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September 27, 2021 Newsletter
This is the 44th issue of our electronic news update.
BCCMB Updates
Acting Executive Director
While the BC Chicken Marketing Board continues their executive search, Christine Rickson has been appointed the acting executive director. Christine can be contacted at christinerickson@bcchicken.ca or 604-859-2868 ext. 102.
Pricing for Period A-172
Pricing orders for period A-172 have been posted on the website here.
Detailed explanations of the pricing orders are available here.



Virtual Cook Along with Canuck Place Tuesday Sep. 28 at 5:30 PM
Looking for a simple, yet delicious chicken dinner you can make at home? Join Chef Guru from Canuck Place as he walks you through step-by-step instructions on how to prepare a single sheet pan chicken cacciatore dinner. While your chicken is in the oven, keep watching to learn about the important work of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, visit a BC chicken farm, and hear from our BC Chicken Month restaurant partners. All of this in only half an hour! Join us for the video premier Tuesday September 28, 2021 at 5:30 PM.

Join BC chicken farmers in supporting Canuck Place Children's Hospice.
  • Get the full recipe and ingredient list here.
  • Subscribe to the BC Chicken YouTube Channel here.
  • Click here to donate to Canuck Place.
September is Chicken Month!

We have been having a great time celebrating chicken month in BC.
Thank you to all the farmers, chef and other industry collaborators who helped us celebrate. We are especially grateful to the BC Government’s Buy BC Partnership Program; delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC with funding from the Government of British Columbia.
Visite the Chicken Month website here.
Listen to the radio ad airing all over BC featuring a real BC chicken grower here.
 From September 27 to October 21, 2021, Cleanfarms will collecting unwanted agricultural pesticides and old livestock/equine medications at 11 locations in BC's Interior region.    Click here for a map of Clean Farms collection locations.

The program rotates around the country every three years which means we won’t be back in these locations till 2024. This is a perfect opportunity to clean out old stock with the peace of mind that it will be managed safely. For program details, please see:
Period A-175 (March 13 – May 7, 2022)
CFC Sets Allocation Wednesday December 1, 2021
Deadline to submit quota transfer papers: Friday November 19, 2021
Deadline to submit allocation paperwork: Monday November 29 , 2021 at NOON
From the Archives - Celebrating 60 Years.
In 1964, a sharp drop in prices at the end of the year created some hardship for BC chicken growers. Production outstripped consumption and the BC Broiler Board made a correction while other parts of Canada did not.  
BC experienced the highest live price in North America, but it was still deemed to be too low for profitable production.
The pressure on prices was said to be influenced by lower-priced markets surrounding BC and large integrators putting competitive pressure on small farmers.
Growers were encouraged to use the “all in all out method” rather than continuing with mixed ages and multiple brooding systems. 
The board promoted consumption in BC with campaigns to increase awareness of “Grown in BC” product. 
 
National Updates
Coming Soon! New version of the OFFSP manual
Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) has published a revised version of the Raised by a Canadian Farmer On-Farm Food Safety Program manual.
This represents the first major update to the OFFSP manual since 2014.
In this new version, changes have been designed to harmonize with current regulations, to clarify existing requirements, to provide greater flexibility for washing, disinfection, and downtime, and to reduce duplication. Key changes are highlighted below:
1. Harmonization with current regulations
  • When mixing medicated feed on-farm, a feed mixing record must be maintained including the types of feed manufactured, the sequential order of feed manufactured, the medications used, and any flushing or physical cleaning performed. 
  • If mixing medicated feed on-farm with a withdrawal period, a mixer efficiency test is required a minimum of every 3 years and scale calibration tests are required at a minimum of every year. 
  • Medication use and veterinary oversight have been aligned with Health Canada’s 2018 policy changes 
  • Feed and water additives are to be approved for use or have directions for livestock production
2. Clarification of existing requirements
  • Clarification surrounding new barn requirements
  • New barns will require a concrete floor, or similar non-porous surface, on the first floor
  • New barns with a previously untested water source will be required to have a water test prior to the first placement
  • Containers/bulk tanks being used to administer chemical products via water are to be labelled with the name and concentration of the product
  • Expired products are to be stored separately from non-expired products prior to disposal
  • Chicks are to be purchased from CFIA licensed hatcheries
  • A clarification has been added that all farm workers must sign the SOPs
3. Increased Flexibility for Washing, Disinfection and Downtime
  • Three options have been provided for washing, use of detergent/disinfectant, and for downtim
  • Option 1 is similar to the current manual with increased flexibility in that a detergent or a disinfectant can be used.
  • Option 2 includes washing the barn and equipment annually as in option 1, but use of a detergent or a disinfectant is only needed on the feeders, drinkers, and equipment. This is to be followed by a 14-day downtime.
  • Option 3 involves a dry-clean of the barn and a 14-day downtime after every flock. No washing or detergent/disinfection is required with this option, although manure must be removed from the barn within 72 hours of the birds being shipped. If there are scheduling issues, a downtime of less than 14 days can occur a maximum of two times in the previous 12 months.
4. Reduced Duplication
  • The “Highly Recommended” requirements of the OFFSP will no longer be included in the audit process
  • Duplicate requirements from the Animal Care Program have been removed from the OFFSP, or reference has been made to refer to the Animal Care Program

These revisions are only applicable to the OFFSP as the requirements of the CFC Raised by a Canadian Farmer Animal Care Program have not changed.
The new manual will be distributed in the Fall with a implementation date of January 1, 2022. In the coming months, electronic record forms (word and PDF) will be published here.
Federal Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program
Farmers can now register for Agriculture and Agri-food Canada's Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program (PEFIP), which was outlined by the the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau on April 13, 2021. BC chicken growers can receive 70% funding for activities that contribute to on-farm modernization, such as feeding, watering, lighting, ventilation and comfort system upgrades and/or new barn construction.
  1. Grower Registration: Growers should register with PEFIP using their license information. Upon validation, producers will see their maximum funding amount to plan their project.
  2. Submit an application: Growers can submit their project application(s) over the ten-year period for their on-farm investments.
Click here to read the PEFIP user guide.
Unit 220 - 1848 McCallum Road
Abbotsford BC V2S 0H9