Staying the course at the CDC Thursday, May 23, 2013 by BETTER FARMING STAFF The Canadian Dairy Commission’s chairman will return for a two-year term. Yesterday, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced he had re-appointed Randy Williamson to the Commission’s top spot. The federal news release announcing the re-appointment describes Williamson as a former business executive who began his career in 1974 with the Fraser Valley Milk Producers and subsequently took on key roles at two dairy processors in British Columbia and then at Saputo in Montreal before retiring in 2006. He was first appointed as Commission chairman in 2007. Williamson’s re-appointment follows last year’s appointment of New Brunswick farmer Jacques Laforge as the Commission’s chief executive officer for a three-year term. Laforge is the former chair of Dairy Farmers of Canada and a strong supporter of supply management. The two executive positions are also dedicated seats on the Commission’s three-member board. Commission member Gilles Martin holds the third seat. His three-year term ends in July, says Chantal Paul, a spokesperson for the Commission. According to the Auditor General of Canada’s 2011 special examination report, the Commission is a federal crown corporation that coordinates federal and provincial “policies and roles in managing the dairy industry in Canada. Acting as both a facilitator and stakeholder in various forums that influence Canadian dairy policy, the Commission supports the interests of all dairy stakeholders — producers, processors, exporters, consumers and governments.” There are 61 employees. The Canadian Dairy Information Centre website says that in 2011 Canada’s dairy industry generated $5.8 billion in net farm receipts and $13.7 billion in sales — a volume that represented a more than 16 per cent share of the country’s food and beverage sector. More than 80 per cent of Canada’s dairy farms are located in Ontario and Quebec. BF Tougher federal meat inspection might help small plants Canadian ag minister addresses Russian ractopamine ban during trade mission
Ontario Promotes Local Food to Boost Economy and Jobs Thursday, June 5, 2025 Ontario is celebrating Local Food Week from June 2–8, 2025, honoring the people behind the province’s strong and self-sufficient food supply. From farmers and food processors to retailers and restauranteurs, these individuals contribute to the economy and food security. The agriculture... Read this article online
Scientists at Guelph Target Avian Threat Thursday, June 5, 2025 The University of Guelph (U of G) is activeey engaged against the spread of avian flu. Experts from a variety of departments, including virology, engineering, veterinary medicine, and computer science, are working together to stop this growing threat. “This is not just a crisis for the... Read this article online
Trouw Nutrition launches IntelEgg Thursday, June 5, 2025 Trouw Nutrition has announced the launch of , a digital platform designed to empower layer producers with real-time insights and data-driven decision-making tools. The image above shows an demo screen. This browser-based application is set to transform how poultry farmers monitor,... Read this article online
New Report Highlights Farm Housing Needs in Greenbelt Areas Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Greenbelt Foundation has released a new report titled Housing Needs and . It highlights the urgent need for housing solutions in rural Ontario for farm families, farm workers, and agri-business employees. As the farming community knows, agriculture is a vital part of Ontario’s... Read this article online
New Precision Ag Digital Digest Coming Soon Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Summer 2025 Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest will be released on June 11. Summer is upon us! Tillage and seeding are mostly completed (…hopefully), so we are shifting focus to irrigation, baling, spraying, guidance, and harvest (among other topics and technologies). In... Read this article online