Manitoba Chicken Producers (MCP) is dedicated to representing the needs of hatching egg and chicken producers of Manitoba by providing leadership in maintaining a viable and stable chicken production industry.
We are a provincial, farmer-run, organization whose main responsibility is to ensure that Manitoba farmers produce enough hatching eggs and meat chickens to meet the needs of the marketplace. The system we operate under is commonly known as
supply management or orderly marketing.
Our organization is completely funded through levies that farmers pay according to the number of eggs and kilograms of chicken marketed. We do not receive any government subsidies or grants.
Our directions and policies are determined by a eight member board of directors that meets frequently. The board is made up of chicken farmers elected from each of the six chicken producing districts, and two hatching egg farmers elected to represent the hatching egg producers.
The board of directors meets with hatcheries, and with provincial processors, to determine the needs of the marketplace and to set the minimum prices paid to farmers. We do not set wholesale or retail chicken prices.
We also regulate hatching egg and chicken production in Manitoba. Farmers require a quota for hatching eggs and meat chickens. We allocate quota, set production levels and monitor production on each farm. The only way to get quota in Manitoba, at the moment, is to buy a farm with existing quota. If there is ever an opportunity for new quota, the details will be advertised in Manitoba.
Another key responsibility is to ensure that the voice of Manitoba hatching egg and chicken farmers is heard on the provincial, national and international scene.
We promote the consumption of Manitoba chicken and act as an information resource for anyone interested in buying or using Manitoba chicken.
We were established in 1968 under the Manitoba Natural Products Marketing Act of the provincial government. We are members of the national hatching egg agency, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, and the national chicken farmer organization, Chicken Farmers of Canada.
Our office is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and is staffed by 5 employees.
