As with any legacy, it started with one cow. After the purchase of Fernhame PBL Penelope, Don and Wendy Chalack would soon acquire a dairy and buy 25 more cows, developing a business that would produce more than a dozen All-Canadian and All-American nominees, acquire three Master Breeder shields and become a household name in the North American registered dairy cattle industry.

In Canada, the dairy sector is a major source of agricultural methane, placing it squarely in the spotlight as the country races to meet Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) targets and Canada's net zero by 2050 commitment. However, the industry’s sluggish pace toward emission reductions raises serious doubts about achieving this goal.

By focusing on key factors that can influence your herd lifetime productivity and taking a holistic view of your farms, you can identify opportunities to maximize your herd efficiency and the long-term sustainability of your operation.

For a producer, determining whether to introduce a new solution into their operation is an important decision. So it is critical to develop innovations with the herd in mind. As dairy management varies around the world, carrying out validation research on Canadian dairy farms is a critical step in solution development.

In April 2024, four McGill University students from the Macdonald College’s Farm Management and Technology (FMT) program participated in the 2024 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC). Hear from two of the participants about their experience and goals as future leaders in the dairy industry.

Working together, the family was able to have discussions about how the farm could utilize its cash flow to find a combination of saving, borrowing, insuring and gifting assets to nonfarming children at the optimal times to have maximum impact on their lives while also having a minimal impact on farm operations.

At recent national and global meetings in September and November, DFC has ensured policy makers learned about the work dairy farmers are doing on antimicrobial usage and what help farmers will need to play their part within a “One Health” approach.

By proactively managing your livestock ventilation system as the seasons change, you can ensure a stable, healthy environment for your animals year-round. Regular maintenance, thoughtful adjustments to your system and considering upgrades when possible will all contribute to optimal conditions in your dairy.

The annual gathering of agricultural enthusiasts in Woodstock, Ontario, at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show brought a week full of smiles, beautiful weather and insightful conversations. The Canadian dairy industry was well represented at the exhibition Sept. 10-12.