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A question often asked is, "How do I become an egg farmer in Manitoba?" There are several options to consider. First, anyone can raise up to 99 laying hens without having a laying hen quota or a designated small non-registered certificate. Prior to 1985, anyone could keep up to 499 laying hens. When the province reduced the exemption level to 99 hens, farmers who had been raising up to 499 hens were grandfathered and issued designated small non-registered certificates. Non-registered certificates have limited transferability and are available as follows:
Designated Non-Registered Certificate
- From time to time, if a non-registered certificate holder decides to cease producing eggs, he may surrender his certificate to Manitoba Egg Farmers (MEF). When this occurs, the certificate may be re-issued to someone within the same geographical district. Interested parties could send us a letter to be kept on file. However, not many certificates are surrendered each year.
- In the event a certificate holder sells the farm on which the production facilities are located, the vendor can make a request to MEF to have the certificate transferred to the farmers.
- If a person can provide proof that he was raising between 100 and 499 laying hens during the qualifying period (February 27, 1984 to February 26, 1985, inclusive), he may be entitled to a Designated Small Non-Registered Certificate. Proof might be in the form of copies of invoices for chicks or gradeouts for egg sales during the qualifying period.
Quotas are required in order to have more than 499 hens. Quotas are used in the Canadian orderly marketing system to balance the supply of eggs with consumer demand. Quotas in Manitoba are not the property of an individual farmer, rather they are owned by MEF and permit a farmer to raise a certain number of hens.
Laying Hen and Pullet Quotas
Quotas may be acquired in several ways:
- Anyone may purchase an existing registered egg farmer's unit (complete farm purchase with laying hen and/or pullet quota). Complete farm sales are subject to certain requirements and must be approved by MEF.
- It may be possible to purchase the barn and equipment from a retiring farmer and move same to another property. Similar to complete farm sales, there are certain requirements and such transactions are subject to MEF approval.
- Anyone may participate on the monthly Laying Hen and Pullet Quota Retirement and Reallocation System (the Quota Exchange). Individuals submit "bids" to acquire quota detailing the amount of quota units (laying hens/pullets) and the maximum price per unit they would be willing to pay. The Exchange is really a form of public auction.
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