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Frank is Fed Up with the Feds Falsehoods
Edgewood, BC – June 6, 2025
Disinformation Response to two CFIA Statements (May 31, 2025):
- Update on the CFIA’s actions at an HPAI infected premises at a BC ostrich farm
- CFIA’s basis for applying disease control measures at an avian influenza infected ostrich farm
Biosecurity
Disinformation #6: The farm failed to undertake biosecurity risk mitigation measures. This includes a failure to address significant biosecurity hazards such as:
Disinformation #6a: Accumulation of manure
Response: CFIA is fully aware that due to their quarantine restrictions, we were not allowed to move or sell our manure, so it remains on the farm.
We follow standard farming practice where manure is collected and then sold each spring as fertilizer. CFIA imposed quarantine measures preventing us from selling or moving our manure. Initially, CFIA started to measure the dimension of the piles, then said manure management wasn’t a concern because this was all previously collected. (We haven’t sold it due to CFIA rules which resulted in the buildup). We followed every instruction, yet CFIA is attempting to portray us as negligent and attacking us for a bottleneck they created. The majority of the farm’s operations have been fully impacted by the quarantine and needs to be considered when judging the outcome caused by them.
Without first communicating with us, the May 31st media release is the first time CFIA’s concern about manure has been brought to our attention. The fact that this was never communicated to us, it would appear that the goal was to paint a picture of the farm in a negative light for the public. It is not just ingenuous, it is gaslighting.
Disinformation #6b: The encouraging of wild birds to feed with the ostriches.
Response: So, how does a farmer encourage wild birds to feed with their animals? This is impossible. Wild birds forage. Wild birds are free and move without approval. That’s nature — not negligence.
Suggesting this is a biosecurity breach reveals more about the CFIA’s detachment from agricultural reality. Open-pasture farming isn’t a crime — it’s how animals are supposed to live.
According to CFIA’s own call records, they contradict their accusation about us encouraging the wild birds to feed with their animals, by the call log below that states they acknowledge we have fences to prevent direct contact in the following paragraph:
A question on the Call Log form asked, “Is there standing water on or near the property?” The inspector answered, “...they have it fenced to try to prevent direct contact with the ostriches.” (Tribunal, pg. 102).
Disinformation #6c: The improper handling and disposal of deceased animals that have been infected with or exposed to HPAI.
Response: CFIA has not discussed nor sent us any information prior to announcing this in their May 31 media release. Again, we should have been contacted first instead of announcing this disinformation in the media. There is no specific ostrich disposal that they refer to, and regardless, the farm has followed CFIA’s disposal protocols as per instructions. CFIA was never at the farm when we were handling a disposal. If CFIA would like to clarify, this would help us to respond. Why does CFIA communicate more with the media (release) than with us the farmers?
In a CFIA biosecurity check on Jan 24th, 2025, the inspectors saw the disposal pit and said that we were doing everything to contain and cover the carcasses properly. They did not communicate any issues with us.
We went to great lengths to have disposal pits dug to required depths and covered with required materials. At one point, our backhoe broke down and we needed someone to come and fix the equipment. We asked CFIA for a permit to get another machine in, but CFIA was non-responsive. It took about a month and asking three times to CFIA for a permit so that we could get a new backhoe in.
We have asked questions to be compliant and get feedback, to ensure we are compliant.
In summary, we farmers have followed and have gone above regulatory compliance and animal health standards. Our 30+ years of experience with raising our ostriches does make us experts in the health and care of our animals. We have been diligent and took this quarantine and CFIA requirements very seriously. This greatly contributed to our success resulting in no further illnesses since January 14, 2025.
Let’s get the truth out. Tune in regularly for Frankly Speaking episodes in the CFIA Disinformation press series.
Media Contact:
Katie Pasitney
Spokesperson, Eldest Daughter, Universal Ostrich Farm
1-250-870-8246
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