Understanding Ontario’s Dairy Processing Industry (UODPI)

The Ontario dairy processing industry is one of the most complex and highly regulated industries in Canada.  In addition to regular day-to-day business management and operational activities, dairy processors must also understand and abide by a multitude of provincial and federal regulations, intricate national and pool-wide supply management rules, precise product standards, supply quota issues, and an extremely complicated billing system for its main raw material.

To help industry personnel better understand this complex arena, Ontario Dairy Council is pleased to offer the first training tool of its kind in Canada.  The time has come - Understanding Ontario's Dairy Processing Industry provides all Ontario dairy processors, and other provincial and national industry partners, with a continuing education resource for their staff.

Understanding Ontario's Dairy Processing Industry consists of two modules.  Through a correspondence course format, Module 1 focuses on the history and structure of the industry, who all the related players are, how the milk utilization audit system works, the billing system for raw milk, and basic dairy math.  Module 2 provides a detailed focus on dairy cost accounting by product and dairy math through electronic examples and an electronic DVD tutorial.  Participants may choose to enrol in Module 1 only, Module 2 only or in both.

PROGRAM FORMAT

Module 1 consists of 9 chapters of dairy information.  Participants can use this as a training tool by reading all the chapters and successfully complete 4 home study assignments, or use it as an information resource. 

To obtain a Certificate of Completion for Module 1, you must complete all 4 home study assignments and achieve an overall average mark of at least 70%.  Completed assignments must be forwarded to the ODC office for grading, on a confidential basis, and then returned to the student.  There is no classroom element or exam for Module 1.

Module 2 is an in-depth analysis of dairy financial issues making it of key interest primarily to Finance, Accounting and Costing Personnel.  It consists of interactive cost accounting worksheet examples for four specific dairy products including fluid milk, cultured products, cheese and butter/powder.  The worksheets will be provided in both workbook and electronic formats. While there are no home study assignments or exam, Module 2 also includes an electronic DVD tutuorial to assist registrants get through the material.

The Module 2 electronic tutorial was funded in part through the Food and Beverage Industry Innovation Fund (FBIIF) by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs through The Alliance of Ontario Food Processors.  The Agricultural Adaptation Council administers the FBIIF.  The Fund was established to encourage investment into new, innovative processes, products and skills development.

PROGRAM COMPLETION POLICY

ODC's completion policy for Module 1 requires that a least one home-study assignment per month be completed and submitted to the ODC office for grading.  Failure to comply with this policy will result in suspension, and only written requests for reinstatement received within 30 days of Notice of Suspension will be considered.  A reinstatement fee may apply.

There is no completion policy for Module 2.

Click here For a Printable Registration Form: Understanding Ontario’s Dairy Processing Industry
Click here to register online.