Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Pullet growers hold public hearings on marketing agency proposal

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

The next step in Pullet Growers of Canada’s bid to establish a marketing agency for pullet growers is the public hearings being held by the Farm Products Council of Canada.

Andy DeWeerd, chair of Pullet Growers of Canada, says the hearings are being held in Ottawa on April 23 and in Winnipeg on May 22.

The council also accepted written submissions on the Pullet Growers’ proposal and DeWeerd says more than half of the 80 submissions were in favour of the marketing agency, while seven or eight were neutral and the rest were opposed.

After the hearings are done, the panel will make a recommendation to the Farm Products Council’s board and if its favourable the council will meet with federal Agriculture Gerry Ritz, who will ask Cabinet to approve the marketing agency. “After that we start working on national/provincial agreements,” he says.

DeWeerd says it’s likely the marketing agency will be approved this year but the national/provincial agreements could take longer to complete. Those agreements are between the national pullet agency and its provincial counterparts on matters, such as allocation. But once the government approves the agency, it’s in place, he notes.

There are 550 pullet growers in Canada. Pullets, young chickens raised to become egg layers, are currently the only part of the feather industry not under supply management. The pullet growers’ organization is pursuing agency status to give it the required legal powers to represent and make decisions on behalf of members. The organization will give pullet producers their own voice in the poultry industry.

Pullet Growers first submitted its proposal to establish a marketing agency in December 2010, he says. The process has taken longer than they expected but “it has never gone backwards. We just kept moving ahead on it,” he explains. BF

Current Issue

May 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

New board members for Ontario Pork

Friday, April 25, 2025

Ontario Pork, an association representing the 1,898 pork farms that market 5.9 million hogs in the province, has announced its new board lineup for 2025. As a Guelph, Ontario-headquartered organization, Ontario Pork is engaged in the areas of research, government representation,... Read this article online

Sheep farmers win Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Sheep farmers and wool producers from Wallenstein, Ont. are Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers in the industry with an award like that,” Ryan Schill told Farms.com. “When we started the sheep farm, there were people questioning us... Read this article online

Ontario ag connections in the NHL playoffs

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

The 2025 NHL playoffs are underway, and some of hockey’s biggest names got their start on an Ontario farm or have invested in agriculture since becoming professional athletes. Farms.com went through each of the 16 playoff team rosters to uncover which players have a connection to... Read this article online

New Alcohol Trade Freedom in Ontario

Thursday, April 17, 2025

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has welcomed Ontario’s bold step in eliminating trade barriers and allowing direct alcohol sales to consumers. This new legislation aims to ease internal trade across provinces and support small businesses. One of the key changes... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top