The Milk Producer - February 2010 - (Page 32)

CanWest DHI marks major milestone epositioning services to focus more on improving productivity, milk quality and profitability have helped CanWest Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) achieve a long-term goal to have 75 per cent of licensed Ontario milk producers enrolled in the organization. “Through our planning process, we identified that as an organization and as a business, we must evolve and grow,” said John Bongers, DHI board chairman. “Also, as a board it is important that we set clear goals and expectations for our organization. That is precisely what we did a decade ago, and now we see today the benefit of that strategy.” “We have had a clear objective of reaching the 75 per cent milestone for a number of years, and that has guided many of the decisions we’ve made along the way in terms of product development and customer service,” said Neil Petreny, the organization’s general manager. “I’m extremely proud of the entire DHI team.” Producers can expect further expansion of services in 2010, Petreny told DHI’s Ontario region recent annual meeting in Toronto. That will include helping dairy producers deal with traceability. Alberta made bovine age verification mandatory a year ago, he noted. Last summer, federal and provincial agriculture ministers committed to full traceability by the end of 2011. DHI’s Alberta customers have an automated age verification option that gets animal inventory information to the right location to meet government regulations. Age verifica- R CanWest DHI celebrated its 75 per cent enrollment with cake. Director Cindy Whylotock accepts the first piece from chairman John Bongers. tion also generates market premiums, he added. DHI is working with industry partners to expand the service to Ontario this year, Petreny said. DHI is also working on introducing a BVD (bovine viral diarrhea) test that can be done with the same DHI sample. “Another lab-related service we are exploring with our Valacta partners is the ability to detect subclinical ketosis using the same DHI samples,” he said. DHI is participating in the Ontario Johne’s Control Program, along with several other provincial dairy organizations, he said. “I would encourage everyone to take advantage of this program when it becomes available in your area.” Meanwhile, CanWest DHI ended its last fiscal year in solid fiscal shape. Financial services director Rob McTaggart reported a $481,000 surplus for the 2009 fiscal year, up from $291,000 in 2008. For 2010, no fee changes are planned, he said. The budget forecast calls for total revenues to increase by two per cent, mostly due to increased use of optional services such as Johne’s and mastitis tests. In other business, delegates voted to defer a decision on bylaw changes that would introduce a code of conduct for all directors, allow the board to vote on removing a director and generally tidy up bylaw wording. Delegates wanted more time to consider the changes. FAN REBATES BIG Fans BIG Rebates BIG Returns Rebates still available for new construction. Don't miss out on up to $4900 per fan in rebates! If you are building, you are eligible. Contact us today to get your rebate pre-approved! 1-800-960-4002 Email: rick@faromor.com Building in 2010? 32 | February 2010 | MilkPRODUCER http://www.FAROMOR.COM http://www.FAROMOR.COM http://www.FAROMOR.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - February 2010

The Milk Producer - February 2010
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
DFC Policy
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Quest for Quota
Issues Update
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - February 2010