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Iowa conference focuses on young farmers, livestock expansion
Opportunities and challenges involved with starting a livestock operation or expanding an existing farm will be the focus of the annual “Farming for the Future” conference sponsored by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers.
It takes place this Friday at the Iowa State Center’s Scheman Building in Ames.
Coalition executive director Brian Waddingham says while all farmers—regardless of age, experience or commodity interest—are welcome to attend, there will be a special emphasis on bringing young people back to the farm. And Waddingham says livestock and poultry—be it cattle, hogs, turkeys or dairy—can help open the door.
“You know, a lot of folks can’t really go out and buy 160 acres or a half-section anymore due to the cost—but one thing they can do is raise livestock,” Waddingham says, “and with the cost of fertilizer increasing, livestock waste is still a very attractive fertilizer source to use—and it’s a little cheaper—so we’re really starting to see livestock operations become real popular with getting young people back to the farm.”
Waddingham says while most young people get their start by returning to a family operation, that is not always the case.
“There are instances now where we have retiring farmers that don’t have children of their own and are looking for ways to keep young people engaged in agriculture,” he says, “and so we are getting phone calls from farmers looking to retire wanting to know if we know of good young farmers that don’t have an opportunity to return to a family farm that may indeed want to come back and start working for them.”
The conference is free and lunch will be provided, but pre-registration is requested. Go to www.supportfarmers.com or call 800-932-2436.
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