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Good interest in livestock expansion in Iowa
The past year was a challenging one for many livestock producers. But the head of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF)—Brian Waddingham—says it hasn’t slowed the interest in livestock expansion in the state.
“We’re certainly busy, we’re taking calls—a lot of siting of new livestock buildings, not only hogs, but also on cattle and turkeys,” Waddingham says. “There seems to be a lot of optimism out there right now.”
And Waddingham says about 60 percent of the calls are coming from individuals under 35 years old who want to get back to the farm.
“Maybe they’re working off-farm and want to get back full-time,” he says, “and, you know, with land that is still going for anywhere between 10- and 20-thousand dollars an acre here in Iowa, livestock still makes a lot of sense.
“Whether it’s a hog building, cattle barn or a turkey shed, that’s a great way to get people back on the farm.”
The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers provides assistance to farmers who are looking to expand an existing livestock operation or start a new one. CSIF helps navigate the maze of state and federal regulations and provides a building site analysis. It also gives advice on safeguarding the environment and enhancing neighbor relations.
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