared to 210 in 2011 while in July 2012 there were 1,544 samples in the warning range compared to 430 in July 2011. For penalties, there were 29 in June 2012 compared to 10 in June 2011. In July 2012 there were 37 penalties compared to 23 in July 2011. MacNaughton say freezing point penalties have returned to normal levels since last summer. The number of monthly penalties for bacteria testing decreased about 16 per cent from February 2012 to January compared to the same period a year earlier. There was a 20 per cent increase in inhibitor penalties from February 2012 to February 2013. That may be due to changes in the inhibitor-testing program that came into effect on March 1, 2012, the report says. The program now tests load and/or producer samples for drugs that are not part of the routine screening at processing plants. There was a huge decrease in the number of penalties due to non-Grade A status. The number of penalties declined almost 57 per cent from February 2012 to January 2013 compared to the same period a year earlier with almost the same number of inspections performed. BF Europe's beekeepers take on the big agrochemical companies Dairy quota transfer policies under review
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
Poll Reveals Mixed Public Sentiment on BC Ostrich Cull Decision Thursday, October 2, 2025 Farms.com poll shows divided opinions among Canadian farmers on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull. A recent poll conducted on Farms.com's X account @OntAg aimed to capture Canadian farmers' views on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull in British... Read this article online
Effective Strategies for Corn Soybean and Wheat Thursday, October 2, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, effective crop residue management in corn, soybean, and wheat fields is key to profitability and long-term soil health. It begins at harvest, with combines and headers set correctly to size and spread residue evenly across the... Read this article online
New Ontario agrobotics challenge seeking high school submissions Thursday, October 2, 2025 A new competition for Ontario high school students is looking for innovative ways to solve challenges in the ag sector. The AgRobotics Ontario Challenge launched at the end of September. The competition is a collaboration between the Western Fair District, the Ontario Council for... Read this article online