Ottawa – Ahead of Dairy Farmers of Canada’s 2024 Annual General Meeting in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment of more than $8.5 million for two projects led by Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) through the AgriAssurance Program – National Industry Association Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
The investment will allow DFC to improve existing producer support tools, such as the national dairy cattle traceability program, DairyTrace, and the related proAction® quality assurance program, which provides a framework for high standards of farming.
DFC will be receiving up to $5,000,000 over 5 years to advance sustainability and public trust in the dairy industry, leveraging the proAction quality assurance program. The proAction program ensures Canadian dairy farms maintain high standards in terms of environmental impact, food safety, animal care, and more. Environmental stewardship is a top priority for the Government of Canada, and the on-farm assessments through proAction, and projects planned through DFC’s sustainability initiatives, will assess areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration, water use, and biodiversity, to help farmers make environmentally conscious decisions in their farming practices.
DFC will also be receiving up to $3,572,786 over five years to build on their existing tools and strengthen DairyTrace to help protect and enhance animal health, public trust, and sustainability. Traceability supports the sustainability and viability of the dairy industry by helping prevent the spread of disease, thereby promoting more sustainable food production and supporting new federal regulations for animal health.
“Dairy farms are at the heart of so many communities across the country, and I know just how hard our dairy farmers work to provide us with top-quality products while caring for their animals and the environment. Today’s investment is about giving Dairy Farmers of Canada the support they need to help farmers adopt sustainable practices to lower emissions, and improve the traceability and safety of dairy products.” – Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“Canadian dairy farmers are working hard to make their farms more sustainable. We are helping make sure they can provide some of the world’s best milk, cheese and other products for future generations.” – Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency