Bryce needed to lease about 46,000 units of pullet quota for a new 50,000-bird capacity barn opened in February, 2018.
Initially the Egg Farmers of Ontario marketing board denied Bryce’s request to lease that much quota, saying he ought instead of use Van Aert family pullet quota for the new aviary barn.
A month later the EFO relented, allowed leasing, but then roughly doubled the leasing fee to $1 per unit of quota.
John Van Aert called that punitive and asked the tribunal to reduce the increase to a “reasonable” amount and phase in increases to the $1 target.
The tribunal ruled that the board operated within its jurisdiction, consulted with producers who were aware of the board’s intentions and that Van Aert took a calculated risk in going ahead with family plans to increase aviary housing.
Van Aert had made a deal with Burnbrae Farms to supply it with free-range eggs from aviary barns.
The appeal involved three farms, all within the Van Aert family business which features 250,000 units of egg-production quota.
The three are BVA Farms Ltd., Van Del Farm Ltd., and CJVA Farms Ltd.
During the public hearing, John Van Aert said he sees the future of egg production trending to organic and aviary standards and said his only fault is perhaps being too aggressive.
