The process behind clean Canadian milk from the farm to the processor
By Chloe Gresel, CanACT member, University of Guelph
Many steps are in place on Canadian dairy farms to ensure milk is kept clean, safe and nutritious — from teat to glass.
Every year, I visit the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to show my heifer, and part of this experience is talking to the
cab drivers while I travel to and from the grounds and the hotel. This year, I got into a great conversation with a cabby about why he buys organic milk. He said that he feels safer giving his children organic milk to avoid the hormones and antibiotics in milk. The impression left on me from this conversation was, “how can anyone feel unsafe drinking any sort of milk in Canada?” You see, Canadian milk is one of the safest things you can buy in the stores to drink. All Canadian milk is 100 per cent free from artificial hormones and antibiotics. In fact, the only thing that is in Canadian milk (besides milk) is vitamins A and D which, by law, have to be added. So, how is milk so safe? Let me tell you!
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Posted by Farm and Food Care on May 23rd, 2014 :: Filed under
Agricultural Advocates,
Consumers,
Dairy cattle,
Farm Safety,
Food safety,
UncategorizedTags ::
#loveONTfood #milk
Guest column by Larry Davis, Board Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA)
Slow-moving farm equipment on roadways can present significant challenges for both motorists and farmers, particularly at this time of year. As Ontario farmers rush to bring in the harvest in good weather conditions, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) encourages farmers to review road safety practices.
While farm equipment is permitted on roadways at all times of year, it is a more common sight during the busy harvest season. Motorists who are unaccustomed to encountering farm equipment on the road are often unprepared to safely follow slow-moving tractors towing large, specialized pieces of equipment such as combines and grain wagons.
The OFA reminds farmers there are specific rules farm equipment operators are required to follow to keep our roads safe. For example, drivers must be at least 16 years of age and all farm equipment drivers should practice a “no riders policy.” Farm vehicles must yield half the roadway to oncoming traffic, they must be properly lit, and operators must signal turns. Farm vehicles should be driven on the travelled portion of the road, because road shoulders may not support the weight of farm equipment. And remember tractors and farm equipment still follow the rules of the road, and that means no cell phones while driving.
It’s always good practice to keep your lights on when travelling roadways – especially around dawn and dusk. And every tractor, combine or towed implement must display a slow moving vehicle sign to warn motorists that the vehicle will not reach highway speeds. But with proper signage comes some hefty rules: equipment displaying a slow moving vehicle sign is limited to a maximum speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour. Equipment often requires operators to travel at lower speeds because wide turns and heavy loads make it difficult to stop quickly or turn easily on roadways.
Let’s put farm safety first this harvest season. The OFA encourages everyone – farmers and motorists – to consider road safety practices when farm equipment travels on roadways. On behalf of the OFA, we wish farmers a safe and profitable harvest season.
www.ofa.on.ca
Posted by Farm and Food Care on October 21st, 2013 :: Filed under
Farm life,
Farm Machinery,
Farm SafetyTags ::
farm equipment,
Farm life,
Farmers
by Patricia Grotenhuis, Lifelong farmer and agricultural advocate
Storms have always filled me with awe. I love sitting, safe and secure, in my house or in the barn while the wind howls around us, snow or rain coming down with no end in sight. There is always one big fear with storms, though: what if the power goes out?
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Posted by FFC on May 10th, 2011 :: Filed under
Animal care,
Farm life,
Farm Safety,
Innovation and technology,
Uncategorized,
Weather,
winterTags ::
animal care,
animal welfare,
Canada,
Farmers,
Research,
weather
by Patricia Grotenhuis, lifelong farmer and agricultural advocate
Being on a farm is a great experience and has many benefits. Anyone living on, working on, or visiting a farm though should remember the dangers that can exist.
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Posted by FFC on March 21st, 2011 :: Filed under
Farm life,
Farm SafetyTags ::
animal care,
animals,
Canada,
Farm Safety,
Farmers
