Extension of dairy innovation program on hold Thursday, July 21, 2011 by SUSAN MANNA national dairy industry committee has postponed making a decision on renewing a program aimed at boosting overall milk demand.John Core, CEO of the Canadian Dairy Commission, says the Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee wasn’t in a position to make a decision on the Domestic Dairy Product Innovation program at its meeting Wednesday. “The full discussion will be back on in October” at the next supply management committee meeting.Through the program processors are able to access milk outside of their existing provincial plant supply quotas to produce new and innovative dairy products. Before last year, the program was renewed for five years but when it was set to expire last year the committee only extended it for one year to July 31. It also set up a review committee to make recommendations about the program.Even though a renewed program isn’t yet approved to take the place of the one expiring July 31, Core says existing applications will still be processed because they were received before the expiry date. From July 31 to the next supply management committee meeting, “in theory there isn’t a new program but everybody’s committed to working towards one.”There are a number of matters people needed more time to talk about and get them resolved, including program administration changes plus changes to how quota would be shared as a result of the program, he says. Peter Gould, general manager of Dairy Farmers of Ontario, says among the review committee’s recommendations were to renew the program for 10 years, increase the maximum amount of milk under the program to three per cent of national market sharing quota from two per cent and include butter as an eligible product.“We understand that it may take a little longer for all the provinces to fully understand the proposal,” he says. “As long as they agreed to it in October or a few months down the road nothing critical is going to happen in the interim.”Gould says there aren’t a lot of new applications in the pipeline currently. Dairy Farmers of Ontario fully supports the recommendations and hopes the rest of the country can find a way to support them too, he notes. BF Food traceability funding announced Dairy farmers aim to pool milk prices nationally
Ontario Tender Fruit Season off to a Strong Start Monday, July 14, 2025 Ontario's 2025 tender fruit and table grape season is off to a promising start reports the Ontario Tender Fruit and Fresh Grape Growers. While the weather may be too hot for some farmers, it has has been ideal for producing a sweet and juicy crop. A cooler-than-usual spring delayed the... Read this article online
Ontario farmers get boost for energy upgrades Friday, July 11, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $3 million in the third round of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This funding will help farmers improve the energy efficiency of their operations and support the long-term sustainability of the agriculture... Read this article online
Swede midge and cabbageworm found in Ontario canola Thursday, July 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFA website fieldcropnews.com, Ontario canola crops are at various growth stages, ranging from seedling to full bloom depending on planting time and region. Winter canola is now fully podded, and harvest is expected to begin soon in Essex and other southern... Read this article online
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Friday, July 4, 2025 The was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded $60,000 to further his... Read this article online
Grape Growers 40th Annual Celebrity Luncheon has Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser Friday, July 4, 2025 The Grape Growers of Ontario’s marks the opening of the by showcasing Canadian personalities and celebrating the annual grape harvest. This year, in partnership with Meridian Credit Union, Ontario’s largest credit union and the third largest in Canada, the Grape Growers of Ontario... Read this article online