Chairman Murray Opsteen and General Manager Denise Hockaday delivered upbeat reports on last year’s performance when chicken industry leaders met recently for the annual meeting of Chicken Farmers of Ontario.
Opsteen said “while consumption is slightly down from pre-pandemic levels, the decline is less than other protein meals – including plant-based options.
He said “despite a historically challenging period behind us, we know there is a lot to look forward to.”
Hockaday said consultations related to the distribution of growth supply to processors were completed, and the board of directors finalized decisions on future programs, which will be rolled out in 2025 and beyond.
She said pricing negotiations were successfully concluded, finalizing the producer margin for 2025.
And “despite a significant increase in chicken imports to Canada in 2024, domestic demand remained strong, leading to an almost one per cent increase in domestic allocations over 2023.”
She said there was significant collaboration with farmers to ensure compliance with the Modular Loading Regulation, that chick ordering was simplified and data quality improved by removing the two per cent allowance for extra chicks and collaboration with Chicken Famers of Canada on in-barn hatching requirements.
Board chair Amy Cronin said hatching egg commission leaders and the chicken board were able to develop a better relationship, ending several years of tensions.
Hockaday reported that reovirus was added as an insurable peril for chicken farmers through the Poultry Insurance Exchange.
And she said design efforts advanced for the new Ontario Poultry Research and Innovation Centre.
