Some local poultry producers are doubtful they can keep the pact they made with Legal Affairs Minister Peter Taylor back in December to keep the price of chicken within the $5.25 to $5.50 per pound range.

Newsday understands some members will express their views during the Poultry Association’s next meeting, as they can no longer bear the losses in the face of weekly grain (animal feed) price hikes.

At least one producer’s average live weight price of chicken per pound recently went up to $5.53 following hikes in transport costs.

Grain shipments due in next week will cost importers between 15 to 20 percent more. In addition, there have been weekly percentage increases over the last few months after corn crops and acreage were diverted to ethanol production, with added shortages due to drought and flooding.