"Buttergate" May Create Butter Shortage In Canada

Experts say that a new directive issued in response to the controversy known as ``buttergate'' could make it hard for dairy farmers to keep up with consumer demand for the staple ingredient.

 

Dairy Farmers of Canada is encouraging its members to find alternatives to palm supplements in cattle feed as a working group looks into consumer concerns that butter has become harder. The recommendation comes after media reports linked the purported change in consistency to the common practice of bolstering cows' diets with palm byproducts, which federal authorities have approved as a safe ingredient in livestock feeds.

 

Animal science experts say there's no feed supplement that's as efficient or economical as palmitic acid, and warn that ruling it out could come at a cost to dairy producers and lead to an increase in butter imports.While some dairy farmers are looking into alternative feed supplements, others say they're sticking with palmitic acid because it's best for their cattle and their bottom lines.

 

Daniel Lefebvre of Lactanet, which advises Dairy Farmers of Canada, says while buttergate is based on ``unfounded claims,'' a turn in public perception poses a greater threat to the dairy industry than asking farmers to eliminate a safe and effective method to maximize production.

Video: Veteran Farmers: A Legacy of Service in Rural America

Veterans Day is a time to honor the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and values. And for some, the transition from military service to civilian life brings them back to the farm.

At Farm Bureau, we believe it’s important to not only celebrate veterans but also those who continue to make a difference in agriculture and their community. We've partnered with Farm Credit to establish the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to shine a light on those who have continued to go above and beyond to serve their communities.

This year, we recognize retired Colonel Joe Ricker as the inaugural Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence winner. Joe served over 30 years in the Army before retiring from the Pentagon and completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, his commitment to excellence in farming and enriching the lives of veterans has blossomed in a myriad of ways in both his local community of Wilkinson, Indiana, and across the country. Joe grows apples and raises bees on his farm in Indiana. Joe founded “Veterans IN Farming,” an organization, now with more than 1,100 members, dedicated to providing veterans in Indiana with the tools and training to succeed in agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization, comprised of and directed by farm and ranch families who engage in all types of food, fuel and fiber production.