Ontario dairy industry reduces SCC limits Wednesday, May 2, 2012 by SUSAN MANNThe Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission has approved a change to the somatic cell count standard for the province’s dairy farms.The change is being implemented after delegates at the Dairy Farmers of Canada annual policy conference in February 2007 agreed the Canadian somatic cell count standard should be set at 400,000 cells per millilitre. The current standard in Ontario is 500,000 cells per millilitre.Effective Aug. 1, the somatic cell count standard in Ontario Milk Act regulation 761 will adopt the national standard. Farmers were sent letters April 24 informing them the commission approved the new standard.Bill Mitchell, Dairy Farmers of Ontario assistant communications director, says the organization has been consulting, making decisions and communicating the change for a long time. Currently “what’s being done is some of the final steps in communications to make sure that people both understand the timing and the implications of the change. It’s a reminder.” The change could result in a dramatic increase in the number of farmers in the penalty range. In a DFO operations report, released as part of the spring policy conference held March 20 to 22 in Alliston, the organization says it advised farmers in December 2011 if they were at a high, medium or low risk of incurring a penalty under the new standard. If farmers in the high-risk category don’t take action, it’s forecast that first level penalties will increase to more than 800 from 137, the number it was in 2011. The number of shut offs could increase to more than 40 from the current number of seven.The somatic cell count penalty program won’t change. A farmer will be subject to a somatic cell count penalty if the monthly-weighted average somatic cell count test is equal to or greater than the limit set in the regulation for the current or most recently completed month and in two out of the three previous months. The penalty rates are $3, $4 and $5 per hectolitre for the first, second, third and subsequent penalties in a rolling 12-month period. Shut off from the milk market happens if a farmer incurs four somatic cell count penalties in any rolling 12-month period.Farmers in the high-risk category will continue receiving information about somatic cell count management and penalty risk, the operations report says.Somatic cells are white blood cells and epithelial cells commonly found at low levels in milk, it says in DFO’s Raw Milk Quality Program Policies booklet. When bacteria are present in the udder, cows produce somatic cells to combat the intramammary bacterial infection called mastitis. High levels of somatic cells in milk indicate abnormal, reduced milk quality. BF Behind the Lines - May 2012 Weather affects alfalfa crop
BASF introduces Surtain herbicide for field corn growers Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Field corn growers in eastern Canada have a new crop protection product available to them. After about 10 years of research and trials, BASF has introduced Surtain, a residual herbicide for corn that combines PPO inhibitor saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) in a premix... Read this article online
We Didn’t Start the Fire! Impacts of Wildfire Smoke on Corn Monday, September 16, 2024 Assistant Professor of Corn Production at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Daniel Quinn, PhD. recently provided fascinating insights into the impacts of fire on major corn producing areas, many of which have been impacted by smoke from wildfires. Quinn was the keynote... Read this article online
New home for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Saturday, September 14, 2024 The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) has announced it has moved into its new office building in Ingersoll. Located at 274620 27th Line in Ingersoll, the new office will serve as the hub for CFFO’s ongoing efforts to advocate for and support Ontario’s Christian farmers.... Read this article online
Canadian Ag Youth Council Welcomes new Members Saturday, September 14, 2024 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced the latest members to join the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (CAYC). This update introduces nine fresh members alongside thirteen returning youths, marking a significant step towards involving young voices in agricultural... Read this article online
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