The Rural Voice, 1981-11, Page 6Fieldman Joe Brent [centre] talks with Reg and Lynn Matthison at
their dairy farm. R.R. 3. Stratford.
Ifs all good housekeeping
by Dean Robinson
The milk house in the dairy barn is the
same as the kitchen in the house.
At least it should be treated that way.
So thinks Joe Brent, area fieldperson.
farm products quality branch, milk
industry section of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Food.
"There should be no difference." says
Brent. "If your wife washes the dishes
before she puts them back on the table,
then you should be prepared to do the
same thing in the milk house. It doesn't
take that much more time: in fart in the
long run it probably takes less."
Milk house cleanliness is much on the
mind of Brent and his province -wide
counterparts these days because since
September 1 all Ontario milk producers
have been required to meet quality and
farm premises standards that until now
have been reserved only for those in what
is classified as the Group 1 pool.
Perth dairy farmers
Though there remains separate and
distinct industrial and fluid milk groups.
the standards for quality and the penal-
ties for not meeting them are now the
same for both pools.
In January. 1979, the Ontario Milk
Marketing Board advised Group II pro-
ducers (those with yearly market share
quotas who ship milk for industrial
purposes) that by September 1, 1981, they
would be required to meet Grade A
standards for milk quality and farm
premises. These are standards that have
long been applied to the Group 1 producers
(those who operate on a daily quota and
market fluid milk).
While the OMMB did the advising,
ministry field people would continue to be
in charge of the inspections. Besides those
two bodies, the changes were endorsed by
the Ontario Dairy Council. The consensus
was (and is) that the changes would effect
significant savings in milk haulage costs
meet new Provincial standards
through further transport route reorgan-
ization and consolidation. as well as
conserve fuel. Too, they would contribute
to the improvement in the quality of dairy
products manufactured in the province.
Producers were also informed that
those wishing to forego Sunday pick-up of
milk (on religious grounds) would be
allowed to do so, but they must be willing
to absorb the additional costs of a special
pick-up service.
First stage in the plan was implemented
February 1, 1980, when Group II produ-
cers were required to meet the Grade A
milk quality requirements. calling for less
than 100,000 bacteria per millimetre
(instead of 200,000 or less/ml).
Stage two, which came into force
September 1, 1980, called for Group 11
producers to be penalized for sub quality
to the same extent as those in Group 1. In
other words, Group 11 producers are now
subject to a monetary penalty of sixty
PG. 4 THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1981