With dairying interests in the West, many say he'll be a big player. Near Atlantic, Iowa, Ron Jackson is moving cows into an 1,800-head dairy he hopes to double. I think there's real opportunity in the Midwest. More than California money fuels Midwest growth. Purina, Land O' Lakes and other feed companies do, too.
Much expansion is farmer-driven.
Dairies of 200 to 600 cows are common in Minnesota. Some top 1,000, says University of Minnesota dairy management professor Jeffrey Reneau. We're making drastic changes in this part of the country. Not everyone expects dairying to soar forever. Low feed prices are not good long term.