A Marshall County business is able to expand their operations following a tax abatement approval by the Marshall County Council on Monday morning.
Homestead Dairy hopes to become a leader in robotic dairy farming. Under their plans, the expansion will allow the operation to invest $6-million constructing a new 400-thousand square foot dairy facility.
Co-owner Floyd Houin says an extra $8-million will be used to purchase robotic milking machines.
“The project is probably one of the most cutting edge projects in the dairy industry right now,” says Houin. “We’re starting out with 24 robots with room for an additional 24 as things progress forward.”
There were two steps in the tax abatement process. The first was to declare the land on which the dairy farm sits an economic revitalization area. The second – which was also considered on Monday – was to abate the personal property and real estate taxes situated at the site.
The Marshall County Economic Development Corporation aided in the process and says agriculture is vital to the economy of Marshall County.
Homestead Dairy owns 3,500 cows and has plans with the expansion to add an additional 1,400. While the machinery makes the milking process easier on the cows and more efficient, the business hopes to add staff to their operation.
“We’re trying to create the best environment for the cow,” says Houin. “Keep them out of the rain, keep them out of the heat. It’s cross ventilated so there’s air moving through the building. Everything that we’ve put into this building is for cow comfort.”
The company started its operation in 1979 with 110 cows in tow.
The Marshall County Council on Monday approved the tax abatement unanimously.
