Western Canadian Dairy Seminar to celebrate 30 years For 30 years, the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar has been presenting some of the world’s leading experts to inform and challenge those in the dairy industry to take a leading role in the development of the industry through the adoption of the latest technologies and information and to discuss current issues challenging the dairy industry. Plans are underway to do that once again from March 6-9, 2012, at the Capri Hotel (soon to be Sheraton Red Deer) in Red Deer, Alberta. The 30th annual Western Canadian Dairy Seminar will kick-off with a pre-conference symposium, pre-conference tours and producer workshops.
The following three days will feature dairy producers, professors and industry consultants from four countries. The seminar begins with a special anniversary look back at the last 30 years and how far the industry has advanced. It then breaks into sessions on reproduction, finance, management, nutrition, dairy health and the environment.
The registration fee for registrations received by Feb. 6 is $235. After Feb. 6 the fee will be $285.
Further details and online registration are available at www.wcds.ca. For more information contact Joanne Morrison, conference coordinator, at wcds@ales.ualberta.ca or (780) 492-3236.
—From PD staff
Dairy Farmers of Canada comment on Canada and the TransPacific Partnership
The Canadian government has formally indicated its desire to join the TransPacific Partnership negotiations.
Prime Minister Harper was also very clear that Canada will not pre-negotiate its entry in the TPP, as it relates to agricultural supply management, intellectual property rights or other broad Canadian interests.
“Supply management has not stood in the way of Canada’s ability to successfully negotiate trade 
agreements in the past and it is unlikely to do so in the future,” said Wally Smith, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada.
Canada has concluded trade deals including the NAFTA, and bilateral with Jordan, Columbia, Peru, Costa Rica, Chile, Israel, EFTA (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) while balancing Canadian interests. Other trade negotiations are underway as well, including one with the European Union (CETA).
“Every country recognizes the importance of their agricultural and other economic sectors, said Wally Smith.
“The government recognizes that agriculture is important to the Canadian economy and that the stability of supply management can be counted on to provide over 215,000 jobs in various regions across the country.” Indeed, the Canadian dairy sector is first or second in importance in agriculture in seven provinces out of 10, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
“The Canadian government understands the importance of stability in markets – agricultural or financial, as stated recently at the G-20 meeting,” said Smith.
“Supply management allows farmers to negotiate with processors in a more balanced way in a concentrated dairy sector. Canadians – from farmers to consumers – have not had to deal with wild fluctuations observed in world dairy markets in recent years.
“Supply management allows farmers to make a living from the marketplace in Canada,” explained Smith. “The government has no desire to see our farmers have to compete against the treasuries of other countries.”
—From Digital Journal
CDC announces new target price
The Canadian Dairy Commission announced its decision on the price of milk used to make dairy products.
In announcing a 1.5 percent increase (1.15 cent/L) for producer target price, the CDC had this to say:
“Our data show that the cost of producing milk in Canada has increased by 2.2 percent over the last 12 months,” said Randy Williamson, chairman of the CDC.
“In particular, the cost of feed increased by almost 10 percent and the cost of fuel, by over 20 percent. This 1.5 percent increase in support prices is about half of the current inflation rate for food,” he adds.
The CDC exercised its discretion in weighing in the cost increases on farms, which are related to costs of feed and fuel and the current economic climate.
—From Dairy Farmers of Canada news release
Merger to better showcase Canadian ag technologies
Canada’s Outdoor Shows Limited, based in Guelph, Ontario and the parent of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (presented by Farm Credit Canada) and Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo, has been acquired by Vancouver-based Glacier Media.
“Three years ago, we partnered with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) because we wanted to expand past the borders of Ontario to be more national in our scope,” says Lorie Jocius, president of Canada’s Outdoor Shows.
“At Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show this year, we realized the world was interested in Canadian agriculture and our commitment to showcasing new technologies and innovations. In order for us to take things to the next level, we needed to merge with an organization whose resources can help us push those boundaries even more.”
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show and Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo will continue to operate with their current staff while seeking to expand their offerings in the future.
—From Canada’s Outdoor Shows Limited news release
Vermeer Corporation and Kubota Canada Ltd. announce agreement
Vermeer Corporation unveiled an agreement with Kubota Canada Ltd. that offers Vermeer Forage Solutions dealers in Canada the opportunity to sell forage equipment with retail financing provided by Kubota Canada Ltd.
“This agreement between Vermeer and Kubota offers an easy way to purchase a tractor and baler, rake or other related forage equipment and have both the service and financing ends of ownership at one convenient dealership location,” says Ross Wallace, president of Kubota Canada.
Kubota Canada Ltd. is the Canada distributor of Kubota-branded tractors up to 118 PTO hp and performance-matched implements.
Vermeer Corporation manufactures a complete line of hay tools including round balers, mowers, mower/conditioners, rakes, tedders, bale processors and silage wrappers.
—From Vermeer Corporation news release
Holsteins dazzle at 2011 Royal
The Ricoh Coliseum was the backdrop for another fantastic National Holstein Show at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario.
Poised with excellent reasons, Brian Carscadden, Guelph Ontario, placed a large show of 337 head. Assisting Official Judge Carscadden was David Crack Jr., of Richmond, Quebec.
The judge selected Eastside Lewisdale Missy Grand Champion of the spectacular National Black and White Holstein show.
Missy, owned by Morsan Farms LTD, Ponoka, Alberta; Van Ruinen Dairy LTD, Lacombe, Alberta; Mark Butz, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Gert Andreasen, Ponoka, Alberta; and Georges Uebelhardt, Ponoka, Alberta; was recently Grand Champion and Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo 2011.
Following Missy for Reserve Grand Champion was the second 5-year-old, RF Goldwyn Hailey. Hailey was named Best Udder. She is owned by Gen-Com Holsteins LTD of Notre Dame Du Bon Conseil, Quebec.
Named Overall Premier Breeder of the Black and White show for the first time was Eastside Holsteins of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Gen-Com Holsteins was awarded the Overall Premier Exhibitor.
Held in the modernized Scotiabank Ring of Excellence in Toronto, Ontario, the 2011 Red and White Holstein show took place. Judge Dan Doner, Courtice, Ontario, placed an increased number of close to 90 animals.
Crowd favourite, Blondin Redman Seisme, now owned by Milk Source Genetics, was first 5-year-old and tapped Grand Champion for the second year in a row at the National Red and White Holstein Show.
Reserve Grand Champion was the Intermediate Champion, Whittier-Farms Lava Red-ET, followed by the first-place Mature Cow, Wilstar-RS TLT Limited-Red, who was Honourable Mention Grand Champion. Limited-Red is also owned by Milk Source Genetics.
Milk Source Genetics was named Overall Premier Exhibitor of the National Red and White Holstein show, while Overall Premier Breeder was awarded to Helmcrest Holsteins, Winchester, Ontario.
—From Holstein Canada news release
Correction
There was a financial error in the sample income statement ( Figure 2 ) on page 9 of the Nov. 1, 2011, issue. The Total Farm Revenue should be $438,700. As a result, Net Farm Income would result to be $141,371. PD
