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Promoting the Strength of Minnesota's Agricultural Economy
Welcome to the MDA Marketing Minute,
the marketing e-newsletter from the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture
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Turkey growers to feast on fatter profits
Some experts are predicting record returns for America's turkey producers this year. The agribusiness newspaper Feedstuffs is crediting the plumped up profits to the smallest per capita supply in 30 years and historically high prices. The industry experienced substantial losses in 2008 and 2009 due to cost increases and the recession and cut production more than 10 percent this year to tighten supplies - thus getting prices high enough to cover costs and post profits.
According to the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, turkey production translates into more than $600 million in income for producers, processors and other related industries in this state. It also supports nearly 26,000 Minnesota jobs.
Turkey production helps our other ag sectors as well by raising demand for feed products. Every year, turkeys raised in Minnesota consume $74 million of corn and $90 million of soybean meal, adding approximately $198 million to the value of Minnesota corn and soybeans. |
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MDA launches new web app for farm sales
The MDA Livestock Development Team has introduced a new web application that allows individuals looking for farm property to search for sites conducive to raising livestock. MDA receives domestic and international calls from people looking for farms for sale or rent. The new Farm Properties for Sale web application tool will help prospective or existing livestock farmers find a property with existing infrastructure and/or acreage that with few or no modifications would allow them to start up operations right away.
MDA Livestock Specialist Jim Ostlie says searching for farm properties is not always easy on realtor websites so this application was developed to help farmers more quickly find the right property.
"While MDA is not involved in selling any property, we gather the information about what's available and include the contact information for the realtor, broker, agent, or person representing the property and enter that into the web application," he said.
Ostlie says some of the listings include pictures and will be updated frequently.
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