The Milk Producer - April 2011 - (Page 4)

EDITOR’SNOTES By Bill Dimmick By the numbers Census forms that arrive next month can help us make sound decisions about our industry’s future A that tell a story. Almost two decades ago, long .before my daughter decided to make me a grandpa, I coached her softball team. I kept precise statistics for all 12 girls on our team, and put them to good use. A coach can make decisions on gut feelings. I made my share of those. But I also relied on my computer printouts when I put together batting line-ups. They told me a story about that group of 11 and 12-year-old girls. We didn’t have an over-abundance of natural talent, yet we went on to take the bronze medal at the Ontario championships. On your farm, you use numbers and statistics for much more serious business. They help you decide which cows to cull, whether you really need a new tractor or if you need to improve your herd’s somatic cell count. Our industry as a whole puts numbers to good use, too. An invaluable source for these vital statistics comes from the Census of Agriculture, conducted by Statistics Canada every five years. The next census takes place about one month from now on May 10. Statistics Canada is asking you to fill in the forms you’ll receive and return them. You can also participate online. Later, once all the numbers are tallied, crunched and analysed, we will have a much clearer picture of our dairy industry and its place in Canada. “The census will provide farmers, their organizations, and everyone interested in the future of Canadian farming with solid information to quantify the agricultural situation and help make informed decisions on how best THE I PRO U R TH E MI LK PRODUCER is published monthly RODU e m nthl hly by Dairy Farmers of Ontar o, 6780 Campobello Dai Farmers of Onta airy r tari b Road Mississauga, Ontario, Road, Mississauga, Ontar L5N 2L8 ad, ssis a t EDITOR: ill D m ick EDITOR: Bill Dimmick ITOR ASSISTAN EDIT R ASSISTANT EDITOR: Sharon Laidlaw SISTANT ITOR ai law Co-ordinated by Communications Co-ordinated by Co -ordinat s and Planning Div and Planning Di ision, n Bill itch Bill Mitch Assi tant Director. chell, ssis Chan Chan of address notices should be sent to: ange u be sent to: THE MILK PRODUCER 6780 Campobello Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5N 2L8. s 8 Subsc pt Subscription rate : $26.88 for one year, $49.28 bscr ates ye $49.28 ear, 9 for two years and $67.20 for three years in o w year n r e yea in ears Canada (includes HST), $36 per year in the nada (includes l s U.S. $36 per year overseas. Single copy: $2.50. U.S., $36 per year overs S., r vers Make cheques payab Make cheques payable to Dairy Farmers of heque able iry ir Ontario. Ontario. tari to proceed,” says Erik Dorff of Statistics Canada. So what good are all those numbers? Let’s say you want to prove how our industry’s productivity has risen over the years. Census numbers provide the evidence. As Dorff notes, Canadian dairy farmers decreased the dairy herd by 6.1 per cent between 2001 and 2006 to 996,024 cows while maintaining the same milk production. You did that with better animal nutrition, genetics and know-how. Participating in the 2011 Census of Agriculture will let you give a local as well as national voice to your present situation, he says. You will be able “to inform Canadians about the crucial role the diverse agricultural sector plays in shaping our national picture.” Dorff also makes this argument for participating in the census: “Louis Pasteur, the inventor of the pasteurization process, was quoted as saying, ‘Fate favours a prepared mind.’ While knowledge is no guarantee of success, it can tilt the balance in favour of those who possess it. The Census of Agriculture does just this for farmers and all those involved in the agricultural sector. Having solid numbers gives us an understanding of where we are now, where we have come from and allows us better informed approaches to face tomorrow’s challenges.” He makes good sense, whether you’re coaching a girls’ softball team, running a family farm or leading a major industry. not constitute endor stitu ndor tute orsement or approval by The or t The Milk Producer or Dairy Farmers of Ontario of f products or services advertised. The Milk Producer welcomes letters to the i oduce cer comes et e editor about magazine content. bout g bo maga ine content. t t. Phone: (905) 821-8970 ( 0 821-8970 1-89 Fax: (905) 821-3160 (905) 821-3160 1-31 E-mail: bdimmick@milk.org bdimmick milk. immick@m k.o slaidlaw@mil or slaidlaw@milk.org w ilk org Website: Go to publications o at www.milk.org Canada Post Publications Mail Sales Product d tions Mai Sale P oduc a e uct Agreement No. 40063866. Return postage 0063 66. Retu postage 3866 turn o 38 guaranteed. Circulation: 10,000. io 0,000 o 000. ISSN 0030-3038. SS Prin Print d in Canada. inte n nada. a National Nation Marketing Manager tion eting Manager ana James Fitz James Fitzgerald tzg 154 Jean 154 Jean Street, n RR 5, Strat ord, Ontario N5A 6S6 5, Stra ratf Toll-fre Toll-free advertisers only: 1-888-460-6212 ll-free Phone (519) 393-5292 Fax (519) 393-5293 5292 52 51 29 E-m E-mail: milkjim47@quadro.net @quadro n ro.n Opinions expressed herein are those of the ed herein are thos f the erei hose author and/or editor and do not necessarily ditor and not necessarily e aril reﬂect the opinion or policies of Dairy Farmers n or policies of Dair Farmers lici iry of of Ontario. Publication of advertisements does P lication dvert sements does erti ment 4 | April 2011 | MilkPRODUCER http://www.fsc.org http://www.fsc.org http://www.milk.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - April 2011

The Milk Producer - April 2011
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Cover Story
Producer Profile
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Calf Rearing
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - April 2011