The protocol to deal with avian influenza in chicken barns doesn’t go far enough, says a Saskatchewan producer caught in the aftermath of the virus.
James Glen, owner of Pedigree Poultry near Regina Beach, said it’s remarkable that producers are left on their own to cope with the expense of cleaning and disinfecting their property.
The highly pathogenic H7N3 strain of avian influenza was detected on his farm in late September, resulting in the eradication of 50,000 birds.
“(The Canadian Food Inspection Agency) came in with a very impressive protocol but as soon as the birds were destroyed and buried, the protocol evaporated,” he told reporters at the Saskatchewan legislature in late December.
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“It’s baffling for us.”
The opposition NDP raised his concerns during question period, asking what the provincial government could do to help. Glen has estimated the cost to complete the cleaning process at more than $200,000.
Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said the matter rests with the federal government and CFIA.
“We don’t feel it’s a provincial responsibility. The CFIA controls the situation, makes the regulations and provides the funding for the birds and the disposal of the birds,” he said.
The Saskatchewan industry has provided up to $100,000 to help with the cleaning.
Bjornerud said he has been told that should be adequate. He also said he has talked to federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz and would be willing to discuss changes in the protocol.
“We certainly sympathize with the situation and the producers in the province that are caught in this bind,” he said.
Clinton Monchuk, chief executive officer of Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan, said the money should cover the labour costs associated with pressure washing and fumigation.
However, he said there are other costs and it is difficult for producers dealing with the hardship of losing birds to come up with the money.
The industry has been talking with CFIA, Agriculture Canada and the Saskatchewan agriculture ministry about how the matter could better be handled in the future.
Glen said the province should have a greater interest in the situation, given that some borders remain closed to Saskatchewan chicken products as a result.
“They benefit from a quick clean and disinfect and so we’d like them to participate in the process … by funding us and as well as setting up some protocol for the industry to be prepared if it should happen again.”
The previous NDP government didn’t provide assistance when approached before the November election, he added.
Glen said he couldn’t say what the final bill will total but labour is one of the biggest costs.
Between three and 25 people are working each day depending on what’s on the schedule.
Glen said he employs people from a local labour pool in Regina.
“These people are mostly casual people that we just order in on a daily basis and they come to the farm,” he said. “We provide the transportation.”
Glen said he’s thankful for the industry money. He pays the employees and is reimbursed every one or two weeks.
He’s also concerned about the cost of fumigation, which will vary depending on the method used.
He expects to have one of his three barns full by the end of January but the entire process will take about a year.
“From two of the facilities there will be no revenue for another year just because it takes that long to place the birds and have them mature and repopulate.”
The farm has been without revenue since mid-October.
