The poultry industry in Nebraska is seeing a resurgence with the announcement of three projects requiring hundreds of poultry barns in eastern and central Nebraska to house both chickens and turkeys. These projects bring opportunity to Nebraska farmers to further diversify their operations.
“We’re proud that these new poultry projects in Nebraska understand the value of doing business in our state. Nebraska offers the perfect combination of technology, location, climate and expertise to ensure that we generate safe and healthful poultry products for consumers to enjoy” states Kristen Hassebrook, Executive Director of the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska. “Clearly, an expanding poultry industry is a tremendous opportunity for our state, and for agriculture to continue to help support our state’s economy.”
The Costco/Lincoln Premium Poultry (LPP) processing plant (Fremont), alone, requires over 400 “houses” to support its projected need of over 2 million chickens per week. Hendrix Genetics has also opened a hatchery in Grand Island that will hatch 24 million chicks per year, once fully operational, and will be supplied by 11 contract stock farms. Hybrid Turkeys, owned by Hendrix Genetics, is nearing completion of its new turkey hatchery in Beatrice and will require four barns.
“The LPP project is more than just bringing poultry to Nebraska,” says Willow Holoubek of Lincoln Premium Poultry. “It brings so many different facets to Nebraska, new grain markets, a way for the next generation to join a family operation, auxiliary, support business that create jobs and use electricity, and the overall economic impact which supports Nebraska infrastructure, such as bridges and community utilities.”
“These poultry barns represent opportunity for our farmers and new load for our rural public power district customers” said Mary Plettner, NPPD Economic Development Manager. “They also illustrate a confidence in Nebraska’s agricultural economy.”
NPPD will be leading a delegation at the International Production & Processing Exhibition (IPPE) in Atlanta in January. IPPE 2018 includes the International Poultry Expo and presents another opportunity to promote Nebraska to the poultry industry.