Costco-backed poultry expansion offers opportunities for western Iowa farmers
June 12, 2025 | Bethany Baratta
Farmers in western Iowa have the opportunity next week to learn more about the opportunity to raise chickens for Lincoln Premium Poultry, Costco’s poultry organization.
The Fremont, Neb.-based company is considering a second poultry complex. In partnership with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, Western Iowa Power Cooperative, Harrison County Development Corporation and others, Lincoln Premium Poultry is offering information meetings to potential growers.
Meetings are scheduled for Monday, June 16 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Harrison County Extension Office, 304 E. 7th Street, Logan, Iowa, and Tuesday, July 1, from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Onawa Community Center, 320 10th Street, Onawa, Iowa. An RSVP is requested by emailing Lincoln Premium Poultry at twilson@lincolnpremiumpoultry.com.
“Currently, we have farm families in four Iowa counties including Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie and Crawford. We are looking to expand the number of growers in those areas,” said Jessica Kolterman, director of administration at Lincoln Premium Poultry.
These meetings will provide area farm families with the opportunity to learn about the company, the pro forma, the contract and about growing poultry.
“This is a great opportunity for young people to either stay on or come back to the family farm,” said Kolterman. “A big part of our success has been partnering with young farm families with their interest in innovation and technology, and with their strong work ethic.”
The expansion in poultry production would bode well for the soybean industry. Livestock feed continues to account for 97% of domestic demand for U.S. soybean meal. According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), chicken production increased from 41.2 billion pounds in 2017 to 45.7 billion pounds in 2022, an increase of 10.9%.
According to the Soybean Meal Demand Assessment conducted by Decision Innovation Solutions, an economics firm based in Urbandale, soybean meal consumption by the U.S. broiler sector increased from 15 million tons in 2017 to 18.2 million tons in 2022, an increase of 21.5%.
Any interested farm families are invited to attend to learn more or may contact Kolterman directly at 402-641-8471 or jkolterman@lincolnpremiumpoultry.com.
If you have questions about siting a new poultry barn or about the how the rules and regulations would apply to your farm, contact Brian Waddingham with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers at 800-932-2436 or bwaddingham@supportfarmers.com.
Written by Bethany Baratta.
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