Dairy Cost Study--Apply Before January 15

Jan 09, 2018

The Dairy Cost Study is open for applications for the 2018 production year. The next study starts in January, and there is no cost to participate.

“The Dairy Cost Study is a program specifically for dairy producers. It provides them with a tool to better understand their business costs and profits,” says Pauline Van Biert, research analyst, Agriculture and Forestry. Similar to the AgriProfit$ program, participants receive a detailed business analysis for their farm.

Understanding the relationship between profit and costs can help producers determine targets and goals for continuing to improve their business and improve profit margins. “Participating in the program will give dairy producers a better understanding of their farm’s performance,” says Van Biert. “In times where margins are tight, it’s good to have as much information as possible at your fingertips when making important business decisions.”

Participants provide monthly information about their dairy activities over the course of a year. Information includes livestock numbers, feed usage and cost, labour and expenses. “Much of this is already kept, in one form or another, at the farm,” says Van Biert.

At the end of 12 months, the data is rolled-up into their farm business analysis. Participants also receive easy-to-read charts showing their farm results, and a report showing how they compare to others in the study and to the provincial averages. “The ability to compare their results to others can help producers set goals or targets for improvement,” says Van Biert.

“I have heard from past participants that their time is well invested in this program, and the results are useful in decision making and starting conversations with family, feed nutritionists, and bankers alike,” says Van Biert.

The deadline to sign up for the study is January 15, 2018. Sign up online or contact Pauline Van Biert for more information.

Contact:

Pauline Van Biert

780-415-2153

Source : Government of Alberta

Video: U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan | Made by Producers for Producers

Join Jill Brokaw, a third-generation pig farmer and staff member of the National Pork Board, as she dives into the vital role of the US Swine Health Improvement Plan, also known as US SHIP. The program establishes a national playbook of standards for monitoring African swine fever and classical swine fever.

Why Should Pork Producers Care? If a disease breaks out, officials will establish a control area to help contain the disease. This plan is designed to mitigate risk and demonstrate freedom of disease at the site level. The goal is to support business continuity outside of the control area in case of an outbreak.

How Will the Pork Industry Use US SHIP? US SHIP uses already existing programs to support the standards for biosecurity, traceability and disease surveillance.

Biosecurity: This plan uses your completed Secure Pork Supply plan to demonstrate compliance with the biosecurity program standards and shows your ability to reduce the risk of disease introduction.

Traceability: AgView can be used to demonstrate compliance with the traceability standards and the ability to electronically provide State and Federal agencies the traceability information they need to determine where disease is and isn’t.

Disease Surveillance: The Certified Swine Sampler Collector Program helps expand the number of people certified to take samples. In the event of a large-scale foreign animal disease outbreak, we will need a trained group of sample collectors to help animal health officials find where the disease is present. This is to help you demonstrate freedom of disease and support the permitted movement of animals.

Getting Started with US SHIP:

1. Enroll in U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan

2. Share 30 days of movement data

3. Have a completed Secure Pork Supply Plan

4. Become U.S. SHIP certified

5. Maintain communication with your state

Takeaway: U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan helps safeguard animal health. Together, we're creating a sustainable future for pork production in the United States and taking steps to strengthen the business of U.S. pork producers everywhere