The Milk Producer - November 2009 - (Page 26)

ISSUESUPDATE By Sharon Laidlaw and Bill Dimmick CQM on its wayelegates were asked their opinion on introducing a forgivable penalty program to encourage producers to embrace and implement the Canadian Quality Milk (CQM) program. DFO is proposing a forgivable penalty program that would have producers pay a penalty of $1 per hectolitre for the first year of noncompliance, increasing by $1 per hL for each additional year. All or a portion of the penalty would be refunded if a producer complied with the program within a certain time period. The program, pending board approval, is aimed at keeping implementation on schedule and minimizing staff resources needed to deal with compliance issues, said George MacNaughton, DFO’s production division director. “Our goal is not to penalize producers; that’s why there’s a forgivable component. It’s more like a gentle nudge to get them moving along the process,” he said. “Producers need to adjust their attitude in how they embrace the program and realize that the system benefits all producers and reinforces the positive message they send to consumers about their industry.” Delegate feedback on the proposed penalty program was largely in favour of such a move. Most agreed the penalties were in the right range and that the program was a reasonable means of getting producers to comply with the program, MacNaughton said. “All producers have implemented a majority of CQM requirements … The Canadian Quality Milk Program (CQM) was one of many issues raised at the recent Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) Fall Policy Conference held near Alliston, Ont. Discussions were closed to the public and media. Assistant editor Sharon Laidlaw and editor Bill Dimmick compiled reports in this special section from post-conference interviews and discussion papers made public after the conference. CQM progress in other provinces (As of Sept. 30, 2009. Source: DFC CQM co-ordinator) Province BC AB SK MB QC NB NS PEI NL Total Total Producers 557 614 203 391 6,481 233 253 212 33 8,977 Trained 507 614 161 391 6,256 220 253 200 33 8,635 Registered 187 609 N/A 142 29 60 244 183 18 1,472 what’s left is the record-keeping. Some producers find that task a bit daunting, but it doesn’t need to be,” he said. An extension of Ontario’s existing raw milk quality program, the CQM program will be implemented in four stages starting in 2010. DFO will 26 | November 2009 | MilkPRODUCER

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - November 2009

The Milk Producer - November 2009
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
National Policy
Farm Finance
DFC Promotion
CQM On Its Way
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - November 2009