Dairy farmers aim to pool milk prices nationally Thursday, July 21, 2011 by SUSAN MANNCanada’s dairy industry will try once again to establish a national milk pool.The Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee decided at its meeting Wednesday in Ottawa that provincial representatives would begin negotiating an all-milk pool, says John Core, Canadian Dairy Commission CEO.The provincial representatives to the negotiating committee haven’t been named yet, says Core, noting the committee’s first meeting is at the beginning of September. “Over the next few weeks people will send us the names of the people who are going to sit at the table for the negotiations.”As for the negotiating committee chair, provincial representatives asked that there be an independent person. The vice-chairs will be Gilles Froment of the Canadian Dairy Commission and Rick Phillips of Dairy Farmers of Canada. Both are senior staff members and they’re responsible for the technical aspects of the discussions.Core may become the chair of the negotiating committee as his term as CEO of the commission expires in October and he won’t be returning. He has been the commission’s chief executive for the past nine years. The goal is to have a progress report in February 2012 to see where things are at and how negotiations should proceed, Core says. This is the second time the industry is trying to negotiate a national milk pool. In the 1990s, industry representatives negotiated to set up the all-milk pool but ended up establishing two pools – one in Western Canada and one in the East, known as the P5 All-Milk Pooling Agreement but now called the Agreement on the Eastern Canadian Milk Pooling after the agreement was updated and renewed last year. Ontario is in the eastern milk pool along with Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. As part of the pooling agreement, the provinces share revenue from industrial and fluid markets and work cooperatively on other areas of mutual interest.Core, who was chair of Dairy Farmers of Ontario when the industry tried to negotiate an all-milk pooling agreement in the 1990s, says what’s different this time is the industry has experience operating the western and eastern milk pools plus sharing the markets and revenues within those two pools. “Before we were really starting from scratch and didn’t have much experience at this.”In addition, “there’s a recognition the risks continue to be there as the reasons for having a single pool,” he says.But whether industry representatives can nail down an agreement this time remains to be seen. “That’s what the negotiations will determine,” Core says. “I think there’s a willingness now to sit down and have another go at it with everybody’s experience with the pools themselves.” BF Extension of dairy innovation program on hold Retailer pushes hort growers to join food safety program
New CEO for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation Friday, September 13, 2024 Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) is promoting from within with the appointment of the organization’s newest Chief Executive Officer. Industry Services Manager Kelly Somerville has been tapped to assume the role as of September 3, replacing retiring CEO Mike McMorris.... Read this article online
Milwaukee Extended Anvil High Torque Impact Wrench Thursday, September 12, 2024 Measuring torque is a common on-farm task it can sometimes be a challenge to accomplish this for multiple and varied pieces of equipment, that where Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL™ 1" D-Handle Ext. Anvil High Torque Impact Wrench w/ ONE-KEY™ can provide value. Cordless tools create convenience,... Read this article online
Ontario and Feds look to strengthen the provincial agri-food sector Monday, September 9, 2024 The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced they will be investing an additional $3.5 million in the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) to support the development and adoption of new technologies for farmers, food processors, and agribusinesses that will enhance... Read this article online
The Great Ontario Yield Tour predicts a record-breaking soybean crop Friday, September 6, 2024 The Great Ontario Yield Tour is predicting the 2024 Ontario soybean yield will be 54.12 bu/ac—a NEW RECORD high surpassing the previous record of 53 bu/ac set last year. If the prediction is correct, it will be the best soybean crop ever produced in Ontario!... Read this article online
IPM needs volunteers Thursday, September 5, 2024 The International Plowing Match & Rural Expo 2024 (IPM) could use a helping hand for volunteers. The IPM is being held this year in Lindsay, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, between October 1 and 5, 2024. While we are aware that the majority of the popular event is being held during... Read this article online