Proposed Regulations to Chapter 348: Poultry Slaughter and Processing With Grower/Producer Exemption  Proposed rules that the Department of Agriculture is proposing to implement for these small producers based on recent enacted legislation (see below)

Enacted Legislative Bill HP0709, LD 1034 An Act To Increase Access to Farm Fresh Poultry  This is the law that the Maine legislature passed to continue the 1,000 bird exemption, and also requested the Department of Ag in the state to write rules. Bill Tracking: This bill was enacted June 4, 2009, Governor Signed June 10, 2009  See More

Hearing Update - December 21, 2009
Dec. 21, 2009 Testimony from Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)

Press & Posts
December 18, 2009 ( audio recording) - Poultry Farmers Protest New Regulations Proposed by State  - Maine Public Broadcasting Network

Our Members Speak Up
Dec. 28, 2009 - John O'Donnell's letter to Hal Prince, Director, Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, Division of Quality Assurance & Regulations

Dec. 22, 2009 - John O'Donnell's Letter to Representative Nancy Smith

Dec. 22, 2009 - John O’Donnell's Letter to The Editor

Action Alert:
Proposed Poultry Regulations a Challenge for Maine Farmers
MOFGA Action Alert
December 15, 2009

If you raise poultry and slaughter birds on-farm, you need to read and comment on the Maine Department of Agriculture’s proposed poultry slaughtering regulations. Download rules (word document). It’s particularly important for farmers to talk about safety measures that they are taking now to produce high quality birds. It's also important to describe the changes that would have to be made to comply with the regulations, along with estimated costs. Letters of support for farmers who safely supply birds would be helpful as well. Written testimony and comments are particularly helpful and effective.

The rulemaking hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 21, 10 a.m., in Room 208 of the Cross Office Building of the Legislature in Augusta. The hearing had been scheduled to take place in the Department but due to the anticipated large volume of interested parties, the organizers moved it across the river! Written comments will be accepted until December 30. Send written testimony to: Hal Prince, Director, Division of Quality Assurance and Regulations, SHS 28, Augusta, ME 04333-0028.

Resources:

ATTRA’s small-scale poultry processing guide: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/poultryprocess.html

Food and Agriculture Organization (for some sample systems): http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/t0561e/t0561e00.htm

University of Minnesota’s poultry processing publications:  http://www.ansci.umn.edu/poultry/resources/processing.htm