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: 79

▶ 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 Packers Reports Q2 Loss as Pork Market Conditions Weigh on Results

Canada Packers reported a second-quarter loss of $28.4 million for the period ending June 27, 2026, as weaker pork market conditions impacted results despite ongoing operational efficiencies and positive adjusted earnings.

Grain Markets Are Closely Watching the August USDA Report and Beyond

Ahead of the August USDA crop report, quiet grain markets face potential volatility driven by Corn Belt weather concerns, strong Chinese soybean demand, and emerging El Niño risks.

Swine Innovation Porc debuts new Research in Action series

Following the recent launch of the Pork Research Hub, Swine Innovation Porc is expanding the Research in Action section with the debut of a new video series highlighting the researchers and projects behind Canada's pork research. The Pork Research Hub is Canada's bilingual online destination for pork research, bringing together practical resources, research findings and innovation stories in one searchable location. Its Research in Action section showcases how Canadian pork research is delivering real-world value through articles, videos, podcasts and other knowledge transfer resources. The first video in the series features Aline Remus, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, whose Swine Cluster 4 research explores precision feeding systems that can reduce feed costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve the sustainability of pig production.

Canada Packers Reports Q2 Loss as Pork Market Conditions Weigh on Results

Canada Packers reported a second-quarter loss of $28.4 million for the period ending June 27, 2026, as weaker pork market conditions impacted results despite ongoing operational efficiencies and positive adjusted earnings.

1776 Pork Chop Salute to Celebrate America 250 During Iowa State Fair

For generations of fairgoers, a visit to the Iowa State Fair has been synonymous with one specific food item: the Pork Chop on a Stick ™. The Iowa Pork Producers Association sells tens of thousands of them each year during the fair. This summer, that tradition will take on an extra measure of patriotic pride as the Iowa Pork Producers Association presents the 1776 Pork Chop Salute – A Taste of America 250. On Sunday, Aug. 16, IPPA will give away 1,776 Pork Chops on a Stick™, beginning at 11 a.m. Fairgoers looking for the 1776 Pork Chop Salute Giveaway should enter the Pork Tent building from the north side near the Animal Learning Center. The giveaway is limited to one pork chop per customer and will continue while supplies last. The promotion is designed to commemorate the nation's semiquincentennial while recognizing the farm families who have helped feed America for generations. Just as the country reflects on 250 years of history, Iowa pig farmers continue a tradition of producin

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service