While supply management has survived the two major trade deals negotiated in recent years, there is little doubt that these agreements and the growing challenge of dealing with the structural surplus of milk protein will change the industry in some basic and permanent ways.

In 2013, the Progressive Dairy Operators surveyed members about the labour required to operate their farm and the wages paid to employees. This is the same survey reported in terms of calf management in the March issue of Progressive Dairyman. Again, 154 farms replied to the survey.

Last year, the Progressive Dairy Operators (PDO) surveyed members about the feeding, management and health of their pre-weaned calves on the farm. PDO received survey replies from 154 farms. The average farm milked 136 cows, with a range of 22 to 630 cows milked on the day the survey was completed.