Below are a few elements of the 2019 Annual Performance Report. To view the full report, click here: ENGLISH / FRENCH
It is a privilege to provide remarks for Chicken Farmers of Ontario's (CFO) 2019 Annual Performance Report.
I commend CFO for your commitment to sustainable and innovative business that meets the demand of Ontario's market. CFO's Board and farmer-members continue to give back to Ontario's communities through CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks. Through this collaborative effort, the total donation for 2019 alone equaled over 1.7 million meals of fresh, nutritious, locally-grown chicken—something to be proud of!
This year, Ontario's government invested in the chicken farming industry to equip Ontarian farmers in case of emergency situations such as disease outbreak or barn damage from fire or extreme weather. Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, we announced shared funding with the Government of Canada of $350,873 to CFO working with Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission and the Association of Ontario Chicken Processors. This project will deliver a third-party service that ensures chickens are handled in a humane manner during emergency situations.
Ontario chicken farmers stood in solidarity with other livestock producers for the introduction of Bill 156, the proposed Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act. This piece of legislation is an important step to protect farm animals, the food supply, farmers and others from risks that are created when persons engage in unauthorized interactions with farm animals.
This year, CFO also made significant contributions to our government's red tape reduction efforts. CFO has undertaken an internal process of consulting with farmer-members, specifically with the governance leadership team, which comprises Board Directors and District Committee Representatives. These consultations have determined several areas for proposed policy review resulting in anticipated red tape reduction.
CFO continues to support a vast portfolio of programs that expand business opportunities for chicken farmers and offer Ontario consumers even more choice in accessing locally-grown chicken. These include the Artisanal Chicken Program, Specialty Breeds Chicken Program and New Entrant Chicken Farmers Program.
As you continue to build value and shape the future of CFO, I am eager to see the steps that CFO will take to fulfill its vision to grow Ontario's chicken industry. I am confident that your sector is in good hands.
Derek Detzler, DCR for District 1, manages his family’s chicken farm in the Walkerton area, while simultaneously maintaining a position as Executive Director of Trillium Hatchery and providing global technical service to a poultry nutrition company. Derek has been an advocate for responsible antibiotic use. As a DCR, Derek’s passion for chicken farming makes him an excellent lead and support for his fellow chicken farmers in District 1.
The Importance of responsible use of antibiotics
Marius Hol and his family first entered the chicken industry through the CFO New Entrant Chicken Farmer Program in 2014. As a passionate chicken farmer in the Goderich area, Marius was interested in sharing his knowledge, meeting with chicken farmers across the province, advocating for supply management, and being a voice for his fellow farmers in District 2, ultimately becoming a DCR in 2019.
New Entrant Chicken Farmer Program
Carolyn Cornelissen is not only an active chicken farmer, running Cornelissen Farms Inc. and Twin Creeks Greenhouse with her family in Lambton County, she’s also very active in her role as District 3 DCR, in the CFO Women in Leadership Initiative and in the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program. Carolyn enjoys investing her time and knowledge to help continue to build a strong industry for future generations, whether that be supporting and encouraging other female chicken farmers to grow their involvement in the industry, giving back to those in need in her community, or being an advocate for fellow District 3 farmer-members. You can read more about Carolyn’s accomplishments in the October 2019 article on The Poultry Site: “Women in Poultry: Carolyn Cornelissen.”
Growing CFO’s Women in Leadership Initiative
Farming alongside his wife and three children, Darren Kraay is heavily involved both in the chicken industry and in his community. Not only a District Committee Representative for District 4, Darren is also involved in the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks Working Group. In Darren’s words, he has found that the best way to learn about the industry and represent the chicken farmers in his district is to be hands-on, meeting regularly with farmer-members, fellow DCRs, and CFO Board Directors.
CFO Cares Farmers to Food Banks (video)
As a multi-generational chicken farmer, poultry farming is in Pete Koroneos’ blood. When on-farm, Pete enjoys raising chickens and growing crops with the help of his family. When off-farm, Pete can be found offering his vast poultry industry experience and knowledge in both his role as District Committee Representative for District 5 farmer-members and as a valued member of the DCR Communications Working Group. Pete is also an Appointed Member of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeals Tribunal, and regularly volunteers in multiple community-oriented organizations in the Niagara Region. As part of his agricultural-related positions, Pete often meets with the farmer-members in his community in order to better advocate for their agricultural requirements.
Stakeholder Communications
Having grown up on a family chicken farm, John Opsteen is a life-long poultry farmer who now runs his own farming operation in District 6. When he’s not busy on the farm, John can be found attending to the needs of the agricultural community and working on behalf of the farmer-members in his District. John is also a member of the DCR Communications Working Group, through which he provides invaluable input in helping ensure farmer-members receive communications tailored to their needs.
We're Social
As both a long-time chicken farmer and a long-time District Committee Representative, Alfred Rumph is very active in both the industry and his community and strives to find ways to continue to improve poultry agriculture across Ontario. Alfred is passionate about giving back to those in need, and participates in the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program as both a donor and a member of the CFO Cares Working Group.
Working Towards a Hunger Free Ontario
Wendy is a proven leader in both her poultry business and her local farming community in her role as DCR for District 8. As one of four female DCRs, Wendy has a strong focus on encouraging more women to become active within the farming community — a role she accomplishes through planning events that provide the opportunity to learn, interact and build relationships with one another. In addition to chicken farming, Wendy works off-farm as a social worker in her community. More information about Wendy’s involvement both on and off the farm can be found in the May 2019 article on The Poultry Site – “Women in Poultry: Wendy Lantz”.
Growing CFO’s Women in Leadership Initiative
A passionate broiler and egg farmer in Eastern Ontario, Marc and his family have been raising their flocks with dedication and care for numerous years. In addition to poultry farming, Marc, his daughter Melissa and son in law Andrew also operate a family-run grain crop farm, grain elevator and feed mill called Bourdon Feed & Grain Inc.
In keeping their farming operations running smoothly, Marc leads and advocates on behalf of the Ontario eastern-region chicken farmer-members as District 9 DCR.
French Services Team