Western Canadian Dairy Seminar: Award of Merit


	Other Recipients

Rick Corbett – 2011 Award of Merit Mr. Corbett has been actively involved with the western Canadian dairy industry for nearly 40 years and has made numerous significant contributions to the industry during that time. Notable among Rick’s contributions to the industry are his contributions to the development of: 1. DairyWeb: A Dairy Production Virtual Library, a set of relational databases for web-based delivery of dairy production oriented extension material 2. Firm Steps: Identifying Lameness in Dairy Cattle, a multimedia CD-based resource on early detection of lameness in dairy cattle 3. Cattle Medicine - Responsible Use - Course, a multimedia, on-farm food safety course developed for cattle producers, and 4. A year in the life; a video covering management practices to improve reproductive performance of dairy cattle. Rick also contributed to the development of What’s the Score, a skill-training video on body condition scoring of dairy cattle and the application of this technique to managing dairy cattle throughout the production cycle; Let’s Make Silage, a video on the principles and practices of silage making. This video led to the production of The Silage Manual, a collaborative effort of extension people from across the prairie provinces, in which Rick co-authored several sections. Rick was the editor of the Feeds and Nutrition section of Dairy INFO Laitiere, a CD-ROM of dairy extension fact sheets produced by the Canadian Dairy Extension Committee. Rick helped establish a formal working agreement amongst Alberta Agriculture, University of Alberta, and Alberta Milk (producers), which allowed these organizations to work more closely together, and which later evolved as the Dairy Research and Technology Centre agreement. Mr. Corbett was coordinator of Western Dairy Science Inc. a not-for-profit company incorporated in Alberta, representing a cross section of the Alberta dairy industry’s production sector. Western Dairy Science Inc. later became one of the signatories to the Dairy Research and Technology Centre agreement. Over his 25-year career with Alberta Agriculture as Dairy Nutritionist, Dairy Tech- Transfer Specialist, and Ruminant Nutrition Research Scientist, Rick served on several committees including the Forage Product Team, Dairy Product Team (member and past Chair), DRTC Partnership Committee, Canadian Dairy Extension Committee, University of Alberta Dairy Farm Management Advisory Committee, Advisory Group to Alberta Farm Animal Care Association, and Forage Industry Advisory Committee. He was a member of Western Canadian Dairy Seminar Advisory Committee for several years and was Chair of the committee for 3 terms. He was also Vice Chair of the Western Nutrition Conference Planning Committee. Not only did Mr. Corbett excel as a technology transfer specialist, he was also actively engaged in research through the Dairy Research and Technology Centre, and regularly guest-lectured Animal Science students and was engaged with graduate student education and training. Over the years, Rick has offered countless hours advising dairy farmers, industry personnel, government officials and his professional colleagues on aspects of dairy cattle nutrition and farm management. He has authored or co-authored over 100 fact sheets, conference papers, popular press articles, scientific papers, and a chapter in the veterinary textbook, Large Animal Internal Medicine. Rick has been invited to speak at conferences, workshops and symposia in all four western provinces and has made scientific conference presentations in Canada and the United States. Louis Balcaen – 2010 Award of Merit Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM) is nominating Louis Balcaen for the Western Dairy Seminar Award of Merit. He has made a superior contribution to the Canadian dairy industry by being a leader in many of the committees and projects that affected the industry as a whole. Louis Balcaen was very involved in the Manitoba dairy industry. He was a member of the Manitoba Milk Producers Marketing Board (now DFM) from 1979-1993, serving as Vice-Chair from 1984-1987 and as Chair from 1988-1993. He was very actively involved in many of the board’s standing advisory committees, and was the Chair of the Cost of Production, Finance, Cream Advisory, and Transportation committees. Mr. Balcaen was elected to the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) board in 1981and to the Executive Committee in 1985. He held the position of 1st Vice-President from 1989-1991, and President from 1991-1993. He then joined the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) in 1994 as their Vice-Chair, and was Acting Chair from 2001 until 2002. The CDC credits Mr. Balcaen for his business acumen and visionary thinking. He is also known for his commitment to a national pool. Below are some examples of committees and projects which highlight Mr. Balcaen’s contributions to the dairy industry: CDC’s Consultation Committee on the Future of the Dairy Industry This committee was headed by Louis Balcaen as DFC President. DFC and Dairy Bureau of Canada created the committee in response to changes in General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) trade rules. The committee issued two reports in December 1992 with the following recommendations implemented overtime which changed the industry: The development of a single national quota for fluid and industrial milk; and The design of a national milk classification system with uniform definitions, The introduction of a national milk component pricing system and, The need to establish a mechanism to price milk sold to processors based on its end use. Skim-Off Agreement In 1989, the consumer trend to lower-fat milk products needed to be addressed. Each province agreed to be fully responsible for their butterfat skim-off production. The agreement was conditional on a CDC audit to confirm the numbers. Mr. Balcaen is recognized as being instrumental in developing, finalizing, and implementing this agreement. CDC Action Committee on Ingredients This committee was formed in 1992 to address competitive pressures on the market for dairy ingredients and worked on various domestic marketing programs. It handled the Commission’s Rebate Program for Further Processors, the Butter Utilization Program, and the Special Class Permit Program. Mr. Balcaen chaired the committee for most of his tenure. Thanks to the CDC domestic programs, the Canadian further processing sector came to use significantly more dairy ingredients in bakery, fresh pastry, frozen and confectionary products. Other Committees Mr. Balcaen also served on the following committees: CDC Action Committee on Milk Allocation CDC Federal-Provincial Task Force on Orderly Marketing CDC Dairy Industry Strategic Planning Committee DFC Committee on Multiple Component Pricing Dr. David Christensen – 2008 WCDS Award Recipient Dr. Christensen's specialization is dairy nutrition, management and feeds research. Early in his career he helped establish the Saskatchewan Feed Testing Laboratory. This initiative brought scientific nutrition information and ration formulation to the farm. Throughout his career Dr. Christensen explored alternate and more economical feed, forage and protein sources for dairy cattle and introduced the latest dairy nutrition and ration formulation advancements to the dairy industry in Saskatchewan and around the world. In response to the enormous growth in the use of corn silage in eastern Canada and the USA, he developed whole crop cereal ensiling techniques and developed rations for dairy and beef cattle based on cereal silage that were widely adopted in western Canada. Throughout the years Dr. Christensen evaluated new and improved protein sources for use in dairy rations, including rapeseed meal, canola meal, peas, and flax meal. He studied alternative forages, forage processing and the effect of physical form of forage, and the use of forages in dairy ration formulation. In the mid-seventies, Dr. Christensen was one of the first to appreciate the extent and economic impact of trace mineral deficiencies in cattle in western Canada. Trace mineral supplementation is now widespread, primarily as the result of a ten-year research program led by Dr. Christensen. In the 1980s and 90s the dehydrated alfalfa industry in western Canada developed markets and expanded production based on Dr. Christensen’s research and recommendations on the use of dehydrated alfalfa in dairy rations. More recently, Dr. Christensen has been very active in the development of new high-value dairy feedstuffs based on Saskatchewan feed commodities such as vegetable oils, flax, canola and peas for use on Canadian farms and for export. Dr. Christensen always recognized the value of new technologies and new approaches, and he was one of the first scientists to use the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron to study protein, fiber and mineral metabolism. Dr. Christensen is also much involved in applied management and economics of dairy farms. Recently he developed a Cost of Production computer program for on-farm evaluation and consultation on aspects of dairy enterprise economic management. Dr. Christensen served the agriculture sectors on numerous boards as a member and in advisory capacities, including the Saskatchewan Dairy Association, Saskatchewan Livestock Association, Saskatchewan Advisory Committee on Animal Production, Prairie Feed Resource Centre Inc. and the Canadian Society of Animal Science. He continues to be active as member of the Saskatchewan Milk Control Board. During his career Dr. Christensen supervised over 50 graduate students, published over 150 scientific journal articles and presented 44 major invited papers at national and international scientific conferences. Furthermore, he presented over 200 invited lectures at institutions all over the world. Dr. Christensen has taught nutrition and dairy management to thousands of students, including undergraduate, graduate, vocational and veterinary students, at the University of Saskatchewan. He has also provided many extension talks and workshops throughout western Canada and he was the driving force behind the successful recent offering of the new dairy management course for Hutterite brethren, recently expanded to serve the broader dairy industry. Dr. Christensen was responsible for the management of the Dairy Research Unit and its successful Greenbrae Dairy Research Herd. Bruce Beattie – 2007 WCDS Award of Merit Bruce has been very involved in the governance of the dairy industry. He joined the Board of Alberta Milk Producers in 1988 as a representative from the Red Deer Milk Producers Association. He was chair of the Dairy Nutrition Council of Alberta from 1988 to 1992 and served as Chair of Alberta Milk Producers from 1992 to 1997 and Vice Chair until 2004. He has served producers on many committees including: Internal Advisory Committees of Alberta Milk Research: of which he is the current Chairman Animal Health: of which he is the current Chairman Cost of Production: was part of the committee involved in the redevelopment of the fluid milk pricing formula Marketing, Nutrition and Education Committee New Product Development and Innovation Working Group External Committees Dairy Research and Technology Centre Partnership Committee – Bruce was instrumental in the development of the DRTC agreement. CLA Network Chairman Bruce is a strong proponent of the environment serving as the chair of the Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Council and as a member of the Climate Change Central Board of Directors. Alberta Farm Animal Care – focus on animal welfare and humane treatment of livestock. Alberta Beef Producers – dairy delegate Alberta Dairy Control Board Policy Committee Alberta Dairy Industry Governance Working Group – which saw the merger of the producer organization and the provincial dairy control board establishing Alberta Milk Regional Committee Western Milk Pool Coordinating Committee - it should be noted that Bruce was part of the negotiation team that lead to the formation of the Western Milk Pool National Organizations and Committees Alberta Director to Dairy Farmers of Canada Served on the DFC Research Committee - Production Research (PESAC) The Canadian Bovine Research Network (CBRN) Premium Milk Innovation - Advisory Committee Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee - Bruce was a member of CMSMC when the special class pool was negotiated and established One of Bruce’s guiding principles, which is evident from the work he has done on behalf of producers, is: "Producers representing Producers". Dr. Steve Mason - 2003 WCDS Award of Merit recipient awarded March 12th, 2003 Dr. John Kennelly and Dr. Steve Mason Dr. Mason has had a long career in extension and technology transfer and over the past 25 years has made numerous outstanding contributions to the dairy industry of Alberta and Canada. He was Provincial Livestock Nutritionist with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food and has been Manager and Senior Specialist with ProLivestock: Nutrition/Management Specialists. Since the early 90’s he has been very active in the Dairy Extension Advisory Group within Alberta, and subsequently served as Coordinator of Western Dairy Science Inc. He recently joined Cornell University as a Dairy Herd Management Area Specialist. Dr. Mason has a very strong commitment to extension and technology transfer and has served the dairy industry through numerous initiatives. He has been directly involved in on-farm nutrition and management consulting; he has provided technical support services for farm advisors; he has been instrumental in producing technology transfer and technical marketing media related to the dairy industry; he has been involved in computer software development for the dairy producer; and he has been involved in contract extension work. There are two key attributes that Steve Mason contributes to technology transfer and education: innovation in how he addresses technology transfer and leadership in how he achieves technology transfer. Dr. Mason has clearly demonstrated a history of continued commitment to the dairy industry in Canada. He is not afraid to challenge concepts and ideas. He has a very unique talent of being able to translate complex scientific concepts into recommendations that can be readily adopted and easily understood by producers. It is rare to find someone with Dr. Mason's scientific ability who has the enthusiasm for all aspects of animal agriculture and the ability to convey that enthusiasm to the industry. He is truly deserving of this award.