2021-22 Budget
- Details
DFNB’s board of directors set its 2021-22 operational budget at its June board meeting. As a result, the producer administration levy will drop from $0.0635 to $0.057 per kgs of total solids effective August 1, 2021.
The main factors contributing to the reduction are because total solids produced are forecast to increase by 5% compared to the 2020-21 budget and operating expenses are forecast to reduce by about 5% as well.
Operating expenses are expected to remain lower than prior years as a number of provincial and national meetings will continue to be held virtually until restrictions are fully lifted.
Lab fees charged to producers are set to increase from $0.0067 per kg of total solids to $0.0100 per kg of total solids effective August 1, 2021 in order to offset the costs of IBC/Bactoscan tests. The remaining levies including Research and Promotion are anticipated to remain the same.
The transportation levy is also expected to remain similar to last year but is influenced by time and fuel. Reduced promotion activities has resulted in the accumulation of funds which are being set aside in a promotion reserve and will be reviewed by the board over the coming months.
The Board has also implemented a policy that will cause it to consider whether its retained earnings are in excess of its needs. The retained earnings target that the board has set is 50% of budgeted operational expenses. Upon completion of the audited financials the board will determine what amount, if any, should be returned to producers with the objective of reducing retained earnings to that stated target.
DFNB Operations
- Details
In the last few months some of the operational and board of director activities that Marilyn Michaud was accountable for were reassigned to other DFNB staff with the purpose of creating a position that focused more on accounting, annual meeting organization, general office and building tasks and provide backup in the areas of producer pay services and milk direction.
This new position was posted in May and a number of candidates were interviewed.
On June 16 DFNB hired Delaney Lewis, a recent graduate of NBCC’s 2 year Business Administration Accounting program to fill that position. Marilyn has already provided Delaney with an overview of the accounting tasks and will go over the DFNB annual meeting plans with her in August which will complete Marilyn’s transition of her remaining accountabilities. We are certain that Delaney will assist you in finding answers to your questions or directing you to someone within DFNB who can.
DFNB would like to thank Marilyn for the impeccable service and professionalism that she’s provided to the organization, its producers, vendors and customers since her initial start in 1980.
2021 DFNB AGM
- Details
DFNB AGM – November 30 (afternoon), Dec 1 (all day), Dec 2 (morning)
DFNB’s board of directors are planning to hold a face to face Annual Meeting at the Delta Fredericton. Work is underway to create an online registration process for delegates and guests. The agenda will be similar to previous Annual Meetings but could be adjusted as a result of ongoing or future restrictions. As in previous years Local Milk Committees will be asked to select delegates and submit resolutions for consideration.
More details on the agenda and speakers will follow in the coming months.
ProAction Reminder
- Details
Starting September 1st, 2021 we are validating the Environment module and Traceability Reporting. For Traceability, validators will be requesting to review your reports into the National Traceability Database (DairyTrace), with the expectation that all dairy farmers have activated their accounts and have been reporting since (at least) September 1st, 2021.
To activate your DairyTrace account or if you have any questions on using your DairyTrace account, contact DairyTrace customer service at: 1-866-558-7223 or info@dairytrace.ca
Director Nominations
- Details
The following director terms will end following the 2021 DFNB AGM:
Director at Large Gilbert Matheson
Woodstock Area Fons DeJong
Fredericton Area John Shuttenbeld
Producers will be receiving nomination forms in the mail in September asking for nominations for these upcoming vacancies. Any voting representative of a producer in an area is eligible to submit their name as a nominee upon having had their nomination signed off by 5 other voting representatives of farms in their area.
A voting representative wishing to submit their name as an at large nominee needs their nomination signed off by 5 other voting representatives of any farm in the province.
Blend Price June
- Details
Producers will notice a drop in their blend price for June as compared to the previous months. A portion of this decrease is related to a decline in processing demand for class 1 products and the bulk of this decrease can be attributed to the skimming and bi-product disposal activities that took place in the P5 during the month of June.
This is a result of reduced processing capacity, due to planed plant maintenance as well as unplanned plant break downs.
Disposal and skimming activities have continued to date into the first part of July and producers can expect that this will continue to affect their blend price into July. We will update producers further at the July 29th producer meeting.
Goodbye to Milk Matters Monthly Newsletter
- Details
DFNB will say goodbye to Milk Matters Monthly Newsletter
The July 2021 issue of the monthly Milk Matters newsletter will be its final publication. DFNB will be adding a news bulletin to its website where producers will be able to access industry updates as they occur.
More details will be shared as they become available.
2021-22 Budget
- Details
DFNB’s board of directors set its 2021-22 operational budget at its June board meeting. As a result, the producer administration levy will drop from $0.0635 to $0.057 per kgs of total solids effective August 1, 2021.
The main factors contributing to the reduction are because total solids produced are forecast to increase by 5% compared to the 2020-21 budget and operating expenses are forecast to reduce by about 5% as well.
Operating expenses are expected to remain lower than prior years as a number of provincial and national meetings will continue to be held virtually until restrictions are fully lifted.
Lab fees charged to producers are set to increase from $0.0067 per kg of total solids to $0.0100 per kg of total solids effective August 1, 2021 in order to offset the costs of IBC/Bactoscan tests. The remaining levies including Research and Promotion are anticipated to remain the same.
The transportation levy is also expected to remain similar to last year but is influenced by time and fuel. Reduced promotion activities has resulted in the accumulation of funds which are being set aside in a promotion reserve and will be reviewed by the board over the coming months.
The Board has also implemented a policy that will cause it to consider whether its retained earnings are in excess of its needs. The retained earnings target that the board has set is 50% of budgeted operational expenses. Upon completion of the audited financials the board will determine what amount, if any, should be returned to producers with the objective of reducing retained earnings to that stated target.
WorkSafeNB’s Farming Sector Health and Safety Initiative
- Details
WorkSafeNB’s Farming Sector Health and Safety Initiative
As a farm owner, you know that your workers and family members are your number one resource. You care about what happens to them. So do we.
WorkSafeNB is committed to keeping New Brunswick workers healthy and safe through safety leadership, prevention initiatives, and compliance activities.
To continue to drive a safety-first culture in New Brunswick’s agriculture sector, WorkSafeNB is preparing resources to help you understand and act to improve health and safety at your workplace. These resources will be shared through the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick this summer and will include special attention on silo safety, machine safeguarding and monthly inspection checklists will help you prepare for future visits from health and safety officers.
WorkSafeNB recommends that farm operators regularly review operations, ensuring that proper training and safe working procedures are in place, and to regularly review their COVID-19 operational plan.
Resources:
Guidelines for Potato Growing Safety