As small landowners, our most important job is to work with our neighbors and community leaders to attract local investors. Without long-term investors, we cannot reach consumers in sufficient numbers to pass profitable farms on to the next generation within our families and communities.
Of the two million remaining farms in the U.S., almost 90 percent are not making enough money to stay in business (USDA, ERS, charts 7 and 8). Nevertheless, the U.S. needs many more small farms and local food entrepreneurs to develop interesting, healthy, and affordable foods for nearby cities.
Since commodity markets, local food programs, and off-farm jobs are not working for most smaller producers, our company is organizing markets, land, and money for high-value farmer-owned retail food brands. These specialty brands will compete with non-local brands in nearby cities.
Farmer-Owned Food Brands
To supply these brands, we work closely with local attorneys, investors, and city and county officials to,
- Incorporate smaller family farms as shareholder-controlled businesses
- Develop farmland succession plans to keep farms in the hands of the current owners and their families – for generations to come
- Group contiguous and nearby farms in commercial-scale regenerative and organic production units controlled by the current family farm owners
- Work with locally owned food processors to develop efficient food chains
- Attract local investors to finance farms, production units, and brands
More Information
Please read on and then call me to learn how we manage small farms, build production units, and develop farmer-owned food brands.
Thank you.
Jim Steffen, President
Massena Corporation
402-317-2639
jim@MassenaFarms.com
Posted 05-25-2026