The Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec, which became Les Producteurs de lait du Québec in 2014, was founded over 40 years ago. Throughout this entire period, the organization has worked to defend producers’ interests and improve their living conditions and the revenue they earn from the collective marketing of their milk.
It has managed to overcome the challenges it has faced along the way by using its cherished values as its guide: solidarity, innovation, determination, equity and openness. Here are some noteworthy moments in the history of Les Producteurs de lait du Québec.
1983
In February 1983, the Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec (unprocessed milk) and the Fédération des producteurs de lait industriel du Québec decided to merge and form one single organization. Two months later, the Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec (FPLQ) was officially created.
1985
The first two milk marketing agreements were signed. The first was an agreement with the dairy cooperatives and La Fédérée, while the second was signed with the Quebec Dairy Council, which represented private processors. The Centralized Quota Sales System (SCVQ) was also created that same year.
1986
The Young Dairy Farmers Assistance Program was adopted. It would be launched in 1987.
1989-1993
Producers mobilized during the GATT negotiations.
1991
The first Milk Transportation Agreement was signed. This unique agreement made it possible to effectively meet the supply guaranteed under the marketing agreements and streamlined the process of picking up milk on farms and delivering it to plants.
1992
In February, 40,000 producers protested in Ottawa to keep supply management during the GATT negotiations. Milk was paid based on the components starting in August.
1994-97
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed. Due to pressure from dairy farmers, supply-managed sectors were not affected by the Agreement. Despite protests from the U.S. in 1997, supply management continued to be excluded.
1995
The FPLQ became the main shareholder of the Dairy Herd Analysis Service (DHAS) limited partnership that would become Valacta and later Lactanet. The FPLQ also founded Novalait, an organization dedicated to research.
1999
The FPLQ acquired the Quebec Artificial Breeding Centre (CIAQ) with the Conseil québécois des races laitières and the Conseil provincial des cercles d’amélioration du bétail.
2003
The FPLQ joined Agropur Cooperative, the Association des transporteurs de lait du Québec, the Quebec Dairy Council, Nutrinor agri-food cooperative and the Syndicat des producteurs de lait de Québec to establish a milk and dairy product donation program. Thanks to this program, producers can donate milk, which is then processed for free by processors and distributed in the form of milk or dairy products across the province through the Association québécoise des banques alimentaires et des Moissons.
2005-2008
Producers joined forces to protest protein concentrate imports and in view of the negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). They obtained unanimous support for supply management from the House of Commons, measures limiting these imports, and the adoption of cheese production standards.
2006
The Dairy Farm Startup Assistance Program was created.
2013-2021
The Canadian government ceded a total of 8.4% of the dairy market during successive negotiations for CETA with Europe, the CPTPP with countries in the Pacific zone, and CUSMA, which replaced NAFTA, with the United States and Mexico. Supply management remained intact. Although producers would have preferred to keep this market, they received compensation for the market segments that were lost because of the first two agreements.
2014
The Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec (FPLQ) became Les Producteurs de lait du Québec (PLQ).
2021
The PLQ began to develop a sustainable development strategy.
2022
The Canadian government announced the amounts of compensation that producers would receive for the market losses in connection with CUSMA. It also promised that it would no longer make concessions in future trade agreements.
2023
The PLQ are working on developing their 2023-2030 strategic plan, which will allow them to meet the challenges of the coming years and remain a competitive sector.