Federal government earmarks $1.2 million for poultry insurance programs

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced that the federal government has set aside more than $1.2 million for three organizations to help them launch insurance products for Canadian poultry producers.

The three recipients of the insurance funding are the Les Producteurs d’œufs d’incubation du Québec (POIQ), the Canadian Egg Industry Reciprocal Alliance (CEIRA), and the Équipe québécoise de contrôle des maladies avicoles (EQCMA).

POIQ will receive up to $531,813 to implement and administer the Régime d’indemnisation des producteurs d’œufs d’incubation (Hatching Egg Producer Compensation Plan), The group insurance plan was developed to cover losses and costs related to two poultry diseases: Salmonella enteritidis and Mycoplasma synoviae. The plan also helps ensure members comply with testing protocols and mandatory reporting of contaminations, and that everyone takes mitigation steps to avoid infection.

Meanwhile, up to $408,485 will be provided to CEIRA to update the compensation model for its insurance product. The said product covers table egg producers against avian influenza. The funds will also be used to support activities which raise awareness of CEIRA’s insurance products among producers.

Lastly, up to $337,126 will be granted to EQCMA, to help the organization develop and launch an insurance product to cover table egg producers against false layer syndrome. Funding will also be dedicated to the development of protocols for early detection of the disease, and control/eradication protocols.

“Outbreaks of diseases, such as avian influenza, are a major source of financial and emotional stress for farmers,” said minister Bibeau. “These sector-led projects are effective tools to mitigate the impacts of the challenges facing our agricultural producers.”