Will Wal-Mart Replace the Government in Regulating Farming Practices?

[The Straight Story]

Will Wal-Mart Replace the Government in Regulating Farming Practices?

Retail giant Wal-Mart appears to be getting behind sustainable agricultural practices, which could have a huge impact on farming in the United States. Wal-Mart wants to double sales of locally grown food by 2015, and it wants farmers to be more energy efficient and natural-resource conscious. Company executives say they’re in favor of improving soil quality and conserving water and fossil fuels. The company has also pledged to train one million farmers and farm workers in sustainable farming practices.

Farming representatives aren’t sure what to make of Wal-Mart’s more progressive attitude towards the agricultural industry. The American Farm Bureau Federation is concerned that Wal-Mart may not realize the new practices it is calling for will cost farmers more money to grow crops.

“I’m not under any illusion that farmers are going to get premiums for these practices,” Russell Williams of the farm bureau told the Des Moines Register. “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.”

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Will_WalMart_Replace_the_Government_in_Regulating_Farming_Practices_101110

[SHRED]

1. Cute and quaint

Russell Williams couching agribusiness/corporate agriculture in terms like "farmers" and "...destroy farm income".


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[xchrom]

2. that's what jumped out at me too -- two different things here -- one is wal-mart

and the other is what mr williams is sayinng.

which to me is about 'cheap' food or agriculture and what that has cost all of us.

[fasttense]

3. Normally when corporations get in the middle of farming practices.

It leads to more strict and cumbersome regulations that ensures farmers poverty level income. For example, here in TN you can NOT wash eggs that will be sold in a house that has a gold fish. No kidding it's a real requirement. (Many people do not want their eggs washed because the natural protective covering is also washed off.)

Not only will Wal-Mart be pushing for the lowest price, they will turn the animals into objects. Requiring inhumane and cruel caging and feeding techniques in order to meet the demand from Wal-Mart.

I suspect Wal-Mart is getting upset with all these farmers markets. They want in on the money. So, if they set up huge useless farming practices that keeps a farmer in debt, they will kill off some of the competition.

[SpiralHawk]

4. "All your 'farms' are belong to us." - WalMart (R)

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

7. Talking about fresh pork!

[Kalyke]

5. Well, they already regulate trade and, sadly, the economies of

many small towns, so why not?

It's what they do... because no one stops them.

[mediaman007]

6. Don't listen to Farm Bureau. They are the Chamber of Commerce of agriculture.

Farm Bureau ensures that farmers get loans, so their farms can be bought out by corporations or repossessed by bankers. Farm Bureau is behind the massive subsidies to the farm industry.

[mysuzuki2]

8. Why don't we just replace the government with Walmart

since it seems to be going that way anyway.