Ukraine farming issues could be positive for North American farmers

Feb 11, 2015

Eastern-European country may have to increase imports

As access to fertilizer, seeds and other agriculture supplies for farmers in Ukraine seems to diminish because of political strife, the country may be forced to look elsewhere to feed the citizens.

If that’s the case, it could be good news for Canada and the United States.

Statistics Canada reported over $209 million in exports to the Ukraine in 2013. The top exports from the agri-food sector were, in order, frozen pork products, dog and cat food, soybean seeds and live cattle.

Soybeans are largely grown in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island. Ontario leads the way with over 3 million metric tonnes of soybeans produced in 2013, followed by Manitoba with just over 1 million metric tonnes.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) just released the February World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Report and it showed soybean ending stocks are projected to be down 25 million bushels and selling from $9.45 to $10.95 per bushel. If things don’t improve in the Ukraine, the soybean market could see them as a large export partner.

As far as the United States goes, they exported $135 million of agriculture products to Ukraine in 2012. The top products were poultry meat, planting seeds and egg-related products.

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.