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More young cattle farmers needed, Iowa producer says

A west-central Iowa livestock producer says he’d like to see more young farmers getting involved in the cattle industry.

Justin Robbins with Robbins Land and Cattle tells Brownfield, “We need more producers that are younger. I hope they could have gotten in before (cattle prices) got high, or if they got in while it’s high then maybe it will hang on for a couple years to get them a few years down the road to get things paid for be able to hang on through those downswings.”

He says his advice for a beginning cattle producer is, “This is not for the faint of heart. Right now, it’s some good times, but it does go in cycles. Get yourself set up for the worst year possible so that way every year above that works.”

Robbins says they shouldn’t hesitate to ask their neighbors questions. “Ask around and see if there are some of these guys that are close to getting out that would be willing to work with them long-term. Maybe they’d be able to sell them the herd on contract or work something out on shares so that they can progressively buy in on the cows.”

Robbins is a fourth-generation farmer who raises 200 head of angus cows near Scranton.

INTERVIEW: Iowa cattle farmer Justin Robbins