Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Pork Featured Articles

Better Pork magazine is published bimonthly. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Behind the Lines - April 2016

Friday, April 8, 2016

Space did not allow Senior Staff Editor Don Stoneman to use nearly as much material as he gathered for our cover story on sustainability. Something that didn't make it into the story was an interview with Montana logger Bruce Vincent. There are strong parallels to agriculture, especially as far as animal welfare and sustainability of forests is concerned.

Vincent, a long-time logging industry spokesman, related that the logging industry was under attack by public interest groups and despite a lot of "shouting what the industry considered to be the truth," made no progress.

Loggers sat down and listened carefully, acknowledged their critics' concerns and "presented our position as part of the answer to what they believe the problem to be," Vincent says.  "The public wants three things. They want the truth, warts and all. They want the truth from someone they trust. And they want transparency; they want you to lift your skirts."

He believes that "there is a knee-jerk negative reaction by the public to 'capital I' industry. They do want to hear from a real person with their feet on the real ground." And, most critically, the mills, logging's equivalent of pork-packing plants, had to agree to buy only from loggers that took part in the sustainability initiative and spent more money to do things right.

The logging process took years and many meetings. Don't expect progress overnight in the pork industry.

And unfortunately there are no guarantees when dealing with an ever-changing marketplace. BP

ROBERT IRWIN

Current Issue

October 2025

Better Pork Magazine

Farms.com Swine News

FCC Reports Trade Pressures on Canadian Food Sector

Thursday, October 9, 2025

The Canadian food and beverage manufacturing sector has experienced slower-than-expected growth in the first half of 2025, with sales and profit margins under pressure due to a challenging trade and economic environment. According to Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) Food and Beverage Report... Read this article online

Canada Post strike affecting Harvest Sample Program

Thursday, October 9, 2025

The ongoing Canada Post strike is affecting farmers’ abilities to send harvest samples to the Canadian Grain Commission. Growers participating in the voluntary Harvest Sample Program, which provides free unofficial grade and quality results, will have to make other arrangements. On its... Read this article online

Gleaner T Series Combine Updates

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Gleaner continues to advance harvest technology with its new T Series combine, delivering major improvements in power, reliability, and ease of operation. Designed with the farmer in mind, the T Series focuses on performance, accessibility, and cutting-edge precision tools for... Read this article online

Experiencing ag and culture in Portugal and Spain

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Canadians can experience agriculture and local culture in Europe next year. The Western Stock Growers’ Association (WSGA) has partnered with Leader Tours for an ag and sightseeing tour from Jan. 24 to Feb. 6, 2026. “We’re heading to Spain first,” Lindsye Murfin, executive director of... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top