As many of you are aware, it is against the law to raise and sell chicken in Ontario without quota. This is because chicken is a supply managed commodity in Canada and the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) have the right to control the sale of chicken within Ontario. Supply management was set up to protect farmers from processors and to provide farmers with a fair return on their product. Over the years, quota has become increasingly expensive and often out of reach for small, new, seasonal or diversified farmers wishing to raise a few chickens as part of a mixed farming operation.

Many of us have raised chickens in the past with the understanding that we were allowed to raise and sell up to 300 birds without quota. Earlier this year the CFO clarified their position on the issue of small chicken flocks and decided that families in Ontario could raise up to 102 birds for family consumption only.

In Alberta, farmers are allowed to raise up to 2000 chickens per calendar year without quota, as long as the chickens are sold direct to consumers from the farm where the chicken was raised or from a farmers market stall. The National Farmers Union has recently asked the Board of CFO to consider a similar quota exemption for Ontario.

This issue affects many EFAO members who wish to raise, sell or buy organic, pasture-fed or free-range chicken. At the moment we have not taken a position on the issue, however, several members have expressed an interest in EFAO taking action. If you have any comments, please contact a board member.

Ann Slater