Natural Resources
December 3, 2014

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources:

Award Recognizes Dairy Farmers for Excellence in Production of Quality Milk

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the winners of the Daphne Taylor Milk Quality Award of Excellence. The award was created in 1997 to recognize excellence in the production of quality milk.

The award commemorates Daphne Taylor, a farmer who made very significant contributions to the dairy sector and was committed to food safety. Unfortunately, Ms. Taylor passed away prematurely from cancer. We are proud to remember her though this award.

These awards were presented at the Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador's annual general meeting held recently in Corner Brook. For 32 years this organization has been helping dairy farmers grow their businesses.

Mr. Speaker, the dairy sector is one of Newfoundland and Labrador's most important agricultural industries and it accounts for about $47 million annually. The Provincial Government recognizes the opportunities and challenges facing this sector and we are committed to its long-term success.

Our government continues to provide support through a grain research program that is evaluating various varieties of spring and winter grains to reduce feed costs for farmers. We also continue to support the Land Development Program which is helping dairy farmers meet land requirements for the dairy sector.

The Provincial Government, milk producers, and processors recognize the importance of producing high quality milk. The Daphne Taylor Milk Quality Award of Excellence is competitive. Only the top three farms, unless there is a tie, are recognized for their product.

This year's first place winner is Sunrise Dairy, owned by Jeff Greening and located in Musgravetown. For second place there was a tie between N & N Farms Ltd. owned by Lee Noel in Cormack, and Glenview Farm of Kilbride, which is operated by the Walsh brothers.

Rounding out the winners were River Bend Dairy, operated by Jeff Peddle of Lethbridge, and Connors Dairy Farm of Torbay, in third place.

Mr. Speaker, we also have the Daphne Taylor Award of Merit which is a non-competitive award presented to those producers who supply milk to a recognized level of merit. The recipients of this year's award of merit were Beauty View Farms owned by Mary White in Port Blanford, Triple G Farms owned by Frazer Greening of Musgravetown, and Rideout's Dairy Farm owned by Melvin Rideout in Cormack.

I congratulate the winners of this award and I commend our farmers and producers for the work they are doing. Thank you.

2014 12 03                              2:40 p.m.