Cover Story: Are the big American hog integrators losing their competitive advantage?

A combination of economics and environmental regulations make small to medium-sized hog operations in the American Midwest more competitive with the pork-producing giants, says a specialist in global development and the environment. Whether Ontario’s pork producers will also benefit is not so clear

by DON STONEMAN

Demand for corn to make ethanol means that the good times are over for pork integrators in the United States. Will that translate into prosperity at some time in the future for today’s hard-pressed Ontario pork producers? Opinions are divided.

Better Pork February 2008