Iowa testing milk for aflatoxin

chicago / reuters / Iowa, the No. 1 corn producer in the United States, began requiring the state’s dairy processors to test all milk received in the state for aflatoxin Aug. 31, the toxic byproduct of a mould that tends to spread in drought-stressed corn. The Iowa Department of Agriculture said the required aflatoxin screening

Ontario farmer continues dairy fight

An Ontario dairy farmer is appealing his conviction of producing, selling and distributing raw milk to the Ontario Court of Appeal. Michael Schmidt, who farms northwest of Toronto, was charged in 2006 following an undercover police sting operation into his dairy business, which supplied 150 families with raw milk. Each family had paid $300 for


The buttermilk of the issue

There are few things more refreshing on a hot summer’s day than a tall glass of cold buttermilk. It has a bracing sourness that challenges the senses, but with none of the bitter aftertaste of milk that has gone off before its due date. It is in this category we place the recent efforts of

Canadian dairy industry is a source of pride

Iam proud of Canada’s national agriculture policy for dairy — supply management. Like many rural initiatives of the past, it has deep co-operative roots that have nurtured the development of a viable, modern dairy sector in every region of Canada. It provides the degree of discipline and organization necessary for dairy farmers in the organized



Supply management is in trouble

Good news. Canada is joining talks for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will open lucrative new trade opportunities — if we give up supply management. Or so you’d think by reading national newspapers these days. Ever since Canadian participation in the TPP talks was announced last month, columnists in the Globe and Mail and National Post


Dairy and poultry farmers slam critical report by prominent Liberal

But Liberal leadership prospect Martha Hall Findlay says poultry and 
dairy farmers have limited political clout and can safely be ignored

As soon as the announcement appeared that former Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay would release a report critical of supply management, well-worn wheels were set in motion. The marketing boards prepared their defences while newspaper columnists and open-market supporters readied their supportive arguments. The news conference in the Chateau Laurier, a floor up from where



Dairy discussions continue

Dairy farmers are looking at quota harmonization across western provinces as a way to improve efficiency. Henry Holtmann, chairman of the Western Milk Pool’s (WMP) quota harmonization committee, said the process of making recommendations is moving forward as representatives from the four provinces work to build trust and mutual understanding. “I think we will move

New dairy website

Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM) is continuing to encourage its producers to tell their stories in order to defend supply management from its critics. “We should get out there ourselves and talk about it, because it can’t always be government or (DFM) that is doing everything,” farmer Raymond Palsson said following a producer meeting in