Organic Livestock Care & Management – Organic dairy case study: somatic cell count management from 38 Quebec farms – François Labelle

The presentation is about a three year technology transfer project on improvement of organic milk quality, more specifically on somatic cell count (SCC). 38 organic dairy farms in Québec were evaluated under the supervision of the expert in organic dairy production, at Valacta (the Dairy Production Centre of Expertise, in Québec). This project was in two parts: at first we compared the management of the farms regarding levels of SCC to find out what the best farms were doing differently. The second part of the project was to assess the impact of recommendations made for each farm to improve management. A best management practices guide to improve organic milk quality will be presented.

The target of the workshop is organic dairy farmers and their advisers.

This project was developed using a global approach that included all the management factors related to milk quality on organic dairy farms. The results we obtained are based on the reality of organic dairy farms and on the experience of farmers and advisers working together.

To our knowledge it is the first project of this kind to happen in Canada and probably in North America.

Information on the speaker and Valacta: François Labelle, agrologist, expert in organic dairy production in the Valacta R&D team.

As soon as he graduated from Macdonald Campus of McGill University in 1989, François was involved in organic dairy production. First, he acquired several years of field experience with organic dairy producers. Then he worked as an adviser to a technical support club in organic dairy farming. From 2004, he was lecturer, farm manager and in charge of the transition to organic dairy production at Alfred Campus of the University of Guelph. At Valacta, he is in charge of various technology transfer projects and of the technical support of the organic dairy production advisors team.

To have more information on Valacta, visit our web site: www.valacta.com

To reach the speaker directly, please contact – flabelle@valacta.com

Manager’s note: this is a one-hour workshop with a huge compression of info in that very short time-period.  If you wish to contact François prior to the Conference to arrange a meeting or consultation, this would be an excellent way to get a more detailed presentation.  He will also be in Guelph on the Friday.

Register

-WHAT: Discussion about the Organic Science Cluster, and stakeholder input on planning/prioritizing research for the next 5 years

-WHO: Anyone who thinks research/science is important for the development of organics in Canada (production, processing, marketing, policy, social)

-WHY: The Organic Science Cluster will direct almost all of the federally funded organic research that happens in Canada. Stakeholder input is critical for identifying research priorities for 2013-2018. If Ontario stakeholders do not participate in identifying priorities for the province, then research here may be overlooked.

-WHEN: Saturday, January 28 from 12:00-2:00 (bring your lunch)

-WHERE: held at room UC335 on the actual day, or prior, so your comments are put on the agenda, please send via E-Mail to Andy Hammermeister at ahammermeister@nsac.ca.

FarmLINK “Meet & Greet”  •  Saturday January 28th, noon – 1:15pm

UC441, Guelph University Centre 4th floor

Do you have land you want to make available to a farmer? Or, are you a new farmer looking for land?

Then come join us at the Guelph Organic Conference for a chance to meet in person! FarmLINK ‘Meet & Greets’ are a great opportunity for farmland owners and farm seekers to:

• connect with people wanting to meet you
• access helpful resources on land and labour sourcing
• learn what new services FarmStart has to offer you!

For more information contact laurie@farmstart.ca or (519) 836 7046 x 109

Alexandra English, Training & Resources Program Manager – FarmStart
www.farmstart.ca  •  519.836.7046 ext.104

Please follow FarmStart at http://twitter.com/FarmStart

[MANAGER'S NOTE: FarmStart has a booth in the Expo in the Basement Level, centre section, along with several like-minded non-profit groups]

How to Sell Your Food Locally

A Hamilton Eat Locally Supported Event

Hear how 3 local farms retail their products with a questio and answer to follow.

• Fenwood Farms – John and Carol Fennema
• under ground organics – Shane Eby
• La Primavera Farm – Joanne Feddes

Panelists represent a wide range of sales options including farm gate ales, farmers markets, community shared agriculture (CSA) and products including meats, vegetables, and flowers.

Saturday March 12, 2011

1:30 – 4:30pm

Cost: $10 per person

Location: Ancaster Fair Grounds (Hwy. 52 & Hwy. 2, Ancaster)