There’s been a lot of interest in growing Iowa’s livestock industry in the past five years, and that continues to grow, Brian Waddingham, executive director of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF), told attendees last month at the Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit in Ames.

"Demand for our services has gone up exponentially over the years," Waddingham said.

Since its beginning 10 years ago, CSIF staff members have provided free, confidential assistance to more than 2,700 livestock farmers, Waddingham said.

In 2009, CSIF staff members received about 160 phone calls for first-time assistance and visited about 90 farms. In 2013, staff members received 375 first-time calls for assistance and made 220 farm visits.

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