Sean McGivern and Michael Schmidt are forming new “Practical Farmers” group to meet March 31st, and seek adjustment of supply management

From Jim Algie, in the Owen Sound Sun Times:

“It’s worth noticing that Grey County farm policy reformer Sean McGivern prefers to talk these days about a “readjustment” in agricultural supply management.

Considering the direction from which he has come, the Desboro-based founder of a proposed new general farm organization could be talking instead about scrapping the controversial Canadian system for controlling farm production of some commodities.

An energetic, entrepreneurial, organic farmer who has run up against the system’s production limitations personally, McGivern might have joined the chorus of high profile non-farm commentators seeking to dismantle supply management.

Raw milk, the Canadian Wheat Board, and dairy supply management

From Jim Algie, in the Owen Sound Sun Times:

“An obvious ideological gap exists between the current federal government’s staunch defence of supply-management, marketing limits for some Canadian farmers while insisting on “marketing freedom” for western wheat and barley growers.

I refer, of course, to the government’s controversial decision to abolish the Canadian Wheat Board’s marketing monopoly. Reporters ask logically, “Can abolition of supply-management for cows’ milk and poultry be far behind?”

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has a sensible, political explanation. He can handle criticism for philosophical inconsistency because supply management has flourished.

Health officials seize raw milk at rally

From Dennis Langlois in the Owen Sound Sun Times:

Raw milk advocate Michael Schmidt raises a glass of raw milk in a toast to his supporters at a raw milk rally at the Grey Bruce Health Unit in Owen Sound on Thursday October 13, 2011.--JAMES MASTERS/QMI Agency/The Sun Times. Click image to see more photos.

“There may be a legal way to challenge Ontario’s raw milk ban after all — just not the method used by Michael Schmidt.

That theme provides an interesting subtext to a recent Ontario Court of Justice decision in Schmidt’s long battle to open a legitimate niche for raw milk in Canada. A Grey County dairy farmer for more than 25 years and an intriguing character for many reasons, Schmidt has pushed his raw milk crusade well beyond what most of us would consider sensible. Recently he announced he’ll pursue a hunger strike to protest his legal situation, which seems daunting on its surface.

“Hunger strike a needless waste of energy for raw milk crusader” — Owen Sound Sun Times slags farmer Michael Schmidt’s latest raw milk “crusade”

From Jim Algie in the Owen Sound Sun Times:

The raw milk crusader, Michael Schmidt, talks to a reporter following the April 2011 appeal hearings that recently reversed his acquittal on 15 raw milk charges.

“There may be a legal way to challenge Ontario’s raw milk ban after all — just not the method used by Michael Schmidt.

That theme provides an interesting subtext to a recent Ontario Court of Justice decision in Schmidt’s long battle to open a legitimate niche for raw milk in Canada. A Grey County dairy farmer for more than 25 years and an intriguing character for many reasons, Schmidt has pushed his raw milk crusade well beyond what most of us would consider sensible. Recently he announced he’ll pursue a hunger strike to protest his legal situation, which seems daunting on its surface.

Quite apart from the potential health risks involved for such a fascinating individual as Michael is — he is a notable musician and all-round champion of rural culture — his hunger strike seems a needless waste of energy. It also seems beside the point that I think he wants to make in what has been a highly public 15-year-long dispute. This seems particularly so when the recent decision of Mr. Justice Peter D. Tetley in Schmidt’s case provides a relatively detailed road map for lifting some of Ontario’s raw milk sanctions.

Raw milk question is just one of the challenges facing MPP Carol Mitchell, Ontario’s new Minister of Agriculture

Excerpted from a recent story in the Owen Sound Sun Times, by Jim Algie:

That's Huron Bruce MPP and new Ontario Agriculture minister Carol Mitchell (right)) at the plowing match with former ag minister Leona Dombrowsky (left) and Premier Dalton McGuinty (centre).

“Everybody’s been very nice about Carol Mitchell’s new job as Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. And why not?