DFO supports virtual Restaurants Canada (RC) Show through partnership

February 26, 2021

DFO is proud to return as a sponsor for the 2021 Restaurants Canada (RC) Show as part of our ongoing partnership with Restaurants Canada, which began in 2018.

The RC Show is a large foodservice and hospitality event where food industry representatives go to network, get inspiration and experience new products and campaign launches.

This year, from Feb. 28 to Mar. 3, the RC show is being held as virtual event for the first time. Through collaboration with other milk boards, processing partners, chefs and restaurants, DFO has ensured the dairy industry’s strong presence during the event, which include:

• Our virtual booth with a link to our consumer website at milk.org;
• A quick highlight video that speaks to our marketing theme of "farmer equity";
• Announcing the launch of our 2021 Ontario Dairy Guide as a reference document for people to learn more about local dairy and its categories, also containing a list of all Ontario-based dairy processors;
• Participants at the show can also reach out to DFO via available contact info to learn more about dairy and inquire about opportunities and solutions for their restaurants and hospitality establishments.

Learn more and attend by visiting the RC Show website. The event starts this Sunday. 

DFO celebrates dairy producers and products on Canada's Agriculture Day

February 23, 2021

Today, Feb. 23, 2021, is Canada's Agriculture Day. Hosted by the ag organization Ag More Than Ever, the special day celebrates the delicious food grown and raised across the country and the people who are part of the Canadian agri-food industry.

Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) has joined in by celebrating dairy producers, processors, transporters and all others who are involved in the dairy industry and provide high-quality milk and other dairy products for Canadians.

Share your support and pride on social media using the hashtag #CdnAgDay with ideas below:

• Post a photo or video celebrating Canadian ag
• Cook and all-Canadian meal
• Post a "forks up" selfie 

Social media images like the cheese graphic are available for use on the Ag Day website. 

Also, check out the virtual fireside chat event from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with members of the food industry, which is supported by Dairy Farmers of Canada. 

Mental health events for farmers, farm managers and staff

February 23, 2021

Farm Management Canada (FMC) is hosting a two-part workshop on mental health and agriculture. The first part is coming up in February. Sign up for both both sessions for free below:

Part 1: Creating Healthy Workplaces
Thursday, Feb. 25
1 to 2:30 p.m. EST

Join FMC and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) for a facilitated discussion on how to recognize, assess, control and evaluate your current farm management plan from a healthy workplace perspective.

Experience examples of policies, programs and tools that can help you build a mentally healthy work environment and learn how to apply these strategies in your existing farm business management plan.

Part 2: Growing Your Plan
Thursday, March 25
1 to 2:30 p.m. EST

As a follow up to Part 1, we discover what experiences you had in applying the RACE (recognize, assess, control and evaluate) model for psychological health, safety and well-being, in your farm management plans. Tools, resources, interactive group work, exercises, as well as your own experience and knowledge, will provide valuable insights and learning outcomes for all participants.

Click here to register for the sessions.

Welcome to DFO's new Industry Resources website

February 19, 2021

At Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO), we are pleased to announce the launch of our brand-new industry website earlier this week, on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, here at the link milk.org/industry.

This is our publicly accessible industry website, which has a redesigned layout.

Here, on the top and left navigation bars, you'll find information on proAction, the dairy industry’s national quality assurance program, digital versions of our flagship Milk Producer magazine and easy access to commonly used forms for dairy farmers and other industry members. There are dedicated pages for processors and transporters as well. 

To access the industry login page for DFO's new Milk Management System (MMS), click Industry Login at the top right.

To go to DFO's consumer website, click Milk.org Home at the top right.

Our goal is to provide our visitors and partners with a more user-friendly site that will engage and inform, and is easier to navigate.

A key feature is the mobile responsiveness of the entire website, including MMS. This is a major upgrade that means all text, images and charts will resize to fit on cell phones and tablets.

Welcome, and we hope you enjoy browsing!

DFO launches new winter marketing campaign about milk's 15 essential nutrients

February 16, 2021

Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is excited to launch a new, fully integrated winter milk campaign starting on Monday, Feb. 15, running until April 25.

The new marketing campaign reinforces milk's nutritional value. By highlighting individual nutrients in milk and their benefits in a fun, relatable way DFO is inspiring Ontarians to ask themselves “What Can’t Milk Do?” DFO is also collaborating with nutrition experts to expand on the benefits of milk’s nutrients through the science of nutrition.

DFO’s campaign platform “What Can’t Milk Do?” first launched in 2019 to emphasize milk’s versatility, deliciousness and endless benefits by challenging old perceptions.

See below to watch the new TV commercial and look out for more campaign elements through digital video, social media, PR coverage and many more routes to reach as many Ontarians as possible.
 

https://youtu.be/NBput3bMGaQ

Family Day - Feb. 15, 2021 - DFO’s holiday office hours / Heures d’ouverture pendant les fêtes

February 15, 2021

DFO’s holiday office hours

Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) head office will be closed on Family Day, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Producers requiring DFO services over the holiday period should contact their local field services representative. DFO will be maintaining key services for dairy farmers, transporters and processors during the holiday period. Staff will be available or on-call as needed.

Contact: media@milk.org and questions@milk.org 

----

Heures d’ouverture pendant les fêtes

Le siège social de Dairy Farmers of Ontario sera fermé le Jour de la famille, lundi 15 février 2021. Les producteurs ayant besoin des services des DFO au cours de la période des Fêtes doivent communiquer avec leur représentant des services sur le site. Les DFO continueront d’offrir ses services principaux aux producteurs laitiers, aux transporteurs et aux industries de transformation lors de la période des Fêtes.

Contact: media@milk.org et questions@milk.org

DFO elects 2021 Board executive

February 11, 2021

At a Special Board meeting held on Jan. 13, 2021 following DFO’s 2021 AGM, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) Board elected its 2021 Board Executive.

• Murray Sherk, Board Member for Region 8, was re-elected as Chair.

• Nick Thurler, Board Member for Region 2, was re-elected as Vice-Chair.

• Steve Runnalls, Board Member for Region 12, was elected as 2nd Vice-Chair.

• Arlene Minott was reappointed as Corporate Secretary to the Board.

• Rey Moisan was reappointed as Treasurer to the Board.

At a Special Board meeting held on Sept. 30, 2020, DFO’s Board declared Bart Rijke (Region 1), Don Gordon (Region 5) and Vicky Morrison (Region 9) elected by acclamation to each serve four-year terms, effective Jan. 13, 2021, immediately following the adjournment of DFO’s 2021 annual general meeting.

DFO's 2019-20 Annual Report now available

February 08, 2021

DFO's annual report is an annual overview of the operations of DFO including milk quality, transportation, advertising programs and complete financial statements. 
 

• English: View the 2019-20 Annual Report

• En français : voir le rapport annuel 2019-20

2019-20 ANNUAL REPORT

“In a year of uncertainty, Ontario’s dairy farmers found a way to stabilize and even thrive. It has been challenging and rewarding. We will invest in growing and protecting our domestic market by promoting innovation in the dairy market, maintaining high milk quality and pushing for tighter border controls.”

Cheryl Smith, CEO