THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013
GOING DOWN | HOGS | EXPORTS
Russian hog ban hurts markets
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U.S. ban spills over | Margins tighten BY ED WHITE WINNIPEG BUREAU
Canadian farmers have already suffered damage from Russia’s ban on ractopamine in U.S. pigs, says the head of the eastern Prairies’ biggest hog marketer. The imposition of the ban directly on Canadian slaughter plants will likely exacerbate the problem. “When you’re already losing money, there is no margin (to lose),” said Perry Mohr, general manager of Hams Marketing.
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Ariana Mulder, 16, of Warman, Sask., squirts milk at Jessica Van Sezzen of Dalmeny, Sask., during the Western Canadian Dairy Expo in Saskatoon April 5. For photos of the event, see page 107. | WILLIAM DEKAY PHOTO
ENVIRONMENT | SUSTAINABILITY
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Sustainable agricultural policies will soon land in farmers’ laps Unilever, Walmart, McCain Foods and others implement new objectives to push farmers to grow sustainably BY ROBERT ARNASON BRANDON BUREAU
Corporate statements on social responsibility are typically wishywashy, often featuring phrases such as “building capacity,” “establ i s h i n g b e n c h m a r k s” a n d t h e always popular “further science is needed.” In contrast, Unilever’s policy on sustainable agriculture is crystal clear. As stated on its website, the consumer goods and food products
giant, which posted $51 billion in sales in 2012, plans to source 100 percent of its agricultural raw materials sustainably by 2020. Unilever is not alone. A number of global companies, including Wa l m a r t , M c C a i n F o o d s a n d Marks & Spencer, have also developed sustainable agriculture policies. Matt Loose, a director of a Toronto consulting firm that specializes in sustainability, said those corporate objectives will encourage or push
farmers to grow crops and raise livestock in a sustainable manner. Loose was to present a Stratos report on the state of sustainable food at the April 9 Canadian Food Summit in Toronto. Prior to the summit, Loose said the move toward sustainable food is happening rapidly because corporations want to brand their products as sustainable. They also see potential cost savings in sustainability and want to establish resilient supply chains that can
withstand droughts and extreme weather associated with climate change. “The (sustainability) standards are being driven by large, international food companies,” he said. Unilever is a good example. The British-Dutch company has written a 76-page sustainable agriculture code that lays out company policies on agro-chemicals, soil, water, biodiversity, energy and animal welfare. SEE SUSTAINABLE AG, PAGE 2
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APRIL 11, 2013 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4 The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Corp. Publisher: Shaun Jessome Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240
SEE HOG BAN, PAGE 2