Latest News — News Release
FFA Student Survey Shows High Interest in Career in Agriculture, Concerns with Start-Up Costs
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – May 8, 2025 – A recent survey conducted by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) at the 2025 Iowa FFA Annual Conference revealed that 62 percent of students are interested in farming in the future, however, nearly half (47 percent) of these students expressed concerns about high start-up costs....
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Accu-Steel Fabric Covered Buildings Invests in the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers
Farmers interested in learning about the benefits of raising cattle under roof are invited to attend an open house at the Robbins family farm to tour Justin and Lacie Robbins new cattle building on Friday, March 14 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. A complimentary lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. with a program to follow at noon. The Robbins farm is located at 904 Emerald Avenue, Scranton, Iowa. “The open house is a great opportunity to see how modern livestock buildings enhance animal care and safeguard the environment and how much livestock contributes to our local economy,” said CSIF Executive Director Brian Waddingham. The open house will feature a new 325 head deep-bedded cattle barn with space for 125 cow-calf pairs, 125 feeder calves and 75 fat cattle. The barn will be used year-round with a spring and fall calving herd.
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Des Moines County crop and livestock farmers are leaders in their community and Iowa agriculture
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Dan and Jan Keitzer family of Des Moines County on Friday, April 11. The presentation will take place at 11 a.m. at their family farm near Mediapolis. Owned by Jason and Jami Sherer and their daughters Sydney and Brylee, Cobb Hollow Farm began in 2018 when Lincoln Premium Poultry (LPP) and Costco announced an expanded partnership to increase poultry production in the region. The Sherers got involved in the LPP grower network as a breeder flock that produces eggs to be hatched at a hatchery. After leaving the hatchery, the chicks are raised until market weight by other area farmers. The broilers are then harvested and made available to Costco’s customers, with the majority sold as Costco’s popular rotisserie chickens.
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Robbins Family Hosts Cattle Building Open House
Farmers interested in learning about the benefits of raising cattle under roof are invited to attend an open house at the Robbins family farm to tour Justin and Lacie Robbins new cattle building on Friday, March 14 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. A complimentary lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. with a program to follow at noon. The Robbins farm is located at 904 Emerald Avenue, Scranton, Iowa. “The open house is a great opportunity to see how modern livestock buildings enhance animal care and safeguard the environment and how much livestock contributes to our local economy,” said CSIF Executive Director Brian Waddingham. The open house will feature a new 325 head deep-bedded cattle barn with space for 125 cow-calf pairs, 125 feeder calves and 75 fat cattle. The barn will be used year-round with a spring and fall calving herd.
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Harrison County poultry producers are leaders in their community
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Jason and Jami Sherer family of Harrison County on Friday, Feb. 28. The presentation will take place at 11 a.m. at the Pisgah United Methodist Church, 420 Front St., Pisgah. Owned by Jason and Jami Sherer and their daughters Sydney and Brylee, Cobb Hollow Farm began in 2018 when Lincoln Premium Poultry (LPP) and Costco announced an expanded partnership to increase poultry production in the region. The Sherers got involved in the LPP grower network as a breeder flock that produces eggs to be hatched at a hatchery. After leaving the hatchery, the chicks are raised until market weight by other area farmers. The broilers are then harvested and made available to Costco’s customers, with the majority sold as Costco’s popular rotisserie chickens.
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COALITION WELCOMES SEPTER AS 2025 COMMUNICATIONS INTERN
Septer will assist with CSIF’s mission to support the farmers of Iowa and contribute to CSIF’s social media, event coordination, industry relations, and communication strategies.
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Naig, Mowrer Named Honorary Master Pork Producers
The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) today launched the Building Your Livestock Legacy Program, a self-guided, online mentorship initiative designed to connect aspiring livestock farmers with essential financial resources and/or with established farmers who want to pass their farm operation onto the next generation.
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Multi-generational Linn County pork producers honored at the 2025 Iowa Pork Congress
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Matt and Melissa Ditch Family of Center Point. The presentation took place on Wednesday, Jan. 22, during the annual Iowa Pork Congress held at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
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Renewing the Mission for the Next 20 Years
The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) today launched the Building Your Livestock Legacy Program, a self-guided, online mentorship initiative designed to connect aspiring livestock farmers with essential financial resources and/or with established farmers who want to pass their farm operation onto the next generation.
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Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers Launches Innovative Mentorship Program that Connects Beginning Farmers with Financial and Expert Resources
The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) today launched the Building Your Livestock Legacy Program, a self-guided, online mentorship initiative designed to connect aspiring livestock farmers with essential financial resources and/or with established farmers who want to pass their farm operation onto the next generation.
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