Feather Forum

In this episode of our Year in Review series, we chat with Drew Black, CEO of Egg Farmers of Canada, about the most important developments for egg producers in 2023 and look ahead to 2024.

In this episode of our Year in Review series, we chat with Tim Klompmaker, chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada, about the most important developments for broiler producers in 2023 and look ahead to the next year.

Hi, I’m Brett Ruffell, editor of Canadian Poultry magazine. For our four-part Year in Review Podcast series, we spoke with Phil Boyd, executive director of Turkey Farmers of Canada. We discuss the most important developments for turkey producers last year.

For our four-part Year in Review Podcast series, we spoke with Brian Bilkes, chair of Canadian Hatching Egg Producers. We discuss the most important developments for hatching egg producers last year.

In this edition of the Feature Forum podcast series, Canadian Poultry editor Brett Ruffell talks to Darren Ference, a turkey producer and chair of Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC). He discusses the outlook for Thanksgiving, TFC's Think Turkey campaign and the state of the turkey industry.

In the final episode of our 2023 Top 4 Under 40 podcast series, we talk to Dr. Ryan Snyder. Snyder is a scientist with Ceva Animal Health, where he works on the company’s vaccination programs. He also recently opened his own poultry research barn, where he runs research trials. And he goes the extra mile for his community and industry.

In the third episode of our 2023 Top 4 Under 40 podcast series, we talk to Cheryl Norleen of 4G Poultry based in Raymore, Sask. Norleen is a first-generation organic egg producer. She played key roles both in being accepted into the new entrant program and in achieving organic certification. She is also committed to personal growth, having completed numerous professional development programs.

In the second episode of the 2023 Top 4 Under 40 podcast, we talk to Jeff Kamlah, an end-to-end chicken producer from Didsbury, Alta. Kamlah runs the full broiler gamut, from breeder barns to hatcheries to chicken barns. He’s also spent years serving on different poultry boards in influential roles. In this interview, Jeff talks about his journey from growing up on a mixed farm to running a large poultry operation, embracing innovation, what he loves about poultry and more.

In our first episode of the 2023 Top 4 Under 40 podcast series we talk to Kieran McKeown of Daybreak Farms in Terrace, B.C. As the general manager of her family farm, she oversees egg production, a grading station, a feed mill and about a dozen staff. She’s also led a multimillion-dollar modernization project.

In this the final part of our Year in Review podcast series, Brett Ruffell, editor of Canadian Poultry Magazine, talks to Tim Lambert, CEO of Egg Farmers of Canada. In our first two parts, we got the chicken and turkey Industries’ perspectives on the biggest stories from last year. Now, it’s the egg industry’s turn. In this podcast, Lambert discusses the biggest challenges egg producers faced last year as well as some exciting projects the industry is working on.

In the second part of a three-part year in review series, Canadian Poultry editor Brett Ruffell spoke with Darren Ference, chair of Turkey Farmers of Canada. They discussed the biggest stories for turkey producers in 2022, from avian influenza to the pandemic to trade issues and more.

In the first of a three-part year in review series, Canadian Poultry editor Brett Ruffell spoke with Michael Laliberte, executive director of Chicken Farmers of Canada. They discussed the biggest stories for broiler producers in 2022, from avian influenza to the pandemic to trade issues and more.

Conrad Vanessen of Coaldale, Alta., is one of Egg Farmers of Alberta's (EFA) recent new entrant farmers, a current director and past chair of EFA's board of directors and an alumnus of Egg Farmers of Canada’s Young Farmers Program. He’s had a rapid rise to become one of the Alberta egg industry’s most influential young leaders. As both a director and member of EFA's Egg Ambassador team, the free-run egg producer is eager to speak to the public about modern egg farming.

In this episode of the Top 4 Under 40 podcast series, we talk to Dr. Teryn Girard, a poultry vet from Red Deer, Alta. Girard was the first poultry vet to join Prairie Livestock Veterinarians, where she’s developed a growing commercial clientele. She’s also a vet with Cargill Animal Nutrition. In her role, she’s been an asset in helping to deal with both the pandemic and the avian influenza outbreak. She’s also developed important educational tools for producers, including small flock owners....

Dr. Valarie Carney has been one of North America’s most respected poultry science leaders for nearly two decades. Based in Edmonton as the Poultry Innovation Partnership lead, she supports excellence in research and innovation in Canada’s poultry industry. In the latest Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture podcast, Canadian Poultry editor Brett Ruffell talks to Carney about taking risks, her defining moment and the struggle to find work-life balance.

In the second episode of the 2022 Top 4 Under 40 podcast series, we talk to David Arand, a turkey farmer from Atwood, Ontario. David has been running his family’s farm since the young age of 22 after his father passed away in a tragic farm accident. He has since transitioned the farm from pigs to turkey production. Along the way he’s adopted many innovative management practices and technologies. He’s also a passionate educator and goes the extra mile for his community.

In the first episode of the 2022 Top 4 Under 40 podcast series we talk to Emma Rutherford, a broiler and dairy farmer from Woodstock, Ontario. Emma has been running her own broiler operation since 2016. During that time, she’s led several on-farm projects that have improved flock health, results and profitability. She’s done this all the while managing a dairy farm, working as a dental hygienist and raising two kid

The North American poultry industry has been on edge since late last year. That’s when highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was discovered on the continent for the first time since the 2015 outbreak when it was detected in wild birds in Newfoundland. Here to provide an update on the situation is Dr. Tom Baker, manager and incident commander of the Feather Board Command Centre. He spoke with Canadian Poultry editor Brett Ruffell about the story in North America so far, how the disease typically spread and preventative measures farmers can take to protect their flock.

Last year, Aviagen North America named Dr. Sara Reichelt as its new director of welfare and sustainability. In this new role, Reichelt is the face of welfare and sustainability for Aviagen’s North American customer base. For the latest edition of Feather Forum, Canadian Poultry’s editor Brett Ruffell spoke with her about her background, her goals for the new role and how sustainability and welfare intersect.

Richard Boer built a diverse poultry farming business from the ground up. It encompasses specialty chicken, layers, pullets and an innovative retail store with a unique vending machine for egg purchases. He also takes time to give back, including volunteering at an egg farm in Africa. In the final instalment of Canadian Poultry’s Top 4 Under 40 podcast series, editor Brett Ruffell talks to Boer about starting out in the broiler business, expanding into layers and his innovative retail store.