New Entrant Program

Egg Farmers of Alberta’s New Entrant Program (NEP) was developed and launched in 2012. EFA recognizes that it is vital to the long-term sustainability of the egg industry that new farmers and new investments are encouraged. The NEP was established in order to assist individuals and families who want to own and operate an egg farm in Alberta, by issuing production permits from a portion of newly allocated egg quota to successful applicants, thereby alleviating some of the producer’s start0up costs.  EFA’s NEP provides an excellent opportunity for anyone with a passion for egg farming and a desire to join our industry!

New Entrant Program

The New Entrant Program was redeveloped in 2020 and the NEP Policy has been approved by the EFA Board of Directors.  In order to accommodate new applicants, the NEP quota reserve has to be built up to fulfill a minimum of 3 successful applications.

EFA’s New Entrant Program statistics, as of November 2024.

November 29 2024: EFA is pleased to share the following statistics related to our current New Entrant Program cycle:

• 123 applications distributed by EFA
• 31 applications received by EFA prior to the deadline
  • 9 applications failed to meet the initial screening criteria
  • 22 applications passed the initial screening criteria
    • 8 applications failed 3rd party scoring
    • 14 applications passed 3rd party scoring
      • 2 applicants failed to earn the required interview points
      • 12 applicants earned sufficient interview points to be entered into the NEP draw
        • 4 applicant names were not drawn
        • 8 applicant names were drawn

Below are the successful 2024 New Entrants:

• Courtney and Annabelle Unruh
• Outlook Farms Ltd.
• Southstar Farms
• Avian Acres Ltd.
• Aaron Taylor & Cindy Wenig
• Pearce Poultry Farms
• The Vossebelts
• Arn-El Farms Ltd.

Additional dates of interest for successful NEP applicants:

• February 25, 2025: EFA AGM
• TBD: new entrant reception and training session
• TBD: new egg manager training session
• various TBD: progress reports due, to demonstrate new entrants are on schedule to be in production by the deadline
• December 1, 2027: new entrants must be in production