My company works with organized groups of small landowners, farmers, and gardeners to develop high-value commodity contracts and local retail food brands. Farmers selected by participating landowners will manage both markets. The first step is to combine nearby farms (without selling land). This helps reduce operating costs and plan efficient high-value crop and livestock rotations.
Production Units
To accumulate enough land for efficient local productionwe are inviting experienced landowners to form landowner-controlled “production units.” Production units are groups of contiguous and nearby farms managed together as if they were a single diversified farm. These units offer a simple legal structure that allows smaller landowners to scale up – without buying or selling land. The farm owners will serve as directors for their local units.
My business partners will help identify qualified operators and assist production unit boards in negotiating leases with experienced operators. Leases will run from five to seven years. Operators will negotiate purchase options with landowners who may wish to sell in the future.
Planning and Market Research
Commodity firms want consistent supplies of high-quality crops and livestock at the lowest possible price. Consumers want to know where their food comes from and how it is raised and processed, again, at the lowest possible price. Production units combined with solid market research can meet both needs.
Planning for commodity contracts and consumer product and market research is underway in the Omaha area. Our research will identify high-value crops and livestock for both markets. Farmer-owned retail food brands will feature foods from regenerative and organic farms that pay living wages to local farmhands and food workers.
Successful farmer-owned brands will keep millions of dollars in our regional economy. I estimate that consumers in a seven-county area that includes Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Lincoln spend about $8 billion every year on imported (non-local) foods while area farmers make less than $3 billion.
Experience
Our company is uniquely qualified to organize sustainable local and regional food systems. I have a lifetime of experience in sustainable and organic agriculture along with over 40 years in operations, planning, and marketing for mid-size firms. My business partners are trained professionals with years of direct experience in crop and livestock production, marketing, banking, and farm law.
Page 2 explains why we need production units and farmer-owned retail food brands. Pages 3 and 4 are on planning and finance. Our qualifications are shown on page 5.
I would appreciate an opportunity to explain our business model and services.
Thank you.
Jim Steffen, President
Massena Corporation
402-317-2639
jim@massenafarms.com
Posted: 10-23-2026