Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

When I think of farming, I think of a few things. Feeding cows, planting and harvesting corn, baling hay. They, and most of the jobs I do around the farm, all relate to production. Most of you will agree that is one of the big reasons we farm -- we like being around animals, we like being on the land, we don't like numbers.

But I was lucky enough to get the chance to realize that even if we don't like the numbers, we all like making more money.

The Ontario Dairy Youth Business Management School was a chance for 40 young dairy farmers from across Ontario and even Nova Scotia, to come together and learn how the best in the industry have become the best. One of the most positive things about this school - was the fact that every one of the top producers was very open, and obviously wanted us to be just as good as they are.

So what did the 40 of us take from this? That fixing little problems around your farm can mean big returns. One number quoted - was that a 50 cow herd could make an additional 45 thousand dollars by moving from an average herd to a top herd. That is a significant amount of money that we can no longer afford to leave on the table. (More on that idea next week)

Here's how: Look at the dirty details of your farm. When you simply look at the amount of money a herd has coming in and out -- it is easy to say 'We need more milk' or 'We need to spend less'. But until you get into details, it is hard to improve. Simply setting a goal of 'We want to produce 10% more milk in the next 6 months' is a tough goal to acheive since there are a million factors that can effect production. Looking at each of those million factors - and improving them one at a time - is how you are going to produce more milk and cut your costs. Are you having trouble with mastitis? How about getting heifers in calf? Maybe getting silage off at the right stage of growth is tough to do? If you drill down to single issues - and fix them first - you might be surprised to see how much your milk cheque will grow by.

After all - if you just get bigger because you think you can make more money, all your problems will only get bigger as well. If you get better first - you may be able to find more money in your farm than you thought was there.

Note: This school was put on by Ontario Holstein and 4-H Ontario. The thought is that if this school was successful - they'd begin schools for other commodities as well. Keep an eye out for a business management school covering your commodity -- because in my view, this was incredibly successful.

Views: 56

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by AgOntario on May 17, 2010 at 2:45am
Dairy Youth Management School a Tremendous Success

40 Young dairy enthusiasts descended on the University of Guelph on May 6-8 to participate in the inaugural Ontario Dairy Youth Business Management School organized by the Ontario Branch and 4-H Ontario.



ODYB Management School Press Release

Source: Ontario Branch of Holstein Canada

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Maizex Seeds is Making a Bold Move into Canola with a 2026 Hybrid Launch

In a move that signals its growing ambitions in Western Canada, Maizex Seeds has announced the launch of its first canola hybrids under the Maizex brand, starting with the 2026 growing season. The Canadian farmer-owned seed brand, already known for its strong presence in seed corn, is aiming to bring that same level of performance and service to hybrid canola. “Maizex has a history of product performance and outstanding customer service in crops that include seed corn,” says Blake Ashton, general manager for Maizex Seeds. “We have grown our presence across the country by first and foremost meeting the yield and agronomic needs of our customers. Our goal is to do the same in hybrid canola, where Maizex offers a new option for performance on the farm starting with the 2026 growing season.” Ashton confirms that the company will leverage its existing dealer network to roll out the new hybrids, while also looking to expand into regions not currently served. “We are very excited about th

A New Option for Canola Performance: Maizex Seeds Entering Hybrid Canola Seed Market in Western Canada

Maizex Seeds, a Canadian farmer-owned national seed brand focused on the needs of Canadian farmers, has announced the launch of Maizexbrand canola hybrids for farmers across Western Canada. “Maizex has a history of product performance and outstanding customer service in crops that include seed corn,” notes Blake Ashton, General Manager with Maizex Seeds. “We have grown our presence across the country by first and foremost meeting the yield and agronomic needs of our customers. Our goal is to do the same in hybrid canola, where Maizex offers a new option for performance on the farm starting with the 2026 growing season.” Ashton notes that Maizex will be working with their current dealer network to position Maizex canola hybrids and will also be looking to add dealers in areas not serviced by the company today. “We are very excited about the potential our initial hybrid offering provides farmers,”notes Jeremy Visser, Oilseed Product Manager with Maizex Seeds. “They combine outstanding

Canadian Pork Council rejoins Canadian Federation of Agriculture

The Canadian Pork Council rejoined the CFA after more than 10 years

Confusion, Questions Largely Settled with Claas Announcement for N.D.

Confusion, Questions Largely Settled with Claas Announcement for N.D.

Woods CRW and Merlo Announce Northeast Strategic Dealer Partnership

Merlo America has announced its newest partnership with Woods CRW, officially welcoming the dealership into its growing U.S. network.

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service