As explained on page 1, we are inviting retired farmland owners, owner-operators, and renters to work together to organize land and money to scale up farms that are too small for high-value markets. With my business partners, we will show producers a step-by-step process to organize efficient farms, local markets, public support, and backing from local investors. This can be done without selling land or adding new farm-level debt.
Step-By-Step Business Planning
As of this writing (August 2025) we are inviting elected city and county officials and local food advocates to host meetings with landowners and farmers.
At these meetings, we will ask landowners to form “regenerative production units.” A production unit combines contiguous and nearby farms leased by the owners directly to a single operator. Business plans for these “new farms” will include the cost and savings from reducing chemical, irrigation, and equipment costs. Lower unit costs will position the operators to negotiate better forward contracts for corps and livestock.
Production units will include housing for farmers and farmhands. Multiple units positioned around major cities will increase producer household incomes from farming and help stabilize taxes bases.
Non-Binding Planning Agreements
To begin, we are inviting landowners and farmers to discuss non-binding planning agreements. My two Omaha area farms will be part of local demonstration projects.
Phase I
Phase I includes two main tasks. Task 1 centers on scheduling meetings and holding discussions with producers on converting conventional ground to regenerative methods and on the need for farmer-owned retail food brands. Also, farm and food industry organizations, local governments, and elected officials are being asked to host these meetings.
If there is sufficient interest, Task 2 begins with informal discussions with locally owned feeders, packers, and direct sellers of locally processed beef. The objective is to gather price estimates for selected products based on buyer requirements including volume, quality, and delivery dates. The project will end if landowner interest or buyer demand is weak.
Phase II
Next come preliminary business plans. These plans will include costs to convert conventional crop and cattle operations to regenerative and transitional organic production methods. Plans will include the costs of on-farm housing, local legal and accounting services, and periodic financial reports. Our accounting objective is track costs and income required to increase household incomes from farming.
Each landowner will receive a confidential business plan for her/his farm. Landowners will also receive a plan for the new production units. The data for the unit plan will come from the individual farm plans and from local market data – without identifying the individual farms. The farm and unit plans will show cost-of-production and income estimates for each crop, and for the selected beef operation.
Phase III
Once the preliminary business plans have been approved, our partners will invite experienced farmers to discuss production unit management and marketing positions. Interested producers will receive business plan summaries and applications for available positions. Massena Farms partners will review qualifications and recommend applicants to the landowners.
Phase IV
With preliminary business plans in hand, landowners and farmers will host public meetings with a goal of attracting local risk capital investors who are committed to contract negotiations. Risk capital investments are essential because smaller landowners and farmers cannot afford to take on debt to build local food infrastructure with the capacity to supply high-value commodity markets and farmer-owned food brands.
Investors can include individuals, private investment organizations, and publicly-funded economic development agencies. ROI for our company and its partners will come from a negotiated share of verified new farm income as determined by audited financial reports to landowners, farmers, and investors.
Contract negotiations will include landowners and farmers (with their local advisors) along with commodity buyers, direct sellers, and investors.
Project Reports
A brief report will be prepared at the conclusion to each planning phase. Taken together, these reports will show the distribution of projected capital and operating costs, revenues, and profits. If work is halted at any point due to lack of interest by landowners, buyers, or investors, a brief final report will be submitted to the funding organization(s).
Free Business Plans
If funds are available, we intend to offer free business plans to selected landowners and working farmers who are interested in organizing local production units and expanding existing or new direct sales projects.
As explained on page 4, we are building beef cow-calf operations into each production unit. Our Bennington, Nebraska and Massena, Iowa farms will serve as open books demonstrations sites for selected landowners and prospective production unit managers.
Please contact me to learn more.
Thank you.
Jim Steffen, President
Massena Corporation
402-317-2639
jim@massenafarms.com
Revised: 08-23-2025