Reading Time: < 1 minute The fourth annual Breakfast on the Dairy Farm event at Yff Dairy near Red Deer on June 18 attracted more than 500 visitors. Along with a free breakfast, visitors were able to ask questions of milk farmers, a milk hauler, and herd veterinarian. They became acquainted with the cows themselves and even tried their hand […] Read more
They came, they saw, they milked
Protect supply management, says Alberta Milk chair
Farm Vote: Tom Kootstra says critics of supply management don’t understand there’s no free market in milk
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s dairy industry needs Ottawa to fight for supply management, says the chair of Alberta Milk. “The biggest issue is continued support for our unique production model — supply management — and the potential impact that a trade deal could have on our system,” said Tom Kootstra. That means going to bat for supply management […] Read more
Nominees sought for Alberta Milk award
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations are now open for the Alberta Milk Dairy Industry Achievement Award. The award recognizes the contributions of individuals or organizations to the leadership and development of Alberta’s dairy industry. These include: Volunteer efforts or committee work in service to the dairy industry; Agricultural education and youth activities in the dairy industry; Lobbying or championship […] Read more
Alberta Milk expands dairy program for new entrants
2015 New Entrant Assistance Program highlights
Reading Time: < 1 minute Changes have been made to the New Entrant Assistance Program to offer more help to those who want to start a dairy farm in Alberta. The program reduces some of the costs of starting a dairy farm by loaning dairy production quota to successful applicants. Since the program started in 2011, it has helped establish […] Read more
Stepping up to the plate: Young farmers and the need to be involved
How to get young people involved in farm organizations — and why it matters
Reading Time: 6 minutes Farming has a bumper crop of grey hair, and industry veterans worry about where the next generation of leaders will come from. But some are already on the scene. Alberta Farmer asked four young producers what needs to be done to encourage young people to get involved in farm organizations. Mike Vanden Dool Alberta Milk […] Read more
Don’t wing it — or refuse comment — if your farm makes the six o’clock news
Consultant and media trainer Grant Ainsley has some basic advice for dealing with the media
Reading Time: 2 minutes If the media ever shows up at your farm, treat them like you would a “big hungry dog,” says PR consultant and media trainer Grant Ainsley. “You have to feed it, or it will howl, bark and eventually bite,” he said. “You can’t always control what happens, but you can control your reaction.” The worst […] Read more
New program for dairy producers aims to reassure consumers
ProAction replaces the Canadian Quality Milk program by adding components for animal care and environmental sustainability
Reading Time: 3 minutes Dairy producers are revamping the Canadian Quality Milk program by adding protocols for animal care, on-farm food safety, traceability, biosecurity, and environmental sustainability. The new national accreditation program, called ProAction, was designed with consumers in mind, said Mike Slomp, industry and member services manager with Alberta Milk. “ProAction is about the social licence to operate, […] Read more
New student nutrition program
Education initiative to focus on students from Grades 7 to 9
Reading Time: < 1 minute AARD release – Alberta Milk and the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency are partnering on a nutrition education program for Grades 7 to 9 students. Based on a Dairy Farmers of Canada program from Ontario, the Power 2 Be Me (P 2B Me), “encourages importance of the foods found on Canada’s Food Guide, which includes […] Read more
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