Dale Stevermer speaks internationally | News, Sports, Jobs

Dale Stevermer stands outside his home on the family farm south of Easton.

Promoting and being involved in agriculture has always been part of Dale Stevermer’s life.

As a young man, he was active in 4-H while growing up on the family farm south of Easton. He remained active in the organization as an adult. Later, he served on the Faribault County Pork Producers Board of Directors.

His service to the pork industry continued at the state level and he is a past president of the Minnesota Pork Producers Association (MPPA) and still serves on several committees of the organization.

He is also a member of the National Pork Board (NPB) which is made up of 15 pork producers or importers, nominated by Pork Act delegates to the National Pork Forum and appointed by the United States Secretary of Agriculture.

Recently, Stevermer’s services to agriculture have propelled him onto the international scene.

“I was contacted on April 4. The first question I was asked was if I wanted to travel to Japan to speak at the G7 Agriculture Ministers meeting in Miyazaki, Japan , which was to be held later in April.” Stevermer explains. “The next question they asked was if my passport was up to date.”

Over the past two years, Stevermer shares that he has become more involved in sustainability issues and in particular, the NPB’s Advancing US Pork Sustainability Grant.

“The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) selected 141 recipients for its Climate-Smart Commodity Grant and NPB was one of 141 recipients for $155 million,” he explains. “Of the 141 groups that received the grant, USDA engaged NPB to send a representative to the meeting. That’s why I was asked to go to Japan.

He had little time to make up his mind and Stevermer decided to take the opportunity and leave.

“I was part of a three-person delegation that also included Bill Even, who is the CEO of NPB, and Courtney Knupp, who is the Vice President of International Market Development for NPB.

Stevermer was gone from April 17 to 21.

“It was not a trade mission although a day was spent talking about trade”, Stevermer’s comments. “I participated in a parallel seminar and was able to attend a welcome reception for all the ministers of agriculture who were present at the meeting.”

Stevermer’s presentation in Japan focused on tackling climate change with innovations and actions.

“I was able to share management practices and technologies that I have adopted on my own farm,” said Stevermer. “I told them about the cover crops and no-till practices we use for our row crops. I also explained how we use low disturbance injectors when applying hog manure to our fields. The other thing I shared with them is how I use variable rate technology as much as possible. »

He mentions that his presentation lasted about 10 minutes.

“Improved technologies and the adaptation of different management practices have allowed farmers to be more productive and efficient while reducing the impact on the environment”, Stevermer explains. “I also explained that adapting new technologies and practices can involve financial risk for farmers.”

After his presentation, he shares that he spent 10-15 minutes answering questions.

Former Iowa Governor and current United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack also spoke at the meeting.

“It was a good trip. Before my presentation, I was able to spend a day in Tokyo with two of the biggest importers of pork. We looked at meat displays in a variety of stores,” Stevermer mentions. “It was very interesting to be in Tokyo and see how people respect each other and with each other’s property. They are very industrious.

At the end of the meeting, Stevermer returned home and continued to prepare for the planting season on a farm that has been in his family for over 100 years.

“I was raised on this farm in the house my grandparents built,” said Stevermer. “My wife, Lori, and I raised our three children here.”

Lori has also been active in agriculture for many years. She is currently President-Elect of the National Pork Producers Council and Customer Success Manager for Alltech’s U.S. Pork business.

Stevermer farms 450 acres of corn and soybeans, and 90 percent of his acres are in cover crops during the winter. He also raises 4,000 pigs each year and has an inventory of 2,000 pigs on his farm at any one time.

Stevermer’s time promoting sustainability in the agricultural sector looks set to continue.

“There have already been two requests from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service for videos on the subject and how sustainability works on my farm,” Stevermer’s remarks.

Whether on the county, state, national, or international stage, Stevermer is excited to share the positive steps American agriculture is taking to produce safe, environmentally-raised food.

“It impacts people when you can show how it works on your own farm,” he concludes.