Society, science, and knowledge are evolving. As consumer expectations and our ability to meet them grow, we can adjust our practices so that they are not only more efficient, but also better address our fellow citizens’ concerns.
Of course, society’s expectations have grown in recent years, but scientific knowledge has kept up, which is why some practices have been questioned. It was with this in mind that the Canadian committee responsible for revising the code of practices conducted its recent work. Committee members had to strike a balance between calls for greater animal welfare and the reality on the ground in the barns, and support it all with scientific knowledge in the field. The new version of the code that has emerged respects this balance, thanks in particular to the numerous comments submitted by Quebec producers during the consultation period in winter 2022.
As a result, this new code sets not only clear objectives for us to achieve, but also a specific timeline to achieve them. While our sector is capable of adaptation, innovation and resilience, investments will nevertheless need to be made to make these changes. Local producers alone should not carry the burden of society’s changing expectations, the changing “social contract” that tacitly binds dairy enterprises to citizens in terms of the way their food, or our milk in this case, is produced.
The Quebec government passed the Animal Welfare and Safety Act in 2015 based on the codes of practice currently used for farm inspections. When it comes to our product, the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle is the reference. Therefore, we are legally obligated to comply with this code, according to lawmakers.
Producers may very well be obligated to comply with it, but the government has an obligation to support them in meeting the required standards. Some changes will be easier to implement, while others will require some sort of investment depending on the dairy enterprise. The Quebec government cannot leave producers to face this reality on their own and must set up a flexible, accessible and adaptable program to help them upgrade. It is important to remember that every dollar invested in our farms generates economic activity in the regions and ensures land occupancy.
We hear a lot about this in our tours of the sector; it is a major concern for our members. In fact, the government has already received our unanimous resolution adopted at the 2023 AGM, which asked the governments to jointly develop a support program for the required investments to help dairy farms adapt to the new code. We are making representations to the Quebec government along these lines, but time is running out because of the looming schedule. The government has an opportunity to show that it is listening, prevent farmers from becoming upset, like they are in Europe, and extend a helping hand to our local producers who work every day to feed the population.
Daniel Gobeil, Chairman