Many Americans believe that our rural economies and environment have been damaged by food policy and technology choices that continue to force young farmers off the land. Young farmers need a new path to farm ownership and leadership in agriculture.
Massena Farms Services
To travel this new path, we invite retired and working farmers to sit at the same table with young farmers and local investors.
My company offers a step-by-step process to organize land, markets, and money around profitable farms that can be passed to the next generation within farm families and communities.
We are not in real estate, farm management, banking, finance, or government. Nor do we sell inputs, trade commodities, or market food at the retail level.
Land and Markets
We start by discussing landowner-controlled “production units” with working and retired farmers. A production unit is a group of nearby farms leased by the owners, with purchase options, to a young farm manager selected by the owners. Our preliminary business plans include the results of talks with commodity buyers and local direct sellers. However, more land, better commodity contracts, and improved direct-to-consumer sales are not enough.
Money
Our most important work is helping production unit members reach large numbers of local and regional retail consumers. Iowa State researchers have made the case for farmer-owned retail food brands. Our website explains the planning and development process, including public and investor information events.
Free Preliminary Business Plans
As an incentive for local cooperation, we will write preliminary business plans at no cost. Please contact me to learn more about demonstration projects near Omaha, Des Moines, and Kansas City.
Thank you.
Jim Steffen, President
Massena Corporation
402-317-2639
jim@massenafarms.com
Re-posted 4-5-25