By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today – Adapted for Swine Web
About Duane Stateler
Duane Stateler currently serves as president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). A fourth-generation pork producer from McComb, Ohio, Stateler operates Stateler Family Farms with his son, Anthony. Together, they market 15,600 head annually through a wean/feeder-to-finish operation and manage 900 acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat.
He is also active with the Ohio Pork Council Board and several other agricultural organizations.
Q: When you talk to producers, what issues are top of mind for them?
Duane Stateler:
There are a range of issues producers care about beyond day-to-day operations. Many want to better understand policy priorities such as trade, the farm bill, California Proposition 12, and farm workforce visa reform. Producers are also seeking clarity on how political processes work and why some solutions take longer to reach the finish line.
A new topic that’s drawing attention is the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, led by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The NPPC is deeply engaged in this discussion — advocating for science-based, risk-based decisions regarding food technologies and opposing overly broad restrictions that could threaten farmers’ access to safe, proven tools like pesticides and animal health products. The uncertainty around MAHA’s direction poses challenges for U.S. food policy moving forward.
Q: What priorities do you hope to advance during your presidency?
Stateler:
There’s no shortage of policy work ahead. My goal is to ensure that NPPC’s influence remains strong and consistent across all levels of agriculture. Whether addressing animal health, nutrition standards, or export market expansion, our team works to make sure pork producers have a seat at the table.
For example, I recently attended a meeting at the World Trade Organization in Geneva with NPPC’s Maria Zieba. Her global relationships are opening doors for U.S. pork producers, ensuring our voice is heard internationally and domestically.
Q: How are trade dynamics affecting pork exports?
Stateler:
Our trading partners are still buying U.S. pork, but volume has slowed. According to USDA data through July 2025, exports of pork and variety meats are down 3.6%, with declines in some major markets offset by growth in Mexico, Colombia, and Central America.
We’re encouraged by progress in U.S.-EU trade frameworks and new agreements with Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam, which are opening duty-free access for a range of U.S. products.
Q: How are pork producers faring financially?
Stateler:
It’s good to see producers back in the black after one of the toughest downturns in industry history. That downturn set us back nearly 1.7 generations in equity — about 40 years.
Now, after 18 consecutive months of positive returns, lower feed costs, and improved hog prices, producers are rebuilding equity. While non-feed costs such as labor, transport, veterinary care, and interest rates remain high, there’s renewed optimism across the industry.
Q: What are some of your personal goals for this term?
Stateler:
We’ve made progress on several policy fronts — from line speed increases to pork priorities in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and key legal victories on environmental issues.
One of my ongoing priorities is to pursue a legislative fix to the patchwork of state regulations created by California Proposition 12.
And I always remind producers — never underestimate the power of engagement. Years ago, I met an Ohio state senator candidate, kept in touch, and educated him about our industry. Today, that same individual serves as the Vice President of the United States.
Q: Looking ahead, what do you see for the future of the pork industry? Are producers optimistic?
Stateler:
I got involved in advocacy in the early 2000s when activism threatened Ohio agriculture. People who didn’t understand farming were trying to change how we operate, so I started inviting them to my farm. Education builds bridges.
Today, those advocacy challenges are broader — more diverse and more influential. As I often tell others, if we don’t show up, someone else will.
Advocacy and education are the keys to preserving our freedom to operate. We must continue to engage across political lines and ensure our nation’s leaders understand how American pork is produced safely, responsibly, and efficiently.
Source:
Original article “Pork leader says education key to ‘freedom to operate’” by Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today via AgUpdate.com.
Read the original article here.
