A producer raising laying hens without quota is miffed his plans to subdivide his farm near Milden, Sask., landed on the desk of the agency that monitors egg quota in Saskatchewan.
Curtis Jensen applied to subdivide his farm to the provincial department of government relations and aboriginal affairs in October. It, in turn, advised Saskatchewan Egg Producers of Jensen’s plans.
Jensen believes SEP was contacted because both the department assumed he was going to increase his flock size. Without quota, a producer is allowed to raise no more than 299 birds.
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Jensen feels he is doing nothing illegal and that his future intentions are no one’s business.
“I do not think (the government department) has any business being the police in this matter,” he said.
“It’s up to someone else to police that.”
Trent Good, Saskatoon regional manager of community planning, said subdividing land ordinarily takes between 60 and 90 days. His department looks at municipal bylaws and future plans for the sites.
He said Jensen’s application was delayed due to zoning compliance and the irregularity of a proposed split, which runs through a barn. The number of subdivisions also had to be reduced.
While there are no similar subdivision applications in his region, Good cited a similar case made at a poultry barn in a southern area.
“In terms of assessing all interests, both public and private, we thought we’d send it to (SEP),” said Good.
Michael Katz of SEP said the regulatory board for egg producers in the province cannot interfere with a subdivision process.
“We have no jurisdiction, no involvement, no authority, no mandate. We have not in any way impacted any subdivision, but we may have clarified our mandate, our jurisdiction and our rules.”
Katz said SEP is obliged to regulate all eggs produced in the province and ensure all rules are followed. It maintains only 299 birds would be allowed on all subdivided parcels of land on Jensen’s farm.
“We can’t just have someone going out and figuring they can bypass and exceed the legal maximum,” Katz said.
