COVID-19

Our farmers continue to raise chicken while following the highest levels of on-farm food safety, animal care and biosecurity.

CFS is not aware of any significant disruption at the production and processing level, and the expected level of supply is being delivered across the province.

The reaction from consumers to the COVID-19 situation, in which they have begun building reserves, has resulted in some limited availability of fresh chicken in some retail locations.

Product that would normally have gone to food service is being re-directed, where practically possible, towards retail with the required adjustments related to packaging and distribution.

The chicken sector is proactive in maintaining a constant level of supply despite the uncertainties related to COVID-19. We are committed to monitoring and proactively responding to the situation.

Industry is working together to assess production planning and processing capacity in the wake of COVID-19.

CFS and the Saskatchewan Processors are working together to ensure processing continues as scheduled

CFS is also working closely with other industry partners, Chicken Farmers of Canada, and other Provincial Boards across the country.

Everyone is being asked to be extra vigilant! Everyone should be practicing physical distancing at all times.

It is recommended that all non-essential on-farm industry-related visits be postponed. All CFS on-farm audits have been postponed until further notice.

If you’re feeling unwell, you must arrange for others to manage necessary on-farm visits in your absence and keep your lines of communication open. Follow the Sask Health website for more information about COVID-19

Farmer-members should ensure that they have appropriate hand washing and sanitation facilities available to any industry stakeholder who may need to come to their farm. We recommend avoiding the use of your in-house washrooms at this time. Please make other arrangements as necessary.

Farmers should be following all recommended COVID-19 hand washing and cleaning and disinfectant procedures at all times. CLICK HERE to access the How To Wash Your Hands COVID-19 resource.

• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food
  • use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
• when coughing or sneezing:
  • cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand
  • dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• ensure that high traffic work areas or frequently touched surfaces are disinfected twice daily with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water)

For more information, please read the Government of Canada’s guidance document: Preventing COVID-19 in the workplace: employers, employees and essential service workers.

It is recommended that all non-essential on-farm industry-related visits be postponed. Please do your best to make other arrangements during the pandemic.

In the event that the visit is deemed to be essential, for example: chick placement, feed delivery, catching and loading etc., farmer-members MUST observe the following criteria.

• KEEP YOUR DISTANCE:
  • Practice strict physical distancing measures when industry personnel must visit the farm
  • Keep a distance of two metres (minimum) between you, and anyone on your farm
  • Use appropriate products to clean and disinfect items like work surfaces, barn doors, controls, phones, etc. at least twice daily, and more often if they are visibly soiled.
  • If they can withstand the use of liquids for disinfection, frequently touched electronics such as phones and controls may be disinfected with 70% alcohol (e.g. alcohol prep wipes).
• ENSURE HAND WASHING FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE:
  • Farmer-members should ensure that they have appropriate hand washing and sanitation facilities available to any industry stakeholder who may need to come to their farm. We recommended you do not use a washroom in your home at this time, and make other arrangements as necessary.
• KEEP YOUR LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN:
  • If you are in self-isolation, you must communicate this to all visitors who are intending to visit your farm. Remember that you are not to see anyone, or go in your barn during this period. You must make other arrangements for someone to care for your birds and to meet with industry personnel. Follow the Ministry of Health’s guidelines.

To promote the safety of farmers and their families, CFS is working with industry to ensure industry personnel follow all recommended protection measures while on-farm. Please take every measure possible to keep our industry stakeholders safe too!

ince there are still many unknowns about COVID-19, until more information is available, if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or are in self-isolation, you must maintain isolation and notify CFS and any industry partners that may need to access your farm. Arrange to have all surfaces including doorknobs wiped with disinfectants. Have someone else care for your animals during this period. Please take the necessary steps to avoid contamination of other members of your staff or external staff (e.g., catching or chick placement crews).

According to the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) there have not been any reports of companion or other livestock becoming sick with COVID-19 and currently there is no evidence that they play a significant epidemiological role in this human disease. However, because animals and people can sometimes share diseases, it is still recommended that people who are sick with COVID-19 or have been exposed to the disease, limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.

The Sask Health Ministry requires self-isolation based on the following criteria:

• Anyone who has traveled outside of Canada must self-isolate for 14 days upon return. People who are self-isolating should not go to work, or be in their barns. You must make other arrangements, and you must notify CFS and all relevant industry stakeholders who are required to visit your farm
• You are also required to self-isolate if you are showing any symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in contact with anyone who has a suspected case of COVID-19

CLICK HERE to access the Sask Health self-isolation guidelines.

CLICK HERE if you have symptoms and are concerned it might be COVID-19

Practicing optimal biosecurity measures is of utmost importance as always. Personal and facilities cleanliness is paramount, with facilities tightly closed and impervious to all non-essential visitors and outsiders. Maintain high level of general hygiene measures, including:

• regular hand washing with soap and potable water before and after touching animals and animal products
• avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth
• wear disposable masks and gloves in the barn if possible

There is currently no evidence to suggest that this virus is circulating in animals in Canada. It is possible that some types of animals may be able to get infected with COVID-19, but it is not yet clear whether they would show symptoms or be able transmit infection.

CLICK HERE to access Sask Health’s information about COVID-19

Please visit the following sites for further information about protecting against COVID-19:

• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) factsheet on COVID-19
• PHAC Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Prevention and risks
• Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council regarding COVID-19
• World Animal Health Organization (OIE) Questions and Answers on COVID-19

It is important to keep informed with accurate and timely information. Farmer-members can find more information by visiting the following websites:

• Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council
• Sask Ministry of Health
• World Health Organization

During the pandemic, on-farm audits will be postponed. If the audit deadline is during the pandemic period, a records audit will replace the full audit.

We’re doing our part to observe social distancing, and we are putting the health and safety of our farmers, their families and our CFS team members first!

The CFS office staff are currently working from home, being in the office only when necessary. If you have a matter that requires meeting with CFS staff please contact them to set up a time when they can meet with you at the office. You can get in contact with staff via phone by calling 306-242-3611