Chicken production In Ontario surged higher by 4.3 per cent
in June, more than the national average of 3.9 per cent, yet far short of the
19 per cent increase in New Brunswick.
Quebec, the second-largest chicken-producing province,
increased April production by 1.5 per cent.
Prices for current marketings (for quota period 117 which
runs from April 21 to June 15) are significantly higher than a year ago.
The base price for Ontario is now $1.69 per kilogram
compared with $1.60 last year.
Ontario’s production surge will be short-lived if farmers
stick to the amount they have been allocated for fall production.
Ontario’s allocation from the national agency amounts to
less than the national average increase of 1.4 per cent.
In May, wholesale chicken prices across Canada averaged 359.9
per kilogram, an increase of 3.4 per cent over the previous year when the
composite whole-bird price was 348.1 per kilogram.
The Canadian chicken industry is protected by a tariff of
about 285 per cent.
The chicken industry is concerned, however, that some shrewd
businessmen are finding ways to import chicken they can buy much cheaper in the
United States.
