The Nova Scotia marketing board has sent the small flockers
a list of approved hatcheries from which they can choose to buy turkey chicks.
Glenn Black, president of Small Flock Poultry Farmers of
Canada writes on his blog that “turkey chicks are somewhat difficult to
raise, so there is often a high mortality rate.
“Small Flockers often choose to pay
more for poults, raised from day old chicks for the first week or so by
experts, helping guarantee their success. That is how Larkin Bros. help
and service Small Flockers.”
Black writes that Larkin Bros. is not a
hatchery but buys day-old chicks at retail “as a farmer is allowed to do, then
raises them to poults, then re-sells the poults to other farmers.
“Property rights are supposed to be
enshrined in the Canadian constitution.
“That means that you can buy or sell
your property to others, unless the law specifically prohibits you from doing so,
and that law is reasonable and justified under the circumstances.”
Black clearly thinks the Nova Scotia
Turkey Marketing Board is exceeding its jurisdiction.
“The Turkey Mafia has their million
dollar monopoly to protect, and they will do any devious or other action to
stop or slow down Small Flockers from serving themselves and their local customers
of safe, affordable, nutritious, and locally grown turkeys.
“This is same or similar to the attacking of Aaron Hiltz by the Nova Scotia Egg Producers in Oct. 2013.”
He is also criticizing the Nova Scotia turkey
board for forbidding Gordon Fraser from slaughtering turkeys on his farm.
Black writes that “Fraser specializes
in serving Small Flockers and small farmers for beef, pork, lamb, and
poultry.
“Removing this rural butcher
shop-abattoir means Small Flockers have no where to go with their animals in
Pictou County, as the next nearest licensed abattoir is too far away.”
This is “bureaucratic over-reach by
TFNS, plain and simple,” Black says.
The Nova Scotia Department of
Agriculture “could implement exceptions for butcher shops, farmers, and small
local abattoirs who offer full disclosure to the public.
“Unfortunately, they cater to the
millionaires and their lobbyists who constantly whisper into the politicians’
ears, protecting their clients’ monopoly to the detriment of the public.”
