Resiliency, innovation and hard work were several themes found in the wide variety of topics Progressive Dairy covered over the past 12 months. To close out the year, we have compiled a list of the most-read articles on our website from October 2023 to October 2024 and included a few new insights.
1. Unpacking the controversy, health risks, legal landscape of raw milk in Canada
Though selling raw milk in Canada is illegal, consumer interest in the product continues to grow. Public health officials in Canada strongly caution against the consumption of raw milk, stating that health risks outweigh potential benefits. Disease outbreaks can be linked to the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Questions about the legality of regulations have been raised, and consumer connection and trust have been a point of discussion. Following the publication of this article, Progressive Dairy published a Letter to the Editor that discussed the consumer perspective, with a call for legalization of raw milk and potential guidelines.
2. Brophy’s Dairy Farm produces award-winning milk on Newfoundland’s northern peninsula
Leslie Brophy is proud to dairy in a unique location: a small town in a remote part of Newfoundland. Though Brophy’s Dairy Farm, operated with Leslie’s wife, Paula, and brother Leander, has seen a share of hardships including a barn fire and severe disease outbreak, the team at Brophy’s continues to dairy successfully – winning several awards.
Q: Is there an area of your dairy you want to improve in 2025?
A: “Animal health and comfort is our focus this coming year. We are installing a cow monitoring system to track cow health like rumination, temperatures and feeding times to help better manage the herd to help prevent and treat problems before they become issues. Also, a scraper system that will clean out alleys more often than what we currently do with a skid steer during milking. By doing this, we hope to keep alleys and cows cleaner. We aren't 100 percent sure if it will be a traditional alley scraper system or if we will use newer technology with a robotic collector-type system. Our barn will have to be retrofitted to accommodate either. Ongoing research this winter will help us decide.”—Leslie Brophy, Brophy’s Dairy Farm
3. Building on generations of success at New Galma Dairy
The Zeldenrijk family of Mount Elgin, Ontario, has been investing in technology and innovation since immigrating to Canada in 2001. With two dairy sites housing 300 cows and a creamery, the Zeldenrijks utilize automated milking and feeding systems to manage their herd. New Galma Dairy has an interest in exhibiting cattle, and since the opening of their creamery have been utilizing genetics to create better cheese.
Q: What types of products are you looking to produce in the creamery in 2025?
A: “In the coming year, we hope to add smoked and alcohol-infused cheeses to our lineup. We are both humbled and thankful to have had our cheeses place very well in the 2024 Royal Winter Fair Cheese and Butter Competition. Our Italian placed second, pesto placed third and nettle placed fifth in the Flavoured class while our medium placed third in the Firm and Hard class. This has given us great inspiration to be creative and present something new to our customers.”—Elora Zeldenrijk, New Galma Dairy and Creamery
4. The future of the dairy industry might be across the field
Progressive Dairy interviewed Frontenac County, Ontario 4-H dairy leader Rebecca Abrams Lamendeau to discuss the structure and purpose of the club. With a desire to connect youth with the dairy community and teach members life skills, Frontenac County 4-H Club pairs members with local dairies to lease calves for the year. Members are expected to communicate with farms regarding housing, payment, equipment and more over the summer.
5. First-generation dairy farmer 'living the dream'
As a young girl, Suz Brouwer knew she wanted to be a dairy farmer. With the help of her dad, several dairy producers, patience, hard work and an interest in learning, Brouwer established EastView Dairy in 2023.
Q: What have you learned in the first year of dairy farming?
A: "This first year has been full of personal growth moments. Even if I was doubtful or scared when taking on a problem, breakdown or sudden emergency, I was able to remain calm and confident that all I could do is my best and trust my experience. When working for other farmers, you're still able to go home at the end of the day and your mind is not necessarily filled with the ins and outs of the business. In my first year, I have gained such an admiration and high level of respect for farmers who manage these businesses. There are so many things that need to be considered: animal health, nutrition, feed inventory, crop planning, soil heath, equipment maintenance, financial strategies, breeding programs, human resources, and the list goes on. Having to be the decision-maker and director in all these areas can be tiring or overwhelming because you want to do your best and see the farm succeed, but it doesn't mean you have to do it on your own. It is super-important to surround yourself with professionals and industry experts who have experience with all these things. And of course, I have realized just how beautiful and rewarding the life of a dairy farmer can be!"—Suz Brouwer, EastView Dairy
6. How Mangin Bros. Dairy started milking just one year after their devastating barn fire
After disaster struck by way of a barn fire in 2022, brothers Jamie and Steven Mangin of Manitoba spent little time grieving as they worked to rebuild their dairy. With a barn idea in mind and efficiency and cow comfort as priorities, Mangin Bros. Dairy was rebuilt with an automated milking system and designed so that it can be managed by one person.
Q: After almost two full years in the new barn, what advice do you have for other producers who might be building a new facility?
A: "My main piece of advice is research, research, research. Go out with your dairy supplier and tour as many barns as you can to get ideas for your own barn. It’s amazing how you have an idea/plan in your mind of how you want your barn to look and then you happen to see another barn and you will see something that works that you never would have thought of for your own. And ask questions of other producers who have recently built to see if they could do it again, would they change anything in their barns and why. You would be surprised at the little details that are overlooked that become troublesome later on."—Jamie Mangin, Mangin Bros. Dairy
7. Cultivating collaboration: University of Florida and University of Guelph join forces for sustainable agriculture and natural resources
Utilizing podcast platforms, the University of Florida and University of Guelph are engaging students from the U.S. and Canada in agriculture and natural resource discussions. As a “student-driven science initiative,” a podcast series was published in the summer of 2024 discussing tomatoes, alligators, cover crops and more.
8. Commitment to the Canadian cow: Van Benthem Dairy
Rolf Van Benthem has been making breeding decisions at Van Benthem Dairy since he was young – young enough that semen salesmen would have to stop by after he got home from school. With a passion for the Canadian cow, an impressive work ethic and service to their local community, the Van Benthem family is a valuable asset to the dairy industry.
Q: What is a goal you have set for 2025?
A: "Our goal next year is to improve cash flow and show potential growth. Numbers have been tighter for our farm and others in the industry; we want to find ways to save operation costs while still growing farm size." —Rolf Van Benthem, Van Benthem Dairy
9. Should you chase incentive days?
Chris Church tackles this question as he breaks down the value of incentive days. Giving several examples, Church outlines how managing additional milk can generate revenue but cautions against overproduction.
Q: When is the ideal time to decide if you should chase incentive days?
A: "We are challenged in dairy by long timelines. Some interventions (genetics, reproduction) take years to see in the tank. For incentives, you must plan to be in the race 12 months in advance. Start with your expected monthly calvings. You need consistent numbers throughout the year, but if you want to be in this race, plan to calve 10 percent more in the fall. Ask your veterinarian about voluntary wait periods and heifer breeding targets, and remember to consider your dry cow and lactating stocking densities. Preparing in advance will improve the economics of nutrition changes and help protect your margins."—Chris Church, Central Dairy Solutions
10. Progressive Event: Lessons from the NHL, AI and Germany shared at inaugural CDX Business Summit
Dairy leaders gathered to network and learn during the first-ever Canadian Dairy XPO Business Summit in April. With speakers like St. Louis Blues assistant general manager Tim Taylor, media consultant Mohit Rajhans and German dairy producer René Döbelt, attendees learned about leadership, artificial intelligence (AI)-based opportunities in agriculture and additional revenue streams within the dairy industry.
11. Tree Canada is offering tree planting for farmers across the country
Dairy Farmers of Canada partnered with nonprofit Tree Canada to encourage producers to plant trees on Canadian dairies. Offering benefits like wind protection, changes to air and soil temperature, diversifying vegetation and more, planting trees can do more than beautify a barnyard. DFC and Tree Canada plan to plant 25,000 trees across the country.
12. Beware of the status quo: Challenges on the horizon for Canadian dairy
At the 2024 Progressive Dairy Operators Smposium, Peter Gould, Al Mussell and Mathieu Frigon participated in a panel moderated by producer Ben Loweith to discuss aging infrastructure, concerns about processing capacity, trade dynamics, policy uncertainty, risk assessment and the need for innovation. Panelists agreed that proactive planning, adaptability and strategic collaboration are important for the future of the industry.
13. Fueling the future: Innovations in agricultural biomass and biogas production
The University of Saskatchewan is currently studying methods that might allow agricultural biomass – or crop residue – to fuel biogas production. Harnessing thermal alkaline hydrolysis and passive digesters could also enhance biogas production.
14. Investing in a contemporary calf barn positions Hammond family for future herd success
Hammond Farms Ltd. of Ingersoll, Ontario, has been owned by a member of the Hammond family for 99 years. The fourth generation, Glen and Caryn, currently milk 260 cows in six robots and farm roughly 1,000 acres. Calf care is a priority to the Hammonds, with strict protocols and innovative housing.
15. Managing winter with natural ventilation
It is just as important to monitor your barn’s ventilation system in the winter as it is during the warmer summer months. In this article, Rick McBay describes the benefits of utilizing a ridge ventilation system to prevent condensation from accumulating on curtains, lower humidity levels and maintain a proper interior temperature.
Q: What is the top ventilation issue you see on dairy farms in the winter, and what are some strategies to prevent or minimize it?
A: "The biggest challenge in operating a naturally ventilated dairy facility during winter is managing humidity and ammonia levels produced by the cows' body heat. High levels of humidity can lead to condensation and icing of interior surfaces including the inside of the sidewall curtain fabric or panels. High ammonia levels degrade air quality, which can negatively impact animal health.
"Controlling the interior temperature is the primary method of managing this issue. Lowering the facility's temperature increases the intake of fresh air and exhaust, enhancing air exchange and reducing humidity and ammonia levels. The ideal temperature will vary depending on the building structure and insulation levels, but in every case, running your facility at the lowest temperature possible during the winter will provide a much healthier environment for both you and your cows."—Rick McBay, Canarm AgSystems
