‘We have a system that’s kept the eggs at a stable price’: The National Poultry Show takes the spotlight at London’s Western Fair Agriplex

One of the largest shows of its kind in North America kicked off at the Western Fair District today. CTV London’s Gerry Dewan was there.

The price of eggs became a symbol of the economic challenges facing consumers during the U.S. election. Those impacts weren’t felt as deeply in Canada, and the resiliency of Canada’s poultry industry is part of the focus of the two-day National Poultry show taking place at the Western Fair Agriplex.

“We have a system that’s kept the eggs at a stable price,” Egg Farmers of Ontario Chair Scott Helps told CTV News.

Helps credits the nation’s supply management system for that stability. He said it has also helped farmers mitigate the impacts of avian influenza, which has devastated poultry farms south of the border.

“It allows family farms to thrive and have success and we are scattered around the rural communities,” he said.

That’s in contrast to large-scale corporate poultry operations stateside.

“They have barns and barns and barns,” said Helps. “Then right behind them, barns, and barns, and barns, all across. It is too congested. They dread seeing it coming in because it will just drift through those barns.”

Avian influenza has caused egg prices to double or triple in some regions, with the popular U.S. fast food chain Waffle House applying a 50-cent surcharge to meals with eggs.

“There’s 340-350 million birds typically in the U.S.,” said Helps. “They’ve lost like 40 million of them. So, that’s why you see that shortage.”

That doesn’t mean Canadians aren’t being impacted by avian influenza in the U.S. Helps said trade agreement requires that seven per cent of eggs sold in Canada come from the U.S. and producers are being impacted by avian flu.

The Canadian Food Inspection Industry is currently reporting infections at seven locations in our area, which are under quarantine.

The National Poultry Show, which is co-presented by Western Fair District and the Poultry Industry Council, is doing its part to control avian flu.

“So, we’ve recommended those coming to the show to run their vehicles through a car wash before and after leaving the show, and not wearing your farm boots or premise clothes into the event,” said Tom Lewis, executive director of the Poultry Industry Council.

The poultry show is the one of the largest in North America, with a record number of exhibits this year.

“We have people here from across Canada, North America, and some overseas visitors as well,” said Western Fair Agri-Business Manager Bridget Mahon. “And it is a farming show. So, I mean, at 7 a.m. they’re knocking on the door going, ‘Why aren’t you open yet?’”

As is the case with so many aspects of the agriculture industry. What is striking, is the profound impacts technology is having on poultry businesses.

Lewis said those advancements are a key part of what make the show so popular.

“Walking around the show here today, you can see the innovation, the new tech, where the industry is going in terms of meeting market demands and supporting our farmers and producers,” he said.

Lewis said another key to industry success is information sharing. He noted that those in the poultry industry have always been willing to share their stories - where they’ve found efficiencies and how they’ve grown their business.

The show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.