Supply management allows chicken production in Ontario to remain a sustainable industry where:
- farmers can make a reasonable living,
- government subsidies are never required,
- the chicken industry makes a significant contribution to Ontario’s economy
- the health and safety of chickens grown for consumption is assured,
- the consumer demand for chicken is always met at a fair price, and
- the environment is protected
Canadian entrepreneurs and business people expect their income to relate fairly to the talent, energy and investment dollars they put into their businesses. Supply managed farmers share this expectation. They expect their farming business to provide a reasonable, sustainable market-based return and annual income. The supply management commodity boards they support with their levies, and govern with their votes for elected directors, work to meet this expectation.
Because supply management allows chicken farming to be a successful industry, farmers require no government subsidies. In fact, ever since supply management came into effect in 1965, Ontario chicken farmers have been able to pay their bills, create jobs and strengthen the economy without any financial help from government.
The Canadian chicken industry directly employs more than 15,000 people who work on farms or in processing. More than five thousand of these full-time jobs are here in Ontario. There are thousands of spin-off jobs as well. While many of these jobs are in urban areas, it is rural Ontario that benefits the most. The success of supply management in the chicken industry is a major contributor to the rural economy.
Our chicken supply management system in Ontario, with the full cooperation of CFO’s producer-elected board, has promoted Ontario chicken producers to the leading edge of food safety. Our made-in-Ontario policy ensures that all producers in the province will be certified under Canada’s On-Farm Food Safety Assurance Program (OFFSAP) – one of the most stringent food safety programs in the world.
The price that processors pay to Ontario chicken farmers is based on a “live price formula”. The formula is made up of three components: producer margin, feed cost and chick cost. The price paid to farmers has only increased marginally over the past 15 years.
Ontario chicken farmers are proud of their industry and take their role as stewards of the land seriously. Animal welfare and environmental sustainability are top priorities for chicken farmers. Through the implementation of sustainable good production practices, chicken farmers are committed to leaving the smallest possible imprint on the environment. CFO and Chicken Farmers of Canada both support the development and implementation of Environmental Farm Plans for national implementation.
