Elementary-age children still won’t be sold chocolate milk containers larger than one cup, with fears that children will fill up with milk and not healthier food.  Yet, really it’s not hard to figure out that if children want 500mL of milk, they are just going to purchase two 250mL.

“We have a province telling us we should drink 500 mL a day, and then we have the same province in our school systems saying to the whole world, ‘Chocolate milk is not healthy for you,’” said Progressive Conservative Ernie Hardeman.

This whole policy and makes Chocolate milk go from a healthy nutritious source of calcium, protein, vitamins and minerals to a snarly evil sugary snack, especially for families who don’t understand why it’s ok for one age group but not another unless it’s a different size container.

Tory MPP Christine Elliott ,  told the Toronto Sun ”the government appears to be adjusting its nutrition policy on the fly. It’s just typical of what this government is doing, coming up with half-baked solutions to things, and then back tracking.”

However, Current Education Minister, and former Agricultural Minister Leona  Dombrowsky  commented, ”We have worked with families to understand what’s fair and what’s reasonable and the guidelines that are in place now really pretty much reflect the feedback that we received.”

Canadian families and children should have access to milk at school, otherwise they are going to walk off property and go to the local store and buy it there.  Instead of wasting our time and money on a Chocolate Milk Ban, how about we take a serious look at “Chocolate Beverages” that are increasing in popularity in our grocery stores. Chocolate beverages looks exactly like Chocolate Milk, but doesn’t contain 100% canadian milk sources however the packaging looks exactly the same. Maybe we can replace choclate milk in schools with the newest chocolate beverage…surely that would limit children due to the obviously different taste…

After reading the article “B.C. Judge orders Alice Jongerden not to milk cows” in the Vancouver Observer I can understand why Jongerden resigned from her position and allowed Schmidt to take responsibility. A risky move, with no legal counsel to represent herself and the cooperative, This was not viewed kindly upon by the judge, according to the Vancouver Observer.

The fight is the same old to us here in Ontario when on January 21,2010 Justice of the Peace Paul Kowarsky said Mr. Schmidt did not break the law because he was distributing to joint owners of cows and not the public at large. (Click here to read more)

But, the fight of raw milk can be divided into 2 different fights the first is for the consumer and the second is revalent to other dairy producers.

1. Do consumers get to choose what they should be able to eat? concern about health or regulation?
2. Is it fair other producers have to buy costly quota to produce regulated milk?

 Briefly, what I mean about argument 1 is…that consumers should be able to choose what products they want to eat. Tim Hortons coffee vs. Coffee made at home, a homemade burger or pre-packaged, vegetables from a garden or vegetables from California.

Life is full of choices and consequences, and I can understand why many consumers are upset because they feel the government is restricting their ability to choice, almost making raw milk “illegal”

However, the story goes much deeper than saying yes or no you can have a choice…It comes down to Quota, which is the legislation in place that ensures Canadian consumers get to drink only Canadian Milk. Dairy farmers have to buy quota (the right to produce and distribute milk) and all milk is shipped, processed and handled under strict conditions by the Dairy Farmers of Canada

More on the “right to produce milk and the effect Raw Milk has on legislation” in my next post…

The ideal dry matter for corn silage is between 30 and 38% depending on the storage structure (closer to 30% for bunkers and closer to 38% for uprights).

Corn chopped too late  undergoes a limited fermentation resulting in   less stable silage. 

A University of Nebraska extension bulletin says dry silage can heat and produce moulds, lowering its energy (starch) and protein digestibility. This happens because dry silage is difficult to pack, which allows more oxygen to remain imbedded in the silage.  

So what can dairy farmers do??

Corn is still in field

• Change knives to cut smaller pieces and process kernels more
• blend with a wetter feed, like alfalfa, green soybeans or late corn
• pack the bunk TIGHT! using the wettest silage last, to add more weight
• Add an inoculant or molasses based product
• If you have excess water, put a layer on the top, to add excess weight
• hire a good nutritionist (just kidding)

If the feed is already harvested:

• Leet the silage ferment longer (2-3 months)
• Add water, or a liquid molasses based supplement when feeding
• make sure cows have access to lots of water
• Get silage tested often prior to feeding

The love-hate relationship will never change, we love to grow corn we love to harvest corn silage, but usually we hate the situation it…and even if you don’t hate corn silage season, I’m sure your wife (or husband) or children do because of all the added stress! Good luck to all harvesters….

*more information on how to handle Dry Corn Silage, from a nutritional stand point to come…

These Dual Axis tracker style solar panels are going to be scattered all over rural ontario due to the microFIT program

Energy and Infrastructure Minister Brad Duguid said to the London Free Press “While solar isn’t intended to replace conventional energy sources, the province expects renewable energy sources can supplement conventional energy, especially during peak periods.”

This statement has rural communities wondering, then why would the government slash prices? Farmers get very little subsidies as it is, and if they can aid in assisting with green energy then the government should fully support the initiative.

Duguid noted that “the province is still committed to being a green-energy leader — an industry, he said, that’s attracting $16 billion in investment and 36,000 Ontario jobs.”

While the government has changed it’s attitude and is implementing a grandfather system in place for the 16,000 applicants prior to July 2, one has to wonder why this has been done so quietly…. Renewable energy is expensive to install, and requires high capital costs, and those who install these systems should be able to gain from their investments. On-farm power, or on-house power is no different in my mind than the government building a new nuclear plant…so let’s support renewable energy both rural and urban and make a change! The McGuinty government may have blown out the fire for the time being, however the embers are still burning hot.

Click Here to read more in the Ontario Farmer

Click here to learn more about Solar Initatives in Ontario

I do have a few good leads for jobs, however it’s the waiting game that gets me. I feel like I can not leave my phone in fear that if I miss “the” call another fully qualified individual will snatch the job from me…however I realize that is not the case.  So until I receive the anticipated phone call that one of my leads has worked in my favour I will continue to enjoy the lazy days of summer which won’t last long.

Is this a result of marketing? or merley similar personalites pooling in this mountainous environment.  Wine is also a huge market out here in BC due mainly to the vivacious product produced here, with quality and convience right at the doorstep produce and wine are purchased regardless of pricing. Perhaps by learning more about the agricultural industry out in BC I can enlighten others on what it’s like eating out here.

Abbotsford is 20 minutes away from surrey. It’s surrounded completely by mountains and in the Fraser Valley the city is packed full of agriculture, it is the area with the most farms in all of North America. Dairy, Broilers, Layers and irrigated crops like rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries are common. This isn’t different you may think, Ontario has berries and similarities; however the main difference is the number of farmers who are farming not just because their parents did, but because they enjoy it. Of course there are always a few bad apples who are farming just to have a tax write off but I have found especially out here in BC many townies are looking into sustainable agriculture and urban agriculture.

This is where agriculture is heading, people are finally realizing that agriculture is still holding strong in a dying economy, and we as the future of agriculture need to embrace the entrance of new farmers and welcome immigrant farmers to Canadian Agriculture. Canada has so many possibilities and is full of natural resources, by learning how to be sustainable will continue to withhold our strong reputation.

Last week, the federal agricultural minister Gerry Ritz announced $8.7 Million dollars in funding over three years. This money is to help develop technologies to increase the industrial value of crops, like straw left in the field. 

“It is expected that a session for farmers in late April will focus on how agricutlure will fit into the devlopment of government policies on green energy,” says Geoff Dale from the Better Farming Magazine.

 government funding will help science, engineering and business sectors move ahead with research programs. The University of Western Ontario has teams are already working on the potential use of residual crops for green energy use such as straw, corncobs and apples, says Franco Berruti. Berruti a professor and director of the University of Western Ontario’s new Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternate Resources

“After squeezing juice from the apples, you’re left with a residual material that is either disposed of in a landfill or can be turned into bio-oil or upgraded into pharmaceuticals,” he says. “We’re also working with grape skins and seeds.”

This research is not taking away food which would go to consumers, instead they are recycling in a sense the left overs from processing. This is a great step in advancements, instead of the residue going into landfills we can harness the energy and benefit from it

With North America suffering through economic recession, what better time than to promise cheap reliable energy. Our oil reserves are being depleted and forcing offshore drilling.  Society really needs a cultural shift, from an oil dependent society to our future. It has happened in the past with wood and coal, and both times crisis hit but adjustments were made. 

This new funding is exciting and promising in a world full of pessimistic attitudes. Although, research is still in beginning stages wouldn’t it be wonderful if something could really be made from our left over agricultural waste! I think so…

 The long awaited weekend of College Royal Open House is quickly approaching on march 21, and 22 but, there is some controversy as animal rights activist Peter Singer is expected to visit campus this weekend. Signer is a renowned animal rights activist, his visit to Guelph will inaugurate the Guelph Lecture in Philosophy.

Signer travels the world giving talks on animal welfare. In his 1990 book, Animal Liberation he said ““Sentience…. does not mean that the being has a personal interest in continuing to live”. Basically, if animals do not have a concept of death, then they do not mind dying. He says, that if farm animals had good meaningful lives and painless deaths, then he would see nothing wrong in killing them. But he is a vegetarian because of the fact he believes farm animals suffer.

College Royal was traditionally started to showcase the achievements of the Ontario Agricultural College, and was famous for it’s annual Livestock show.   Because animal rights activists don’t agree nor promote the showing of livestock, the college royal society is hoping to make the best of the situation and have all events run smoothly as a result. “We have excellent animal care protocols, and I have full confidence in the animal handling at our livestock events.” Says Andrew Zwambag, the 2009 College Royal President and Ontario Veterinary College Student

The Animals for Research Act (revised 1990 includes all animals kept for research and teaching.  It ensures the proper protocols are followed.  This act is administered by OMAFRA and controls all animals under government or university care.    The Health of Animals Act (1990) allows regulations for humane treatment and transportations to be easily introduced.

The care and use of experimental animals in Canada, is supervised by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC). The CCAC exert influence by putting financial pressure on researchers. There is an agreement from all the main funding organizations in Canada, that they will not fund research that has not been approved by the CCAC. Researchers must send a specific proposal to CCAC before funding is approved. 

In addition, each University and Government Research Establishment has a local Animal Care Committee that makes sure all researchers conform to CCAC guidelines. The CCAC inspects all animal facilities in Canada ever 4-5 year. 

“The University of Guelph is very progressive in animal care. It had an Animal Care Committee (ACC) before the CCAC was established. They carry out regular inspections twice a year” Says Prof. Ian Duncan – PHD animal welfare

Animal welfare has come a long way, consumers demand to know more and farmers want to better inhumane practices. Crystal Mackay, the Executive Director of the Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC) Says farm organizations are now trying to take a more pro-active approach by promote animal welfare amongst its members, rather than argue.

Animal Welfare has a long way to go, but there is hope– Bill 21 (Blog on Bill 21) was introduced in California to eliminate battery cages. The European Union has a long list of welfare issues they are improving on, including eliminating battery cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for sows. With ongoing talks through NAFTA surrounding subsidies, and fairer trade, animal welfare is a concern that will not go away. Saying this, producers are willing to change practices the public deems as unacceptable, but money does not grow on trees and funding is necessary.  College Royal has nothing to worry about, if nothing perhaps Mr. Signer will realize what a good job the university and all of the animal care councils are doing.

This weekend was a teaser to spring weather — lots of sun and mild temperatures. Many people were outside enoying the spring-like atmosphere and there was no doubt some barbeque’s going on. But, the US faced the biggest beef recall in U.S. History last year (2008) involving downer cows from a Chino, California slaughterhouse where 143 million pounds of beef were recalled. The California slaughterhouse is now the subject of an animal-abuse investigation. This incident disturbed farmers and non-farmers alike, and conjured up an inquiry into the “partial” ban of downer cows. 

Basically downer cows were not allowed for food consumption if she was already collapsed. But, government inspectors were to allow the animal into the food supply if it had an acute injury, such as a broken leg, but showed no signs of BSE.

“As part of our commitment to public health, our Agriculture Department is closing a loophole in the system to ensure that diseased cows don’t find their way into the food supply,” Presiden Obama said in his weekly radio and video address.

I am glad this decision was made, in order to up hold a quality reputation for food safety and animal welfare this legislation will protect the good farmers and put to shame the mediocre ones.  Ideally this will encourage producers to send animals to slaughter at a more appropriate time in the cows life.  I mean by this, that the cows are not pushed to a point where cows are so weak they can not stand for the duration of the trailer ride. 

 ”A hazard to public health,”  was how Obama described America’s current food inspection system. He says, “many of these laws (food safety) haven’t been touched since they were written in the time of president Theodore Roosevelt.”

Roosevelt was in office till 1909! that’s 90 years old…clearly food quality and safety standards have not been a big concern to the white house, but they should be.  How are farmers expected to produce safe food when they are only making a margin of a few pennies on some products.  This reflects upon America’s cheap food policy, and the need for movement towards subsidies that reward quality, welfare and environmental practices. If farmers did not have to scour their costs of production to find a small loophole to make money, this would not be such a problem. But, this isn’t true of American agriculture. Americans for the most part are payed for how much milk they can produce at the cheapest price, and if they need to sell a downer cow to help keep their costs down well something is wrong with the system.