Regulatory limits for somatic cell count in milk are scheduled to decrease by 20 per cent, from 500,000 to 400,000, in August of 2012. Somatic cells are an indicator of overall udder health and influence milk product quality. In November, AVC's Maritime Quality Milk, together with Valacta, the regional milk recording agency, held eight successful sessions in the three Maritime provinces to transfer new knowledge about the production of top quality milk. The program, which was attended by 275 producers (approximately half of all dairy farmers in the region), featured information from the Canadian Bovine Mastitis Research Network, which included results from several studies centered at AVC. The day-long seminars were delivered by Drs Greg Keefe and Kim MacDonald (AVC/MQM), Don Anderson (Quality Milk Management), Dr. Jean Brisson (Valacta), and the local bovine veterinary practitioner in the area. The tean planned to conduct similar workshops in Newfoundland and Labrador in December.