Practical Farmers Raise Poultry Issue
Posted: September 19, 2012
Categories: GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Ontario / The Meat Press
The Practical Farmers of Ontario have released a press release and request to the Chicken Farmers of Ontario to raise the small flock exemption for poultry. Currently in Ontario, for farmers to raise chickens, both layers and meat birds, they must purchase a minimum amount of quota. The minimum holding is costly and often well above the needs of a small-scale mixed farm. See the Metcalf Paper New Farmers and Alternative Markets within the Supply Managed System and our “City to Country: Introduction to Supply Management” virtual tour for more information.
“Our research has revealed that all other provinces have exemption levels significantly higher than the current 300 bird exemption here in Ontario”
3 responses to “Practical Farmers Raise Poultry Issue”
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Several years ago, CFO were very co-operative and worked with us to purchase a small amount of broiler chicken quota . It was the best decision we have ever made for our diversified small farm.
Today, I spoke with a farmer who had purchased enough quota to raise 2000 birds a year on pasture and they informed me that they are seriously considering selling their quota, because of how hard it has been to work with in the system that it is designed for large scale producers. The farmer was also extremely supportive of the PFO’s request to move the exemption to 2000 birds and felt that this would have a very positive effects on the rural communities, as the farmers will be supporting their local feed mills, chick hatcheries and small scale poultry processors who for sure need our help to be viable under the current system. We need a local food system that does not in any way impede the process of consumers choosing who they want to produce their food, currently the system does not allow for that, as well as it needs to.
Currently the lowest number of birds a farmer can raise a year under the quota system is approximately 70,000 birds or 15,000 units of quota. $130.00 per unit would cost a a new farmer $1,950,000 in just quota costs alone, this does not include, the barn, the farm land or any equipment, As far as i know there are currently only 3 farmers in Ontario with less then this volume and they are raising around 2000 each per year. These producers under the PFO plan would be free to sell their Quota and become a part of the small flock program, there is a waiting list of large scale farmers wanting to buy quota, so the farmers would easily be able to sell it and likely at a price 2.5 x time what they first purchased it for, because of the rapid rise in the price of quota in the last few years.
We need a better system that takes into account the needs of small scale farmers, this can only happen if people but a side their own personal interests and look at the bigger picture and the long needs the local food system has.
Where are the small Abbatoirs and local feed and chick suppliers on this issue
why dont they speak up before they are on there death beds.?