City of Terrace Passes Bylaw to Expand Daybreak Farms Amid Strong Opposition from Some Neighbours

After months of consideration, Terrace City Council have passed a bylaw amendment which will allow Daybreak farms to expand their operations.

That amendment will allow them to increase capacity from the current 40,000 egg laying chicken hens to a maximum of 80,000.

In addition, the changes will allow them to move forward with a two phase modernization of the farm, and keep egg production in the Northwest.

Phase one of that plan will see them construct and move their operations to a new barn, which will replace the caged pens with an open, enriched housing system.

It will also see the deep-pit manure system replaced with a conveyer-belt and air drying system, which will move manure into sealed containers to transfer off-site.

Since initially coming before Council in January, the amendment has drawn strong opposition from neighbours of the farm.

A number of submissions citing on-going fly infestation issues, noise complaints, and a lack of follow-through on previous commitments were received by Council as part of a public hearing.

But, Daybreak says the new manure management system will combat fly issues, and a plan to construct a new, on-site feedmill will reduce noise, despite the increase in chicken population.

Relocation of the farm to a non-residential area was considered, but ultimately deemed unviable based on finances and suitable locations.