Montreal-based dairy giant Saputo has announced the purchase of Shepherd Gourmet Dairy, based at St. Marys, Ontario, for $100 million. Employing about 90 people, Shepherd Gourmet is known for its specialty cheeses, including feta, sheep’s milk ricotta, and Skyr Icelandic-style yogurt. Saputo says the purchase enables the company’s Canadian dairy division to increase its presence… Read more »
Category: Dairy
Benchmark study shows health challenges for dairy cull cows at auction
The first benchmark study of the condition of culled dairy cows in Canada shows many animals in less than optimal condition are transported to auction in Ontario, and sold at discounted prices. The study, by a University of Guelph research team, involved 4,460 cows at three Ontario auctions. Over 16 weeks last May through August,… Read more »
“The grocery store — the most confusing place in the world”
Food companies go to great lengths to differentiate and sell their products, using all kinds of marketing claims displayed on food packaging. Peel Back the Label, a campaign funded by U.S. dairy producers, and the well-known comedy outfit Funny Or Die, recently launched a tongue-in-cheek video highlighting the problems with food labeling and what happens… Read more »
Cream or sugar? Same lingo, same protection, but different countries
Nearly all of Canada’s international trade negotiations, at some point, involve discussions about the future of supply management for our dairy and poultry sectors. We’ve heard the U.S. dairy industry push hard against the supply management system for dairy in NAFTA 2.0 talks, especially Canada’s new class 7 pricing. Some Canadians cheer this U.S. rhetoric… Read more »
“This is the only dairy system in the world that is thriving” – Graham Lloyd
There is an expectation that when the North American Free Trade Agreement talks resume as early as Monday, dairy access could be a higher priority in the talks. Recently, U.S. lawmakers wrote a letter to trade representative Robert Lighthizer to remind the administration of the desired changes to U.S. dairy access into Canada. In the… Read more »
New CEO appointed to Canadian Dairy Commission
The former president of Agropur has been appointed as the new CEO of the Canadian Dairy Commission. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Thursday announced Serge Riendeau’s appointment to a three-year term, effective May 14th. Riendeau will oversee the Crown corporation that coordinates federal and provincial dairy policies, and administers the regulatory system designed to… Read more »
American dairy farmers face large financial hurdles and doubts about their future
When you cross the Canada/U.S. border headed south, the landscape is the same, the time zone is the same, but the economics of dairy are very different. Canadians in agriculture are familiar with our domestic supply management system that aims to match supply of dairy products to demand. This control of supply through a quota… Read more »
Waterbed design aims to keep cows comfy and cool
Better cow comfort can deliver a host of benefits for both the animal and the milk tank. Improving overall cow health, increasing cow longevity, and putting more milk in the tank are all byproducts of cow comfort. Dairy equipment suppliers are also focusing on the growing impact of heat stress, and French manufacturer Bioret Agri… Read more »
Proposed food guide and label changes prompt #HandsOffMyPlate campaign
A group of people concerned about the impact of Health Canada’s plan to revise Canada’s Food Guide and introduce new labels on food packaging have launched a campaign to raise awareness of and opposition to the government’s proposed changes. The campaign, which uses the slogan “Hands Off My Plate,” includes a website, a hashtag (#HandsOffMyPlate,… Read more »
Standard Nutrition Canada acquired by La Coop federee
Quebec-based cooperative La Coop fédérée is expandings its presence in Western Canada, announcing the acquisition of Standard Nutrition Canada. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Standard Nutrition Canada sells animal nutrition products and services in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Formed in 2004 after the amalgamation of Standard Nutrition USA’s Canadian operations and Max Pro Feeds of Winnipeg,… Read more »
Kiwi milking parlours come to Canada
Look for more Canadian milk to be passing though Kiwi-made milking parlours in the years ahead. That’s according to New Zealand-based Waikato Milking Systems’ CEO Dean Bell, who brought his company to Stratford, ON, this month to exhibit for the first time at the Canadian Dairy XPO. The New Zealand dairy industry currently supplies one-third of… Read more »
Dairy price study finds Canadians don’t pay more for milk
A former senior advisor for a Canadian trade minister has published a report that will raise some eyebrows and counter a common narrative surrounding Canadian dairy and the supply management system. The study, published last week by a new Ottawa-based trade firm called Export Action Global, found Canadians don’t pay more for comparable dairy products… Read more »
Nutrition claims of grass-fed milk require closer scrutiny
Recently, a dairy company out of Wisconsin rolled out its latest marketing campaign, claiming “Organic grass-fed milk is more nutritious. It’s science.” Well, there is good scientific evidence that the composition of milk from cows fed dry hay or fresh forage is higher in omega-3 fatty acids versus cows fed ensiled feed. But, does the… Read more »
Keep it cool: Chill milk as it leaves the robot
Milk cooler sales can tell you a lot about the state of the North American milk industry. As U.S. dairy farmers continue to struggle with low prices resulting from oversupply of fluid milk, sales of cooling systems reflect these challenging times in the marketplace. Mike Kelley, regional sales manager for Mueller Dairy Farm Equipment, says… Read more »
Where could Ontario farmland prices go in 2018?
Ontario farmers continue to spend big money on farmland, especially in the southwest part of the province. According to the annual Southwestern Ontario Land Values report from Valco Consultants, the median price paid for an acre of farmland in this region of the province came in at $12,710 in 2017, an average increase of 9.7… Read more »