New this year is the ability for those accepted to use loaned quota as security with financial institutions. To date, 22 farms have started under the program, said Alberta Milk chair Stuart Boeve.

The program provides two kilograms of loaned quota for every kilogram purchased to a maximum of 25 kilograms — enough to milk about 20 to 25 cows.

New entrants can expand up to 100 kg/day of total quota holdings, or about 80 to 100 cows. The loaned quota is gradually reduced beginning in year 11.

For program details, go to albertamilk.com. Applications close on March 31.

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Boeve, who farms near Taber, had been the organization’s vice-chair. Gert Schrijver is the new vice-chair while Greg Debbink becomes second vice-chair.

Kootstra, Martin Van Diemen and Albert Kamps are all leaving the board, and will be replaced by Mike Vanden Dool, JP Brower and Wim Van de Brake.

Boeve has served as a delegate for Alberta Milk since 2009 and has participated on various industry committees including Canadian Milk Supply Management, Western Milk Pool, and transportation. He has managed his dairy farm in southern Alberta for over 25 years with his family.

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Construction of the Dairy Innovation West plant will begin in April and is expected to be completed by March 2021. The facility will be located near Lacombe and Red Deer.

The state-of-the-art facility, the first of its kind in Canada, will remove water from raw milk to create concentrated components used in a variety of dairy products.

The facility will be able to process up to 300 million litres of milk per year and will reduce the transportation of milk by half, said Alberta Milk chair Tom Kootstra.

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Freda Molenkamp-Oudman will be the new general manager of Alberta Milk.

On Dec. 1, the former assistant deputy minister with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry will take over from Mike Southwood, who is retiring after 19 years with the organization.

Molenkamp-Oudman has also been the general manager of the Alberta Agriculture Products Marketing Council, the oversight body for the agricultural marketing boards and commissions.

“She has a proven track record for network building, collaboration, developing a culture of empowerment, and developing teams that have clear priorities and expectations,” Alberta Milk said in a news release.

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The former celebrates individuals or organizations who have made substantial contributions to the leadership and development of Alberta’s dairy industry. The latter honours those who have served producers or the Alberta dairy industry with a high level of passion and conviction.

“Our industry thrives because of the people who drive it,” said Alberta Milk chair Tom Kootstra.

Nomination forms can be downloaded at albertamilk.com.

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The program offers a quota loan at no cost to successful applicants who want to be dairy farmers anywhere in the province.

Under the program, every kilogram of quota purchased by the new entrant is matched by two kilograms by Alberta Milk (up to 25 kg/day) at no cost. This loan translates to enough quota to milk about 20 to 25 additional cows. It gradually expires beginning in the 11th year and is reduced to zero at the end of year 19.

“Since 2011, there have been 17 new dairy farms that have started milking, thanks to the New Entrants Assistance Program,” said Alberta Milk chair Tom Kootstra. “That means long-term benefits like more local jobs, more local milk, and more contributions to the rural economy. That’s something we’re really proud of.”

While using the program, new entrants can expand up to 100 kilograms per day of total quota holdings, or about 80 to 100 cows.

Applicants must submit a two-year financial business plan, a 10-year implementation plan, a risk mitigation plan, and a signed conditional letter from their financial institution agreeing to finance their operation. Alberta Milk is also still accepting applications for the Organic Entrants Assistance Program, a similar program designed to encourage growth in organic dairy production in Alberta.

More information can be found at www.albertamilk.com or by calling 1-877-361-1231.

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“This year’s recipients are particularly special as they are fellow dairy farmers,” Alberta Milk chair Tom Kootstra said when presenting this year’s Dairy Industry Achievement Award.

“This group truly is the essence of what the DIAA is because of its ability to inspire other farmers, and close the gap between farmers and consumers.”

The study club was started in 2003 when a few individuals from the east of Olds area started a group based on a similar model they experienced in Holland. They had kitchen table meetings to learn more about various topics like estate planning or herd health. The core ideal of the club is the desire to know more and do better.

The group’s members also started Breakfast on the Dairy Farm, with the inaugural event in 2012 attracting more than 300 people. There are now two other events, with several thousand enjoying a hot breakfast on a local dairy farm and meeting the people who produce milk.

“As committed dairy farmers we strive to do our best and show the public that we take good care of our animals and produce quality milk,” said Miranda Verhoef, a member of the group and a dairy farmer near Bowden.

“As a group, we like to take the opportunities to learn from each other, to involve the next generation of farmers, and to engage with our local consumers.”

Earlier this year, the group won the Award of Distinction for Communication from Alberta Farm Animal Care.

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The program provides two kilograms of loaned quota for every kilogram bought (previously this was 1:1), up to a maximum of 25 kg/day. The 25-kilogram loan is enough quota to milk 18 to 25 additional cows. The quota loan gradually expires beginning in the 11th year (previously seven years) at a rate of 10 per cent per year.

While using the program, new entrants can expand up to 100 kg/day of total quota holdings (the previous maximum was 70 kg/day). The application deadline is March 31. For more info, go to the Alberta Milk website.

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“We are farmers, but we are families first. Most of us have children and know that if they get the proper nutrition they need, they have the best chance at learning,” Tom Kootstra, Alberta Milk chair and farms in central Alberta, said in a release.

The donation will go to three programs. Edmonton non-profit Youth Empowerment Support Services; Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids (which provides healthy lunches for students who would otherwise go hungry); and the Edmonton School Lunch Program (which provides lunches and snacks at emergency shelters and schools).

The post Alberta Milk supports lunch and snack programs appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

The program matches the quota purchased by the new entrant with a loan of quota from Alberta Milk up to 25 kilograms per day (about 20 to 25 cows) at no cost. New entrants can expand up to 70 kg/day of total quota holdings (or about 65 to 70 cows).

• Read more: Drilling down on dairy costs

Applicants should submit a two-year financial business plan, a 10-year implementation plan, a risk mitigation plan, and signed letter from their financial institution. Since 2011, the program has launched 15 new dairy farms.

For more details go to www.albertamilk.com or call 1-877-361-1231.

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