My name is Cody Wilkins and I am a 6th generation rancher from Utah, and owner of Wilkins Livestock, LLC. I run 300 head of mother cows and operate a trucking company in conjunction with our farming/ranching business. We currently produce 700 tons of alfalfa and 1500 tons of corn silage. We transport agricultural products such as livestock, alfalfa hay, and grain corn. I’m looking to expand my operation and would like to purchase 907.46 acres with 650+ farmable acres. There are currently 5 pivots being used for irrigation and 4 side rolls/ wheel lines that I plan to replace with pivots in the future. The property is located on the river which supplies an ample water source from large irrigation pumps to the pivots and wheel lines. This property includes 8 building structures; main housing, barn/housing, pump station, Quonset, livestock sheds, barn/shop, hay barn and a garden shed. The purchase of the property will also include a broad range of equipment from tractors to tillage and hay equipment, etc...
Where we are located in the Uintah basin is considered to be one of the highest quality places to produce alfalfa. Due to our climate and elevation, the protein content in alfalfa ranges anywhere from 20% to 25%. This amount of protein makes our alfalfa highly sought after in the dairy industry, as well as the the high relative food value (RFV). Based on my figures and my prior history of producing alfalfa in our rural area, this property has the potential to produce 5 to 7 tons to the acre and a total amount of 3000 to 4000 tons. Based on 2020's hay market, I would market this product between $200 to $270 a ton.
In addition to alfalfa production, I would utilize a crop rotation system and plant corn when certain stands are aging and not producing to their full potential. Planting corn will allow the ground to rest for a year, while reintroducing the micro nutrients back into the soil before the alfalfa is replanted.
I have formed respective business relationships with multiple dairy operations in Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, etc... These dairy operations sustain anywhere from 1000 head to 8500 head of milking cows, depending on the dairy. For example, we have recently been in contact with a large dairy operation in Colorado and they are very interested in purchasing all of the top quality hay that we are able to produce. We hope to invest in this property and reach out to multiple dairies at that point. Owning our own trucks and having the ability to transport our product also benefits our operation.
We have 3 companies that provide hay compressing that are local to our area. The compressed hay is then put in shipping containers and then has the capability to be shipped to dairies in China. This would be another alternative market for our high quality hay production that we would like to pursue.
In 2006 I was promoted to the Ranch Manager of my families farm/ranch operation. We produced 10,000 tons of high quality alfalfa hay that we shipped to 48 different states. We produced 25,000 to 30,000 bushels of corn per year and sold our product to numerous grain mills. Our operation supported 800 to 1000 head of mother cows and calves were sold in the fall. Due to family differences, we were forced to downsize my immediate family's operation and we have built what we have now from the ground up.
I strongly believe that I have the experience, knowledge and working business relationships to make this investment a success for all parties involved.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to speaking with you and answering any further questions you may have.
Cody Wilkins
Wilkins Livestock, LLC
435-790-4750
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