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Veal Farmers of Ontario announces leadership for 2021

Guelph, Ontario - Veal Farmers of Ontario (VFO) is pleased to announce the re-election of Pascal Bouilly as Chair and the election of Cameron Knip as Vice Chair, at a recent meeting of the Board of Directors.
 
Bouilly, the Dairy Calf Supply Chain Manager with Delft Blue Veal in Cambridge, was appointed to the VFO Board of Directors in 2015 and served as Vice Chair for two years prior to being elected Chair in 2020. Bouilly is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the farm and the started dairy calves program.
 
“Driving value for Ontario veal is a top priority for the VFO Board of Directors,” says Bouilly. “One thing that has not changed during this pandemic is Ontario farmers and their commitment to continuing to do what they do best—producing safe, high-quality food for our customers. As Chair, I look forward to the year ahead as we focus our attention on the issues, initiatives, and projects that will best support our members and our industry.”
 
Knip, who joined the Board in 2019, raises veal cattle south of Exeter where he also cash crops with his family.
 
“As Vice Chair, I look forward to working with my fellow directors to strategically address issues directly impacting male dairy calf and veal producers,” says Knip. “With market volatility, processing capacity, and uncertainty disrupting our livestock markets, the importance of business risk management programs that work for our farmers has never been more critical.”
 
Judy Dirksen, Sid Atkinson, and Phil Kroesbergen were acclaimed to the VFO Board at the 2021 virtual Annual General Meeting on March 3 and will serve three-year terms.
 
Dirksen, a veal producer from Harriston, and Atkinson, a dairy and cash crop producer from Roseneath, bring extensive board experience to their roles. Kroesbergen, who raises veal with his family near Mount Brydges, is past Vice Chair.
 
Returning to the eight member VFO Board of Directors is Brian Keunen (Palmerston). Earlier in the year, the VFO Board appointed Dylan Yantzi (Tavistock) to a two-year term to fill a board vacancy as per the requirements and expectations of our regulations. Stratford-area veal producer Kurtis Moesker was also appointed to a two-year term at the recent meeting of the Board of Directors, filling an additional seat that became vacant mid-term.
 
“Thank you to each one of the members of the Board for your willingness to serve the Ontario veal cattle sector,” says Bouilly. “The VFO Board of Directors is most certainly a diverse group of farmers with a wealth of experience. I am looking forward to the year ahead.”
Source : Veal Farmers of Ontario

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

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.

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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.

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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

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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