WE’RE ALL FARMERS — It was a warm afternoon on Monday, June 6 but the heat didn’t stop a group of visitors from learning about Minnesota farming. Pictured from left: Don and Barb Overle from Lake Crystal, MN; Vicky and Scott Singlestad of Waseca; Wakaba Nagano, Katsufumi (Mike) Maekawa, Hideyuki Hatsuta, Kenji Katsukawa and Kikuo Ebihara. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
Japanese trade team pays a visit
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
Agriculture is big business in Southern Minnesota. When you look at the broader spectrum and realize how agriculture affects people around the world, it becomes even larger. Soybean and pork production are two of Minnesota’s biggest exports. Soybeans are the number one exported value crop to Minnesota farmers. In 2009, the U.S. exported 1.2 billion bushels of soybeans. Japan is the third largest customer for U.S. soybeans, behind China and Mexico.
The pork industry in Minnesota ranks third nationally, providing 22,500 jobs while contributing $7.6 billion to local economies.
Nations who trade with each other regularly send teams of experts to allow for a better understanding of each other’s products. This was the case Monday, June 6, as five members of a Japanese Trade Team were in Waseca as part of a six-day Midwest tour. They spent part of the day at the Southern Outreach and Experiment Station. Later, they were given a tour of the Scott and Vicky Singlestad farm just north of Waseca. After introductions all around, Scott Singlestad explained a little about his operation.
“We farm 600 acres, about half corn and half soybeans,” said Singlestad. “We grind our own feed for about 120 sows in the farrow to finish hog operation.”
The Japanese visitors were particularly interested in Singlestad’s feed mill and had a variety of questions about its components. Three of the visitors were managers or presidents of large farms. One member of the group is the editor of a magazine called the “Pig Journal.” Afterwards, the tour group went inside to view a video on the hog operation. Singlestad was then asked about issues he has experienced in hog production.
“Last fall we had an outbreak of PRRS, (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus,)” said Singlestad. “It affected about 20 percent of the herd. The sows were aborting their litters. Even with vaccinations, it can prove costly.”
The Singlestads have been involved with educating young people in the local schools. They have joined with other area agriculural specialists in a program called “Ag in the Classroom.”
“We have been teaching the kids for about 20 years,” said Vicky Singlestad. “This past March, we visited third graders in the Waseca Schools. We inform the students about our hog operation, other farmers teach dairy and crop production.”
As the group discussion was wrapping up, the Japanese delegation, through an interpreter, asked Singlestad about other issues he had with his operation.
“The weather,” said Singlestad. “We had a late planting. If the frost can hold off until mid-October, we will be okay.”
The Japanese visitors were expected to visit The Farmer’s Cooperative Elevator and Feed Mill in Cottonwood County, then have a tour of another crop and hog farm in Swift County. Because of their visit, it is hoped they will take back to Japan with them an appreciation for the hard work of the Minnesota farmer, and a better understanding for what they accomplish.
