BC Dairy Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcus Wong as the new Director, Communications & Producer Relations.

Previously, Marcus has been the media spokesperson for FortisBC (formerly known as Terasen Gas) as well as a member of the communications teams for the B.C. 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat and the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. His past experience also includes working with the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C. to build stakeholder relations across North America.

In addition to his work with the BC Dairy Association, he is engaged as a strategic communications consultant, working with clients that have included Olympic athletes, national sports teams, and non-profit organizations. He also serves as a member of University Council at Queen’s University, and is a board member of the Queen’s University Alumni Association and the Richmond Art Gallery.

Marcus holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from Queen's University in political studies and a Master of Science degree in marketing from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom). Residing in West Vancouver, Marcus enjoys participating in winter sports in his spare time.

BC Dairy Association will be releasing a monthly e-letter geared towards BC dairy producers. The 'MOOs Blast' features updates on producer significant issues such as changes in regulations and policies, animal welfare tips, news from Dairy Farmers of Canada and upcoming events.

This e-letter will be emailed to all dairy producers in BC on a monthly basis and will be featured online.

Growing Forward program known as the Enterprise Infrastructure Traceability (EIT) Program.  The EIT Program has been offered two years now, and 2012-2013 represents the 3rd and final year of this Program under the current Growing Forward Agreement.

The EIT Program is managed by ARDCORP and all pertinent ‘specific’ details regarding EIT can be found on ARDCORP’s website at the following link  http://www.ardcorp.ca/index.php?page_id=44 .

ARDCORP will not accept applications until April 1st; however, I’d encourage any producer interested in this Program to start working on what he/she thinks would qualify and make notes and be prepared to complete the Application Form once it is posted live.

When I last spoke to you about the EIT Program, you asked about qualifying expenses and levels of coverage.  For a detailed description of these, I would advise you go to pages 5 – 8 of the 19 page document at the link below titled EIT Program & Application Guide.  Eligible expenses are reimbursed at a cost share of 75:25, with the 25% portion being the producer’s contribution.  

There is no guarantee that EIT assistance will be renewed in the next Growing Forward Agreement to begin April 1, 2013.

Enterprise Infrastructure Traceability Program (EIT) under the current Growing Forward Agreement
Traceability/product tracing is the ability to follow the movement of a food through specified stage(s) of production, processing and distribution. It can be limited to critical points along the supply chain (e.g. livestock), or be “full-chain” from farm to fork e.g. meat and fresh produce).

The objective of the Enterprise Infrastructure Traceability (EIT) Program is to have increased implementation of facility-based traceability systems across the agri-food chain in primary (farm level) and secondary (processing level) agri-food production sectors.

Success of the program will be measured by the number of on-farm and post-farm businesses having implemented traceability initiatives, by commodity or industry groups (as per the North American Industry Classification System).

EIT Program will assist producers/farmers, food processors and agri-food businesses by assisting with specific costs relating to the purchase and installation of traceability infrastructure, and the training of staff to implement traceability systems for plants, animals and agri-food products.

See the following attachments for additional information on the:

• EIT Program Outline
• EIT Program Information Sheet
• EIT Program & Application Guide

The Canadian Quality Milk program will be mandatory for all dairy producers in BC as of January 31st, 2013.

To comply with national standards, the Canadian Quality Milk (CQM) program will be mandatory on all BC Dairy farms as of January 31, 2012.  We are currently evaluating non-compliance options. In order to qualify for registration by the deadline, farms should plan to be trained by September 1st 2012. 

Please contact our provincial CQM Coordinator to get registered on CQM:

Carla Soutar, Producer Services Coorindator

(604)294-3775 OR 604-293-2390

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Cattle that are hobbled due to an injury, or those still in need of hobbles (due to an old injury) are considered UNFIT for transport. It is illegal to transport them until they are fully recovered.  Cattle which are hobbled due to aggression, are considered COMPROMISED for transport, and must only be transported short distances to the closest venue for processing. 

For further information about safely transporting your cattle please go to: www.inspection.gc.ca

The BC Ministry of Agriculture has alerted us of the following changes to the Milk Inspection Regulations, effective February 1st, 2012:

• Lowering of the SCC violation level from  500,000 to 400,000
• Raising of the added water violation level from ≤ 0.535 Hortvet (1.8% dilution) to  ≤0.525 Hortvet (3.7% dilution)
• The washroom off the milk house must be maintained in a sanitary condition
• Hot and cold pressurized potable water must be available for cleaning all surfaces in contact with raw milk in the parlour and the milk house. A lab report confirming that the water is potable must be available for the inspector to see and must be dated less than 12 months from the date it is requested.
• Written protocols must be available for the inspector to see covering:

a. Milking of dairy animals

b. Production, cooling, handling and storing of raw milk

c. Sanitation of equipment

d. Use, labelling and storage of all regulated products used on the farm

• Clear separation and storage of medication restricted to use in dry cows only from medications for use in the milking herd
• Records must be kept for 1 year that include clear identification of the animals they were administered to, after the use of:

e. Veterinary drugs

f. Medicated feed

• Records must be kept for 1 year after the use of any pesticide on the farm or to an animal that include clear identification of any animal they were administered to.

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has developed a new award entitled the Dairy Farm Sustainability Award which aims to recognize dairy farmers across the country who implement sustainabie practices in their dairy production process.

The Award for Canadian Dairy Farm Sustainability will recognize Canadian dairy farmers that have adopted practices that are environmentally sustainable, financially viable, bring social benefits and can be reproduced on other farms. Candidates must demonstrate respect for the environment overall, and can showcase projects that show wise management of natural resources, conservation practices, efficient use of energy and or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

There will be one finalist in each of the four regions of Canada: the Western provinces, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. One winner will be selected among the four finalists. The overall Winner will receive a prize of $2000, a trophy and a trip to receive the Award in person at Dairy Farmer of Canada's 2012 annual general meeting in St-John's, Newfoundland. The three runner-up finalists will each receive a prize of $1000.

Candidates must have an up-to-date Environmental Farm Plan and hold quota. Candidates can be nominated by their fellow dairy farmers and all submissions must be received by January 31, 2012.

Please see attached application for further details or visit www.dairyfarmers.ca

There have been upgrades to the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and the Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) programs which will take effect on Janury 01, 2012.

These improvements include the following:

1. The B.C. Agriculture Research and Development Corporation (ARDCorp) will begin accepting applications for BMP funding on January 1, 2012. This represents a three-month jumpstart on the process, before producers become busy when spring arrives;
2. Producers can access more funds per project than ever before. Funding maximums are boosted in almost all of the beneficial management practices (BMPs) categories, ranging from a $5,ooo for composting of agricultural waste to $50,000 for recycling waste water. Funding maximums for most of the categories were doubled;
3. Neighbouring producers can share efforts in submitting an BMP application, provided they share the same BMP category, without having to share the funding maximum for that category (i.e., producers in the application may be able to claim the full funding maximum individually).

Additional information on these key updates can be found on the attached document.

 
For more information about the EFP-BMP Programs, application process, and eligibility criteria, please contact:

Heather Carriere
EFP Program Manager, ARDCorp
Tel: 604.854.4483
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.bcefp.ca

The BC Dairy Foundation has been dedicated to increasing consumption of milk in BC and delivering innovative nutrition education programs to British Columbia consumers for over 30 years. Over the same time period, BC Milk Producers Association has supported BC dairy producers with programs and initiatives to promote a vibrant and sustainable industry that supplies the best quality milk to consumers. Both organizations are funded by the dairy producers of BC. And for the past six years, both organizations have been managed from the same office.

The two organizations believe that after 30 years it is time for a change. In order to reduce duplication of effort and improve the effectiveness of the organizations the BC Dairy Foundation and BC Milk Producers Association will merge into one, the BC Dairy Association, on December 1, 2011.

Why the new name, BC Dairy Association?

The new name of BC Dairy Association is a combination of BC Dairy Foundation and BC Milk Producers Association. We will still be a registered not-for-profit society.

Why do this now?

Two organizations mean two boards with the attendant duplication of directors, administration, staff and costs. It makes sense to have one organization with one office.

How will the changes affect me as a user of services from the BC Dairy Foundation?

There will be absolutely no changes to the services that you currently receive from the Foundation. The nutrition and school milk programs will remain the same. Our milk promotion activities will not change nor will the staff that you currently deal with.

How will the changes affect me as a user of services from the BC Milk Producers Association?

There will be no changes to the services or programs currently offered by the BC Milk Producers Association. Staff and contact numbers will remain the same.

The BC Dairy Association board elections are now complete.

Thank you to the 5 producers who ran. We had 137 votes, which accounts for 26% of eligible producers.

These are the 3 members at large who were elected by BC producers:

• Lorne Hunter
• Jeremy Wiebe
• Ken Vandeburght

These members, along with the regional appointees below will comprise the new BC Dairy Association board.

• Mainland: Dick Klein Geltink, Tom Hoogendoorn, Stan Van Keulen
• Okanagan: Ralph Vandalfsen
• North: Paul Davidson
• Kootneys: Morris Hanson
• Island: Dave Taylor

At this time we are requesting nominees for the BCDA standing committees which are:

• Marketing and Promotion
• Finance and Audit
• Board Governance

We have received a few nominations for these committees; however, we would like to invite any producer who is interested to put their name forward.

Self-nomination is acceptable.  If you would be interested in participating on any of the above committees, please submit your name and the committee of interest to: Robin Smith, Executive Director .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
 
Deadline for submissions is Nov 28th.  

MBA students from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia recently toured a dairy farm in the Lower Mainland. One of their students, Julia Kerrigan, posted feedback on their visit on the Sauder School of Business MBA Society website.

The article can be found here: MBA Society - Dairy Farm Tour

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Geoexchange and solar thermal project studies are being conducted and can possibly be funded through the Environmental Farm Plan.

Further details can be found at: 

http://www.kmwpp.ca/climate_action/

Applications that need to be completed and returned NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 23RD and can be found on the right hand-side of the screen. Producers must fill in as much of the application as they can (even if not the whole thing) and submit it. 

In 2009 the BC Dairy Foundation (BCDF) and the BC Milk Producers Association (BCMPA) worked together to develop a common mission and vision for the BC dairy industry.  Following this work the boards of directors made the decision to reorganize the two associations into one.  Since 2004 BCDF has contracted with the BCMPA to provide management, administration and staff services.   Both organizations operate from the same office under the management of the same Executive Director.

In 2010 the consulting firm of KPMG was retained to assist the boards of BCDF and BCMPA to develop a plan for amalgamation.  This plan was accepted by both boards in January 2011.  During the spring of 2011 the President of BCMPA, Dick Klein Geltink and the Executive Director, Robin Smith visited each of the regions to explain the planned changes.  The target date for completing the changes is November 30, 2011.

A Transition Team drawn from the boards of the two organizations was established to address aspects of the reorganization.  Team members from BCMPA are: Dick Klein Geltink, Tom Hoogendoorn, Joe Taylor and Wally Smith and from BCDF are: Bouwe Meidema, Paul Davidson and Stan Van Keulen.

Various reorganization options were considered.  The final decision was for the BCDF to change its name, constitution and by-laws to reflect the new entity and for the BCMPA to merge its operations into this entity.  The name for the new organization is the BC Dairy Association (BCDA).

All registered dairy producers in BC will be members of the BCDA.  The board of directors will consist of up to eleven members, of whom seven will be appointed from the regional associations, three will be elected at large by all producers and one may be appointed by the board.  Regional representation will be:

The transition to this new structure is underway.  Regional associations are currently selecting their director representatives to be appointed to the new board.  For any one of the three elected positions any registered producer can submit their name.  The procedure for nomination is explained in detail on the BCMPA website www.bcmilkproducers.ca and should be carefully reviewed to ensure compliance.   Each nomination requires the signature of five registered producers and a brief biography outlining the candidate’s skills and experience and reasons why they want to be elected to the board.  Nominations will close at 4:00 pm on Thursday September 15, 2011 with the election to be held electronically by mid October.  To learn more about the process contact Robin Smith at the BCDF/BCMPA office .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  

There will be three standing committees as follows, each chaired by a board member.  Nominations for these committees are open now, and anyone who is interested should submit their name to Robin Smith.   All committee appointments will be made by the board.

Marketing and Nutrition Committee will consist of four producers and two processors.   The purpose of this committee will be: to promote the consumption of milk and dairy products through advertising, promotion, public relations and nutrition education.

Finance and Audit Committee will consist of three to five producers.  The purpose of this committee will be: to assist the Board to meet its responsibilities by making sure the financial reporting, internal controls, management information systems and risk management functions of BCDA are adequate and effective.

Board Development Committee will consist of three to five producers.  The purpose of this committee will be: to assist the Board in identifying the right mix of skills and experience to meet its duties to membership

The newly named organization with its new by-laws will come into effect on December 1, 2011 at the BC Dairy Industry Conference.  This is your chance to contribute to the BC dairy industry and be part of the team leading the industry into the future.

Included in the attached package is a BC Dairy Association Board Nomination Form & Biography. Please print off the Board Nomination Form and return it to:

3236 Beta Ave

Burnaby BC V5G 4K4

Oct 14, 2011 - The importance of cow comfort

By Dr. Rehanni Khaseipoul, D.V.M.

Producers spend millions of dollars each year renovating or building new facilities to improve cow comfort. Previous research has shown that when stalls are uncomfortable cows tend to use them less and spend more time outside the stalls. Time spent standing on wet concrete increases the risk of lameness.

Lying behaviour in cows can be measured manually or using electronic data loggers which are placed on the back leg of the cow. The data collected in this measurement can be useful in evaluating the benefits of changes in barn design or management. One interesting finding was the wide range in amount of time individual cows spent lying down within each farm. This shows that it is important to pay more attention to individual cows, instead of just the 'average' cow.

June 22, 2011 - Solutions to improve farm profitability 

By Dr. Rehanni Khaseipoul, D.V.M.

Total Mixed Ration (TMR) is designed to maintain health and maximize production.  UBC research has shown that cows preferentially sort and consume the smaller grain particles and discriminate against the longer forage components.  This can result in improper nutrition (decreased production) as well as sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA).  One way to judge if this is happening at your farm is to use a forage particle separator to compare the feed that is offered with what is left at the end of the day and then adjust your feeding ratios accordingly.

The current limit of funding for 2 BMP's per year per producer is being lifted for the current program year.

For further information about the Enivornmental Farm Plan and Beneficial Management Practices Programs please see attached document OR contact:

ARDCorp (BC Agriculture Research & Development Corporation)

230-32160 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford BC

Phone: (604) 854-4483 / 1 (866) 522-3447

Website: www.bcefp.ca

DUE TO THE RECENT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND POOR FIELD CONDITIONS DAIRY INNOVATION DAY (JUNE 15, 2011) HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY CANCELED.

We understand that many producers will be attending to field work in the next few weeks, and will not be able to attend.  Because of this we have cancelled this event which was scheduled for June 15th (next week) at the UBC Dairy Research & Education Centre.  

We plan to reschedule this day of speed learning for producers, for sometime this fall (likely mid-September).  
Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you.  Those who have registered will have their registration fees refunded.  
 
We plan to have an excellent event in the fall and hope to see you there!

The first session of the DairyPro Technician level 1 (DPT1) course was completed this spring.  The next session of DPT1 will begin in the fall of 2011.  Space is limited.  Contact us now to register.  Students and sponsors (Employers) may qualify for funding to cover tuition costs.  Contact our office for more details, 604-294-3737 or www.dairyprobc.ca

The B.C. Farm Business Advisory Services provides business consulting funding for basic farm financial assessments ($1900 with $100 fee) and specialized business planning (85% support up to $3,000) (e.g. succession and human resource planning.)

For more information call Toll Free 1-877-702-5585 E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Burnaby (March 09, 2011) - Remember when the price of beef was just pennies? What if an imported animal, which turned out to be carrying a serious disease, is mistakenly identified as Canadian?  What would that do to the price of beef, our Canadian market and the economy?

How could this happen?  Easily.  It has the chance of happening every day when imported cows are not retagged and registered as imports.  If an imported cow brings a disease into Canada and is not recorded as an imported animal, it is considered Canadian by default.  This would once again shut down the borders to trade.  

Is it worth the risk?  All imported cattle must be retagged with RFID tags alongside their import tags and registered as imported.  Traceability is extremely important to maintaining our border and trade markets.  Do your part. 

The CFIA fine for not properly tagging an imported animal is a minimum of $1300 and increases with each subsequent violation!!

In addition, tags from deceased animals must have the tag “retired”. Dead stock operators are responsible to retire all tags on animals picked up by them. Producers that are disposing of animals on farm are responsible to retire the CCIA tags. This is especially important in composting.  Retiring tags properly can assist the farmer
in decreasing the time spent “tracing back” animals in the event of a disease outbreak. The tag itself does not need to be removed, but must be documented as retired on the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) system.

The CFIA fine for not properly retiring a tag from a deceased animal is a minimum of $1300 and increases with each subsequent violation!!

For more information contact: 1-877-909-2333 CCIA, or www.canadaid.ca

The Canadian Bovine Mastitis Research Network (CBMRN) brings together the diverse expertise of numerous Canadian researchers and international collaborators within the framework of an ambitious research program. The outcome of this program provides the Canadian dairy industry with new tools and knowledge to improve udder health and milk quality, as well as to reduce the significant economic losses due to mastitis.

Mastitis - Flash: 

• December 2010 / January 2011 - Volume 5 _ Issue 1
• February 2011 - Volume 5_Issue 2
• March 2011 - Volume 5_Issue 3

Confidential. Not for distribution.

The Sustainable Agriculture Management Branch (formerly the Resource Management Branch) identifies and promotes agriculture and food production systems that are environmentally sustainable by incorporating the best management practices to protect air, soil and water quality. The Branch also monitors environmental indicators to anticipate and respond to future threats to the environment from current agriculture practices and threats to agriculture from environmental and climate changes.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Included in this section are documents and updates affiliated with the Environmental Farm Plan.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

The BC dairy industry is “in-class” with its first delivery of the Dairy Production apprenticeship program, DairyPro BC.  The apprenticeship program was designed by industry, to ensure an adequate supply of qualified employees for the unique, dynamic and growing Dairy industry in BC.

On November 1^st the first group of apprentices began in class instruction at the state-of-the-art UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre in Agassiz, BC. The program covers all aspects of our vital agriculture industry and will be delivered over the next several months.  The program is  taught by a team of leading experts from all aspects of dairy production.  The program combines both technical “in-class” training, over 5 weeks, and workplace experience.

British Columbia and Alberta are currently the only Canadian provinces offering a Dairy Production Technician apprenticeship program.  The BC program focuses on the knowledge and skills required for maintaining cattle health and breeding, calf care, sanitation, feeding, and milking.

The first session of Dairy Pro was full to capacity. Next session begins Fall 2011.

For more information visit: www.dairyprobc.ca

OTTAWA, October 27, 2010: Government of Canada cracks down on livestock transport violators: New regulations more than double fines.

Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association (FARSHA) is committed to creating a safer work environment for BC's agricultural industry, the Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association has Regional Safety Consultants throughout the province to provide ongoing safety courses, safety materials and helpful advice. Browse our site to see how we can help to provide a safer work environment.

BC Milk Producers Association is involved with multiple projects that aim to ensure the safest and most humane treatment of livestock. BCMPA works closely with BC SPCA, Candian Food Inspection Agency, BC Farm Animal Council and other government organizations to monitor animal welfare concerns in the dairy industry. Resources and publications for the humane treatment of livestock and specifically dairy cows can be found below.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Become a DairyPro and get certified as a Dairy Production Technician. This exciting and rewarding certified apprenticeship program offers learners two possible industry recognized Certificates of Qualification.

Check out the latest issue of the BC Milk Blast Newsletter from August 2010.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Confidential. Not for distribution.

Want to know the truth about Canadian milk? Watch the clip below to find out!

Download BC Milk Blast Newsletters below

Confidential. Not for distribution.

BC Dairy Foundation has recently launched their new and improved website. Look for recipes, browse through their resource catalogue and much more. Go to www.bcdairyfoundation.ca

This exciting and rewarding certified apprenticeship program offers learners two potential industry recognized Certificate of Qualification. The program is open to individuals seeking careers in the dairy industry or those already in the industry wishing to earn their trade credential. Completion of Grade 10 including English and Science are recommended. Grade 12 graduation with Science and Biology is preferred. Successful completion of the program results in a DPT1 (Dairy Production Technician 1) and DPT2 (Dairy Production Technician 2-Herdsperson). These credentials may be transferrable to other areas in Canada.

During the program, students attend class several days during the month and work the remainder of the days on the farm of their Employer. Apprentices receive salary as negotiated with the Employer. Fair market value for salary is expected.

The program combines in-class instruction with on-farm work experience over a two-year period. Classroom session for Dairy Production Technician 1, begins Nov. 1 2010, and will take place in the Fraser Valley. Classroom instructors are Veterinarians who are experienced in all areas of Dairy production, health and maintenance.

For further information on DairyPro BC go to www.dairyprobc.ca

BC Dairy Association funds research and education projects through the Dairy Industry Research and Education Fund, administered at the committee level. All requests for support from the dairy industry are sent to the Dairy Industry Research and Education Committee (DIREC) for review and decision.

Statement of Purpose:

“To invest in education, research and development projects that have a direct benefit to dairy farmers in British Columbia, and to ensure the results are communicated to the farm level.”

Mandate:

1. To act as an education and research advisory and support working group for the dairy producers of BC.
2. To identify, encourage and assist in the planning, delivery and evaluation of educational and research opportunities beneficial to the BC dairy industry.
3. To facilitate and support educational events and demonstrations beneficial to the BC dairy industry.
4. To communicate results and facilitate the transfer of knowledge to the farm level.

Qualifying Criteria:

1. Clearly demonstrate that the project’s objective(s) and anticipated results will address an identified need in the BC dairy industry.
2. The applicant has completed all questions and followed the stated procedure for submitting an application to DIREC.
3. All other sources of funding and in-kind contributions must be clearly noted with supporting documentation with respect to funding source, amounts, and conditions attached to providing funding.
4. Provide a detailed work plan that establishes dates and times for stated deliverables, as well as a clear communication plan on how results will be shared with the BC dairy industry.
5. Eligible expenses include: contracted goods and services, materials and supplies, incremental labour and related costs such as travel, rent or lease of facilities and equipment. No more than 10% of funding can be allocated for administration. 
6. Ineligible expenses include:  normal costs to establish and operate a commercial or not-for-profit operation, capital costs (building and equipment) that provide a lasting benefit to an individual or group, and costs incurred before the project has been approved.
7. Approved projects must benefit dairy producers of BC.

*Note: DIREC reserves the right to limit, adjust or deny funding.

How to Apply:

Please download the application form from this page and follow the instructions as specified in the form. Applications will be reviewed semi-annually in the month following the deadline dates of March 31 and September 30.

If you are a producer who has recently been validated, please complete the online survey found at the following link: CQM Validations Feedback Form

Confidential Information. Not for distribution.