When it comes to farming today, diversification seems to be the key, says Brian Waddingham, executive director of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF).

"Farmers are calling because it doesn’t appear that commodity prices are going up anytime soon, so they’re looking to do something with livestock to diversify and spread out some risk," Waddingham said.

Farmers are calling the Coalition and asking for assistance in a variety of ways, Waddingham said.

Some operators of 80-to 90-head dairy farms are calling with questions about growing their farms. In addition to growing, farmers also realize the need to add manure storage structures on those farms.

"Those manure storage structures have a whole...