Getting Started with a swine barn

STEP 1: SELECT THE RIGHT INTEGRATOR  

A wide variety of swine contracts are being offered in the industry today, and no two contracts are exactly the same.  The industry experts at AgVice can help sort out the details and put you in touch with the right pig company for your needs. 

From a row crop farmer that wants only manure, to a hands-off investor who only wants to own a barn, or a farmer that wants to bring a son or daughter back to the family farming operation- we can help.

• Contract production:  This is the most common model used in the pork industry today.  Under this system the pig owner typically provide feed, medication, and anything else that goes into the pig.  The farmer provides the labor, owns the barn, and then utilizes the valuable manure.  Some contracts will provide for the pig owner to supply incidental labor for tasks such as loading and vaccinating, while others will pay the farmer more to do all the work.  Contract variations include: 

• Single stocked wean to market

• Double stocked wean to market

• Feed to market

• Nursery

• Flex Contract

• Triple net lease:  While not as prevalent as they have been in previous years, there are still a few triple net lease options available in certain geographic areas of the state today.  Under this arrangement the pig owner provides the daily labor to chore the pigs themselves.  The barn may be owned by the farmer that wants the manure, or a separate third-party investor.  AgVice can help connect the investors with farmers and pig owners that are looking for this kind of arrangement.

STEP 2: SELECT A BUILDING SITE

Once the integrator is chosen and the specific barn size has been determined, AgVice can help find the right building site.  Many times barns can be made to fit most any site, however the cost can quickly escalate when excavation and gravel are figured in. Long-long term manure application and transport costs need to be taken into consideration as well. 

Using the latest in GIS and 3-D excavation software along with our decades of experience, AgVice can help you locate the most practical location.  

Things to consider:

• Topography and elevation variation- water drainage

• Regulatory setbacks/separation distances

• County allowed driveway placement

• Pipeline and utility easements

• Physical barn size

• Loading chute design/dock height

• Access to power

• Access to water- rural vs well

• Distance to manure application fields

• Potential for future expansion

• Storm water discharge permits

• Neighbor relations

• Water