CSIF director Brian Waddingham says there are several economic considerations to calving, backgrounding, and finishing cattle under roof.
“With the cost of pasture ground to buy increasing, with the rent costs going up, these barns are starting to make a lot more sense even down in what we traditionally say is grass country.”
He tells Brownfield farmers attending the conference are learning about rules and regulations that apply to calving under roof.
“And most of those revolve around separation distances to water, whether it’s your well, a creek, a river, a designated wetland, there are rules that have to be followed today.”
And Waddingham says USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program helps cost share cattle barns that replace open or dry lots.
“In some cases, 30 percent, 50 percent on up to 70 percent of that barn can be paid for through EQUIP if you qualify.”
Brownfield interviewed Waddingham during the Coalition’s Farming for the Future Conference in Osceola Wednesday.