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December 19, 2008
Chicken Farmers of Ontario is permitting small flock operators to market chickens.
by BETTER FARMING STAFF
In Canada the chicken, turkey, egg and dairy industries employ a quota system that matches supply with demand ensuring stable pricing and consistent supply. Beginning in 2009 however the chicken board will allow operators to sell up to 300 birds a year at the farm gate without having to buy quota.
Ann Slater, president of Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), says her association is “happy” with the marketing board’s Thursday announcement.
The EFAO and the National Farmers Union have been pushing for a relaxation of the board’s quota exemptions since 2005.
Small flock operators have been able to raise birds for their own use since 2006, says Mary Fearon, a spokesperson for the board. Quota prices are negotiated between farmers for each sale but quota value for 300 birds could be around $15,000 according to numbers published on the board’s website
Fearon says the decision to relax marketing restrictions follows a pilot program held this year. It attracted more than 8,000 participants.
Participants sold an average of 61 birds over the course of a year. “So the number 300 more than accommodates the majority of the people,” she says.
Although considerably more than the 102 allowed until 2006, Fearon admits Ontario is still more restrictive than other provinces.
How can CFO tell us what we can done if we don’t have a seat on the CFO Board. Who is representing the interest of Small Flock Farm in Ontario
Quota exemption for Ontario’s Small Chicken Farmers
