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Dairy Cattle

Alberta Milk is scrambling to find processors — from Victoria to Winnipeg — that can take its producers’ milk.
Dairy Cattle, News

Unprecedented demand swings forcing milk to be dumped

Alberta Milk has temporarily reduced quota amounts to deal with oversupply caused by pandemic

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No one likes to see milk being dumped, but it’s been an unfortunate part of the COVID-19 story. Dairy farms across North America have been dumping milk — and making headlines because of it. It’s a consequence of unprecedented swings in demand, said Karlee Conway, a spokesperson for Alberta Milk. “We’re just finding that consumer […] Read more
Dairy Cattle, Hogs, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

Trump administration aims to buy milk, meat to help farmers, Perdue says

Homeland Security to ease visa rules for ag workers

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Reuters — The U.S. government plans to buy milk and meat from farmers as part of an initial US$15.5 billion effort to help them weather the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Wednesday. The decision comes amid rising pressure from the U.S. farm lobby for government purchases as growers and […] Read more
Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Beef Farmers of Ontario ask for curb on cull sales

BFO concerned over processing 'backlogs'

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Updated, April 15 — Ontario’s cattle producer organization is asking members to consider delaying sales of cull cows until market conditions “normalize.” Beef Farmers of Ontario’s board on Thursday published a memo to beef and dairy cattle producers, asking them to help “prevent a further surge in cull cows in the market” — especially of […] Read more
Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Pandemic planning leads to staff cuts at Agropur

Dairy co-operative enters 'business continuity' mode

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Dairy co-operative Agropur’s “business continuity” plan against the COVID-19 pandemic calls for job cuts and layoffs for about three per cent of its total workforce. Longueuil, Que.-based Agropur announced Thursday it will eliminate 60 positions and temporarily lay off another 200 employees, all from its Canadian operations. In the “unprecedented context” of COVID-19, Agropur said […] Read more
Dairy Cattle, Livestock, Machinery & Shop

Dairy sector shuts down most visits from off-farm providers

In agriculture, dairy farms are among those most called-on by outside services

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New additions to Gerrit Herrema’s dairy barn have made it easier for his family to abide by recent directions to avoid contact with milk truck drivers to reduce COVID-19’s spread. “We have boot washes and other biosecurity measures in the barn. We need to take these measures in order to minimize the damage,” said Herrema, […] Read more
University of Alberta researchers say they’re developing a screening test for mastitis that could save dairy farmers millions.
Dairy Cattle, News

University of Alberta test to offer new way to control mastitis

Pen-side test will be able to accurately predict which cows need proactive treatment

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University of Alberta researchers are developing an easy pen-side test for mastitis. The test works by mixing urine samples with a chemical solution that uses colour intensity to reveal metabolite concentrations. Although still in development, the test could predict the likelihood of mastitis with 95 per cent accuracy. Identifying cows that are susceptible to developing […] Read more
Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Agrifoods gets license for A1 protein-free milk brand

Dairy co-op to bring New Zealand's a2 Milk brand to Canada

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A major Canadian dairy co-operative specializing in organic and grass-fed products is entering the market for A1 protein-free milk with a license for a major international brand. Agrifoods Cooperative announced Wednesday it has an exclusive licensing agreement with New Zealand-based a2 Milk Co. to process and sell dairy products under the a2 Milk brand in […] Read more
Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Saputo to shut two dairy plants in East

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Canadian dairy processing giant Saputo, in a move it describes as “right-sizing” its manufacturing footprint, plans to close two of its plants in Eastern Canada within a year. Montreal-based Saputo said Thursday it will close the former Riverside Cheese and Butter plant at Trenton, Ont. this September and its Baxter dairy plant at Saint John, […] Read more
Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Ex-B.C. milk board CEO to head CDC

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An ex-executive with the B.C. Milk Marketing Board and Monsanto Canada has been named to lead the Canadian Dairy Commission through 2021. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Wednesday named Bob Ingratta as the commission’s chairperson for a term ending Dec. 16, 2021, replacing Alistair Johnston. Ingratta, originally from Ontario, has degrees in botany and […] Read more
Renovating the dairy barn is a family affair at the Hondebrinks’ operation near Rocky Mountain House.
Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Program gives dairy industry hopefuls a foot in the door

Alberta Milk is accepting applications for the New Entrant Assistance Program until March 31

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Peggy and Harmen Hondebrink didn’t see a way to start dairy farming on their own before Alberta Milk introduced its New Entrant program nine years ago. “It’s not something you can just start out of nothing,” said Peggy Hondebrink, who now operates a dairy farm with husband Harmen east of Rocky Mountain House. “To buy […] Read more

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