At the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) 2025 Annual Dairy Policy Conference (ADPC) in February, farmers, industry stakeholders and a wide range of engaged delegates gathered in Ottawa around the theme “Dairy in Times of Change.” DFC President David Wiens opened by addressing the circumstances surrounding the event, which took place immediately following the U.S. decision to defer tariffs originally planned to take effect in February. "Being Canadian is knowing that we're stronger together. The uncertainty we are feeling is difficult for all of us, but we know as an industry that we are doing all we can to ensure that every Canadian can count on us.”

Wiens stressed the importance of taking a united front on behalf of dairy farmers and all Canadians. “We know our value,” Wiens said. “We know Canadians are with us. All over social media, we’re seeing the pride in buying Canadian. They want to protect our food sovereignty.

“In the face of global uncertainty, we know that supply management continues to be an important tool for the government to uphold our domestic food security.”

A look at Canadian politics

Several presentations in the ADPC program centred around making sense of the fluctuating political environment. Nik Nanos, chief data scientist for Nanos Research; and Theo Argitis, managing director of public affairs firm Compass Rose, both provided overviews of election trends and insights as Canadians watch the federal political scene’s constant fluctuations. “The era of resiliency agenda is upon us – agriculture, farmers have an advantage,” Argitis said. “The next battle that’s coming, I think you’re well suited to take that fight on.”

The Honourable Candice Bergen, the former interim Conservative leader and an honorary chair of the Rural Prosperity Group, also highlighted rural resiliency – and what politicians need to do to reinforce it – in her presentation “Rural Canada: Why Politicians Should Pay Attention.” Bergen noted that what drives the Canadian economy are our resource sectors, all of which are found in rural Canada. “We better get all of our incredible natural resources firing on all four cylinders,” she urged. “Rural Canada plays a pivotal role in that.” 

Dairy data: Market outlooks and trade insights, in Canada and internationally

DFC’s Vice President for Policy and Trade Annie AcMoody, Lead Policy Analyst Maxime Collette and Policy and Trade Analyst Julia Trottier hosted an outlook of the Canadian domestic market. Addressing new consumer habits, Collette noted the trend toward higher-fat dairy products over the last decade. “It should be seen as an opportunity to reverse the downward trend in per-capita consumption of dairy products in order to stimulate further growth in total consumption of dairy products in Canada,” he said.

Alexander Anton, secretary general of the European Dairy Association, offered his perspective on the differences and similarities between Canada and the European market. “Food and agriculture have been recognized in the European Union as a strategic asset,” he said. “It will be about rural Europe, and you heard Candice speaking about rural Canada. There, we are pretty much aligned.” 

Navigating the challenges of HPAI

Closing out the ADPC, DFC Chief Sustainability Officer Fawn Jackson hosted a panel on the American experience with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). She welcomed Jamie Jonker, chief science officer and vice president of sustainability and science affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation, veterinarian Dr. Allison Vander Plaats, and a dairy farmer from the U.S. for presentations on their areas of expertise.

The dairy farmer, who operates in the border state of Michigan, gave personal testimonies of dealing with a herd infected with HPAI: higher rates of mastitis, soaring somatic cell counts, a change in the quality of the milk and lower production rates. He urged a collaborative effort to overcome its effects on the American dairy sector. “Don’t be an island,” he said. “There are better days ahead.”

We invite farmers to join us and Dairy Farmers of Ontario in Toronto for the 2025 annual general meeting, July 13 to 16. We hope that you join us in this critical time for the dairy sector.