Reading Time: 3 minutes 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
Unprecedented demand swings forcing milk to be dumped
Alberta Milk has temporarily reduced quota amounts to deal with oversupply caused by pandemic
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
Reading Time: < 1 minute 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 producers thrilled to join ‘amazing’ Outstanding Young Farmers family
Reading Time: 3 minutes This year’s Outstanding Young Farmers were a little apprehensive when their bank manager first introduced them to the program two years ago. “At first, we were hesitant because we didn’t know what it was,” said Mary van Benthem, who operates a dairy farm near Spruceview with husband Roelof. “But after coming in and learning about […] Read more
Program gives dairy industry hopefuls a foot in the door
Alberta Milk is accepting applications for the New Entrant Assistance Program until March 31
Reading Time: 3 minutes 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
Free business analysis for dairy producers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Enrolment is now open for the Dairy Cost Study, which offers free business analysis for participating Alberta dairy farmers. Participants provide farm information over the course of a year, which is then compiled to create a business analysis on the cost and returns of producing milk at their farm. Individual data is kept confidential but […] Read more
Breakfast on the Dairy Farm serves up another helping
Three more farms are hosting the popular event this year, which remains driven by volunteers
Reading Time: 2 minutes The idea was born — fittingly enough — around a kitchen table. And seven years on, the popularity of Breakfast on the Dairy Farm just keeps on growing. The first edition of the event, an idea hatched by some members of East Olds Dairy Farmers group during a kitchen conversation in 2012, attracted 348 people. […] Read more
Innovative dairy group wins sector’s top award
Reading Time: < 1 minute The East of Olds Dairy Farmer Study Club is the recipient of the Alberta dairy industry’s top award. “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 […] Read more
The milk in the middle of the high-stakes NAFTA drama
A new milk category thrust dairy farmers into a political firestorm — so what is Class 7 all about?
Reading Time: 3 minutes It seemed like a win-win — until a new milk category caught the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump and unexpectedly became one of the key sticking points in NAFTA negotiations. It’s called Class 7, which is milk protein isolates (dried milk powders high in protein). It was introduced in 2016 in response to diafiltered […] Read more
The cost of feed was a plus for dairy producers one year ago
Reading Time: < 1 minute Dairy farmers not only saw more demand for their production in 2017 but enjoyed lower feed costs, says the latest provincial report on the economics of milk production. The cost of producing milk in Alberta decreased by five per cent in 2017 compared to 2016, said research analyst Pauline Van Biert. “The total cost for […] Read more
Every table had a view
Reading Time: < 1 minute Airport Dairy near Fort Macleod drew a big crowd when it hosted a Breakfast on the Dairy Farm on Aug. 11. The event was created in 2013 by a group of dairy producers in central Alberta with the goal of giving people who have no connection with farming the opportunity to learn about where their […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
