News

Builder says farm construction jobs keep coming

Despite the down economy, construction projects on farms continue to keep contractors busy.

Jacob Ullmer from Fox Cities Builders in Seymour, Wisconsin tells Brownfield they’ve been busier over the past year, and 2025 is not slowing down. “Dairy and production agriculture is the spot to be but working with beef customers as well.”

Ullmer says most projects are expansions or replacements to gain efficiencies producers couldn’t achieve in existing facilities, and having good partnerships with lenders and the general contractor is important. “On a lot of these projects, you’re looking at ‘when is our startup?’ so with the right planning, the right forecasting, we can hit your start-up dates. It plays back to your financial partners. Everybody wants to know when their return on investment is starting to return.”

Ullmer’s advice for producers considering a building project? “I definitely advise them to plan ahead so, one, two, three years in advance, depending on the scaleability of your project and the size.”

Ullmer spoke to Brownfield during the recent Mid-State Technical College Ag Day farm tour in central Wisconsin.