New Dairy Farmers of Ontario committee will address organic milk supply issues Tuesday, September 22, 2015 by SUSAN MANNDairy Farmers of Ontario is looking for licensed organic dairy farmers to stand for election to its new organic advisory producer committee.The committee is being put in place to advise the Dairy Farmer’s board on matters affecting organic dairy production (such as quota policies, milk pricing, milk supply and demand) and give feedback on potential policies or programs to help existing producers increase production to align with demand. Elections will be held at three special meetings of organic producers later this fall.Ensuring there is enough organic milk supply to meet processors’ demand has been an ongoing challenge for Dairy Farmers, and lack of supply was the reason Organic Meadow Co-operative Inc. gave for being unable to pay its bills when it sought creditor protection in April. Dairy Farmers has denied responsibility for the company’s situation; the co-op emerged from creditor protection earlier this month after striking a deal with its creditors, of which Dairy Farmers was one.Graham Lloyd, Dairy Farmers general counsel and communications director, says the marketing board’s organic advisory committee will “provide insight for the board on any issues that may be specific to organic milk production but not processing,” including identifying what are the barriers to new producers joining organic milk production. Asked if the committee was being put in place in response to issues raised about not enough organic milk in the system to meet demand, he said, "It's exactly that.”The committee will be made up of: five elected Ontario licensed organic dairy farmers, three appointed members of the board and any staff deemed necessary by the Dairy Farmers’ board and senior management. The board members won’t be organic producers as there aren’t any organic farmers on the board.Nominations are due by Oct. 12 at the Dairy Farmers’ office in Mississauga. Election meetings all begin at 8 p.m. and will be held:Oct. 21 in Avonmore at North Stormont Place, 16299 Fairview Drive.Nov. 4 in Stratford at Best Western Plus, the Arden Park Hotel, 552 Ontario Street.Nov. 12 in Belleville at Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 291 N Front Street.The organic farmers at the meetings will elect the committee members from the pool of nominees. The five candidates getting the most votes after all three meetings will be declared elected, Lloyd says in a Sept. 15 letter to organic farmers.The committee will be up and running by January 2016 or maybe sooner. It will meet once to three times a year. The members will serve two-year terms except in the first term when two members will serve a three-year term to allow for staggered elections to be held in the future.Questions about the committee or the election process can be addressed to Lloyd at: graham.lloyd@milk.org. BF Food prices blamed for decline in restaurant profit margins Score one for eastern Ontario poultry processor
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
Ontario crops respond to summer heat Wednesday, July 2, 2025 According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online