Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Are You Aware of Walmart's Power To Control Farm Production Practices?

Walmart wants Iowans to
farm by its principles


Never mind the government regulators. When it
comes to influencing the way farmers grow their
crops, the real power someday may be Walmart, the
nation's largest food retailer.

Walmart pledges to double sales of locally grown
food by 2015 and also is taking steps to ensure that
all the food it sells is produced in sustainable ways.
Walmart wants to measure and set farm-to-fork
standards for the energy and natural resource
impacts of food production.

The company hasn't been specific yet about what
these initiatives will mean for farmers in Iowa. Work
on the sustainability standards for domestically
produced foods has just started.

But Walmart says it is interested in improving soil
quality and conserving water and fossil fuels. In the
run-up to announcing the plan last month, top
Walmart executives flew into Iowa at least twice and
toured three Iowa farms that either follow organic
methods or are known for innovative environmental
practices.

"They seemed to get it," said Ron Rosmann, an
organic farmer near Atlantic. He said the Walmart
executives talked knowledgeably about hot-button i
ssues such as antibiotic usage in livestock and the
environmental benefits of organic practices. "They
were saying this is what we need more of," he said.

Farm groups are watching Walmart's plans
cautiously, given that the company has the market
power to force them to change practices without
compensating them for the higher production costs
that could result.

"I'm not under any illusion that farmers are going to
get premiums for these practices," said Russell
Williams, who is following the Walmart initiative for
the American Farm Bureau Federation. "It's going to
be a cost of doing business. If that's the case, we're
going to have to focus on how not to destroy farm
income."

I saw this article in the Des Moines Register and thought it is relevant here in Ontario as well.

Here is the link to the whole article: 

 

 

 

 

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101107/BUSINESS01/110703...

 

 

 

Views: 89

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on November 8, 2010 at 4:15am
Interesting article from New York state on consumer preferences influencing farming practices.

Farmers React to Changing Marketplace to Survive http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20101031/NEWS09/310310003

Also in the article::

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. requires its suppliers to provide documentation that they follow Good Agricultural Practices, or GAPs, a national program that Cornell University runs in New York that monitors risk-reducing procedures surrounding worker hygiene, water quality, manure and other factors. For years, Wegmans has recommended that local growers get GAP-certified; this was the first year it was required.
Permalink Reply by Bristow on November 8, 2010 at 6:37am
When do Monsato come into the picture. It will be soon than you think from production to the table. With the trend of government take over of some commersial enterprizes. As with the oil industry with opec countries holding lion shares in banks, car production and of course the shipping and production. It is only a matter of time before the producer of seed, chemicals for production will move into the transport, and distrubution of its production as it will be the only one produced. A push by Walmart to sell a organic product cuts into profits of large scale gm food production. But I guess they would have some cosely deal we don;t know. As for shares in these companys, I am quiet sure, your franked shares will be worth something one day, like the money producted out nothing but debt.

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Canada Backs AI Tools for Smarter Vineyards

The Government of Canada is investing in advanced agricultural technology to help grape growers improve crop management and disease detection. Funding will support the development of innovative machine learning and computer vision tools that provide real-time crop insights, helping farmers increase productivity, improve crop health, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the grape and wine industry.

Canada Pens Potash Deal with Bangladesh

Canada has announced a new government-to-government agreement with Bangladesh for the supply of Canadian potash. The deal is expected to support food security, strengthen trade relations, create opportunities for Canadian workers, and ensure a reliable fertilizer supply for agricultural production.

Still Slow Going for Saskatchewan Harvest

The Saskatchewan harvest continued to make relatively modest progress this past week and remains well behind normal. Thursday’s provincial crop report showed the overall harvest at just 27% complete as of Monday, up 9 percentage points from a week earlier. That is well behind 41% last year, and the five- and 10-year averages of 58% and 50%. Most of the progress came earlier in the week before widespread heavy rainfall brought fieldwork to a halt across much of the province. Some of the largest totals included 138 mm in the rural municipality of Longlaketon, 132 mm in Eyebrow, 127 mm in Sarnia and 121 mm in McKillop. Fields are now saturated in many areas, leaving producers waiting for warmer, drier weather before combines can return. Cropland topsoil moisture increased sharply, with 33% rated surplus and 58% adequate. Another 7% is rated short and 2% very short. Excess moisture and high winds were the main sources of crop damage during the week, the report said, with isolated

ICE Close: Sharp Crude Rally Supports

Canola futures closed moderately higher Thursday, supported by strength across the broader oilseed complex and a sharp rally in crude oil. Chicago soybean futures posted solid gains ahead of Friday’s USDA WASDE report, providing spillover support to canola, while surging energy markets added another bullish influence for vegetable oils and biofuel feedstocks. Brent crude jumped more than 6% to over US$107/barrel and U.S. crude climbed above US$102 as escalating Middle East tensions heightened concerns about global energy supplies. A slightly weaker Canadian dollar also helped underpin canola by making Canadian supplies more competitive for foreign buyers. Today’s Saskatchewan crop report pegged the overall harvest in that province at 27% complete as of Monday, up just 9 points from a week earlier and well behind last year and the average pace as wet conditions continue to hold farmers back. The canola harvest was estimated at 9% complete. Additional precipitation and periods

Alberta harvest reaches 10 per cent complete

According to Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation’s latest crop report, 10 per cent of major crops have been harvested, as of September 1, 2026. That’s up six percentage points from the previous week, although harvest remains behind the five-year average of 23 per cent and the 10-year average of 17 per cent. Harvest progress varies across the province. The South Region reported 27 per cent of major crops harvested, while Central Alberta sits at nearly 12 per cent. Harvest is just getting underway in many northern areas, with completion ranging from one to three per cent across the Northeast, Northwest, and Peace regions. Dry peas continue to be the furthest along, with just over half of the provincial crop harvested. Barley harvest has reached 20 per cent complete, while six per cent of spring wheat acres have been combined. The latest report also shows soil moisture conditions remain well above historical averages across Alberta. Provincial surface soil moisture is rated 56 per cen

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service