Who We Are
Manitoba Dairy Farm Management Group
34, Castlerock Cove, Steinbach, Manitoba R5G 2J5
Phone: [204] 326 6332 Fax: [204] 346 9001
The Manitoba Dairy Farm Management Group was formed in the spring of 1997 after a number of interested producers looked at similar Groups already operating in eastern Ontario and Quebec, some of which had 15 year’s experience.
The Group is member driven, electing a Board of Directors who are responsible for running the Group, its activities and hiring a Dairy Business Consultant. The aim of the Group is to provide members with the opportunity to get to know their business better and make themselves more aware of the effects of rising costs in a period of static milk prices.
Participants present their yearend financial and production data to the consultant. This information is then processed into a business analysis report, providing members with the opportunity to compare their results with each other, the Group averages or with the averages of other Groups. Other benefits to members include:- the sharing of information, discussion of current topics through regular winter meetings, improved record/book-keeping and the opportunity to network with their peers.
Following the completion of the financial report, each member receives an on-farm, in-depth consultation from the Consultant, who highlights and explains the strengths and weaknesses of their business, with the aim of providing advice to make that business more profitable.
Regular meetings are arranged for members on topics of current interest, generally relating to business management. These may take the form of member discussion panels, member presentations or guest speakers invited to cover technical subjects. Sponsors are encouraged to attend these meetings.
In 2002, the Group appointed Roger Mills to the position of Dairy Business Consultant. Roger still has a keen interest in dairying and is able to draw on a lifetime’s experience, not only in the day to day management of a dairy operation, but also on the business front, with economic milk production being his primary goal. His wish now is to pass on some of that experience to interested producers who want to improve the performance of their own businesses by making the best possible use of the analysis results and other information generated from the program.
The Group is now self-financing, after initially receiving substantial funding through the Canada Manitoba Farm Business Management Program [CMFBMP], thus ensuring a sound platform from which to start.
Board of Directors [2015-] see separate page for Director bios
Dave Plett Chairperson 204 346 4587 Richard Boonstoppel Sec 204 381 3367
Tim Meinen 204 960 9219 JP de Jong 204 371 8779
John Georgison 204 799 3126
Treasurer Jill Plett
Dairy Business Consultants:
Roger Mills Cell: [204] 371 7526 mbdairymgmt@gmail.com
Kathy Friesen ACA Cell: [204] 371 0984 mbdairymgmt@gmail.com
Kathy joined the consulting team in 2008
For MDFMG news and activities, please keep coming back to
www.mdfmg.ca