Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Regulations Killing The Small Meat Abattoirs and Local Meat Processors. Does It Matter?

I saw the following article in the Markdale Standard and thought it would be of interest....

 

Regulations blamed for loss of abattoirs

Posted By Mary Golem

Holding up a thick binder of rules and regulations, the owner of a small local butcher shop said over-regulation and "confusion over how those regulations are being interpreted" are making his life difficult.

 

Kelven Arnold of Sullivan's Butcher Shop in Wiarton told a crowd at a meeting in Elmwood Wednesday night that some of the provincial meat industry inspection regulations are "physically impossible" for him and other small butcher shop and abattoir owners, "and extremely costly." Arnold says he's spent more than $75,000 in the last three years trying to comply.

 

"But there's no way you can question the rules, or not do what they want," he added.

 

"They'll just shut you down."

 

Stricter regulations are destroying small abattoirs across Ontario, threatening also the farmers who use them and reducing opportunities for people to buy local food, said Barb Klages, a member of the Malcolm Women's Institute, who spearheaded the organization of the information meeting.

 

Large and small plants are expected to meet the same compliance standards "and for many small operations, that's just simply impossible," says Louis Roesch, one of four key speakers at the meeting.

 

Fifteen years ago, Ontario had more than 900 businesses to process meat and poultry. Today, there are about 130.

 

Freeman Boyd, co-ordinator of the Buy Local Food project, said a year ago Grey-Bruce had nine provincially inspected plants and one federally inspected operation.

 

"We lost one last year, one closed this year and another is for sale. Two more might close and two are in immediate danger of closing . . . we may be down to five or less slaughter plants in the area in the not too distant future. That should be of immediate concern, not only to producers, but consumers as well."

 

Read the rest of the Markdale Standard article here.

 

http://www.markdalestandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2617944

 

Views: 127

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bristow on June 19, 2010 at 2:42pm
Had a simlar article on this forum a few months ago about a Cochrane processer, in North Ontario. Wear was the support for him from the above producessors. These regulations have one purpose take overs, unless a strong message is sent with the support of unions and all small producessors through out the provience they will take you down one by one. region by region.

Maybe we should have a new preimier's award for invonation. The award could be called can his government no piss off the farmers and prodcessors and no implement government invonation for the rest of his term. And maybe, just maybe a farmer could make some money to pay taxes.
Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on June 20, 2010 at 5:46am
I was shocked to see 900 operation down to 130 in five years???? But not surprised with I think about it.

We need to keep these local markets and local rural jobs....

My question is "Is there no money in processing or is it the regulatory barriers?"

If government policy is driving these processing operations out of business we need to figure out how to stop and reverse this trend.

Fewer marketing choices is not good for producers...
Permalink Reply by Bristow on June 20, 2010 at 11:02am
If Mr McCunty, sorry is it, McGuinty is to true form like our labour preimers in Australia, he will find the burden of his office has taken a heavy total on his family life, and must retire. Normal to a cushy quongo job, specially made for him by all those who he helped feather their nest. Leaving some fall guy to take the blame, normally a female. It totally amazes me how these flimflam people are elected, within their politial parties and why with the experience some of the older members who hold the reins don't, see the wolf under sheep's clothing. Thats why you need a Senate, to review these laws and policies. Their impact on the communities, businesses and not give the green light for this sort of result to happen, when any policial party gets into power.
Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on June 29, 2010 at 8:11am
Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell says her department is looking for ways to help small abattoirs.
Mitchell says she's well aware of the struggles some of those operators are facing.

(Carol Mitchell On Abattoirs) Click to listen to an audio interview.
Many of those small abattoir owners are blaming new inspection standards for their problems.
A number of them have had to shut down because they can't make a living the way things are right now.
Permalink Reply by John Schwartzentruber on June 30, 2010 at 6:08am
Would that mean something like "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you . . ."?

Joe Dales said:
Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell says her department is looking for ways to help small abattoirs.
Mitchell says she's well aware of the struggles some of those operators are facing.

(Carol Mitchell On Abattoirs) Click to listen to an audio interview.
Many of those small abattoir owners are blaming new inspection standards for their problems.
A number of them have had to shut down because they can't make a living the way things are right now.

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

*Webinars* Strategies for Reducing Calf Losses: Veterinary Insights from Across Canada

Are calf losses cutting into your beef operation’s productivity and profitability? You are not alone! The BCRC is hosting two 90-minute webinars featuring veterinarians from across Canada who work directly with cow-calf operations like yours. A March 18 webinar will feature veterinarians who work with Eastern Canadian cow-calf operations, sharing insights on practical prevention strategies to implement before, during and after calving to increase calf survivability. During the March 25 webinar, Western Canadian veterinarians will outline regionally relevant approaches for reducing calf losses, highlighting essential pre-calving strategies and practical management techniques to use during calving to help ensure healthier outcomes for both cows and calves.   Both webinars will include an extended Q&A session, giving you plenty of time to ask questions. Each webinar will also be available for?one continuing education (CE) credit for veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists

China halts tariffs on some Canadian ag

Some Canadian ag products will have tariff-free access to China as of March 1

Farmers Face Harsh Truths While Refusing to Abandon Their Way of Life

A recent post on social media by a friend asked to add a line from a movie that fans of it would instantly recognize. One of my contributions was, “You can’t handle the truth.” While that line came in a courtroom scene from one of my favorite movies with Jack Nicholson yelling it at Tom Cruise, it actually got me thinking about farming. Many of us who grew up on a farm have seen both good and tough times. That is the truth. But what are we currently experiencing and can we handle these truths? American Farm Bureau recently said there was a 46% increase in farm bankruptcies in 2025. That’s pretty sobering. Those of us who grew up during the farm crisis in the 1980s, when more than 250,000 farmers filed for bankruptcy, never want to hear about someone losing a farm. For a few years I’ve personally been concerned about what’s happening in our farming communities. Interest rates have been plenty high; input costs don’t seem to come down when market prices do. Farmers have always been pr

As US agriculture flails, farmers see big corn acres as best bet to break even

U.S. farmers, though punished by slumping prices after last year’s monster corn harvest, are expected to cut back only slightly on their plantings of the grain in 2026 as they brace for a fourth straight year of narrow profit margins or even losses. Farmers expect corn, the most widely grown U.S. crop, to hew close to break-even levels this year, supported by strong usage. Some see soybeans as riskier, given rising competition from Brazil and a volatile U.S. trade relationship with top buyer China. “Right now, you absolutely cannot make money on beans,” said Tim Gregerson, who farms in eastern Nebraska. “You can probably break even on corn, but you are going to have to have an extraordinary yield, or a price increase,” Gregerson said. Most growers in America’s Midwest farm belt grow both crops, alternating what gets planted on each field from year to year to boost soil health. Many add wheat, sorghum, cotton or other crops to their rotations. But among farmers who have some flexible

This is Agriculture: Producer, advocate, industry leader

Jill Verwey lives and breathes agriculture. Her roots growing up on a mixed grain and cattle operation in rural Manitoba lend themselves well to her current roles – the office manager for Verwey Farms Ltd., president of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), and first vice president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). Jill’s pride in Canadian agriculture is unmistakable. Learn more about her career and advocacy journey below. Describe your job or product in one sentence. My role includes managing the day-to-day administration and financial operations of our family farm, overseeing food and animal safety and human resources, and representing agricultural producers provincially and nationally through leadership roles with KAP, CFA, and various boards and advisory groups. Where did you grow up? Was it an agriculture or urban environment? I grew up in rural Manitoba on a mixed grain and cattle operation. I have been married for 32 years, and my husband and I are involved in

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service