A new provincial program is opening the broiler industry to small farmers, and offering consumers more choice in accessing locally grown chicken. Ontario’s Artisanal Chicken Program allows Ontario’s small farmers the opportunity to raise between 600 and 3,000 chickens annually for niche markets like local farmers’ markets, restaurants and specialty retailers.
Previously, under Ontario’s Small Flock Program, Ontario farmers could raise up to 300 birds for personal consumption; this program has now been relabelled the Family Food Program. The Artisanal Chicken Program is the next step between small scale and full commercial production.
Michael Edmonds, Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Chicken Farmers of Ontario, said while the program has received strong encouragement from the consumer base, and from farmers looking for a distinct product for their customers, there is room for future growth.
“We’re looking to build the farmer base for the program,” Edmonds said, “We had a very successful first year.”
As an application-based program, in 2016 approximately 100 applications were received, of which Edmonds said roughly 80 have been actively farming this year. After the first year of the program, Edmonds said he feels most, if not all, participants will be looking to take part in the program in 2017, and in many cases increasing the number of chickens. With a maximum cap of 3,000 broilers for program participants, Edmonds said currently the average sits at around 1,500 birds per participating farm.
Participation in the program is not without compliance issues. Participants are required to adhere to the same regulations as any Ontario farmer growing birds for the commercial market, and to follow the On-Farm Food Safety Assurance and Animal Care Programs to ensure food safety, biosecurity and animal care standards are maintained. Registrants will also have their name entered into a database of more than 15,000 poultry farmers in Ontario.
“The idea is when there’s an outbreak we actually have a very complete map of where the poultry farms are, either large or small,” Edmonds said.
To apply for the Artisanal Chicken Program, farmers are invited to visit the Artisanal Chicken Program website at artisanalchicken.ca where they will find the 2017 application, information on chicken farming, and an outline of the rules under the On-Farm Food Safety and Animal Care Programs. Edmonds said there are also staff available who can offer advice on getting set up as a poultry farmer in the province.
- Amy Hogue