Growing consumer interest in protein-rich diets is helping drive optimism across the livestock industry, even as producers continue to manage risk and long-term investment decisions. Marshall Hansen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Proteins with Farm Credit Services of America, says understanding the needs of individual sectors is central to how lenders work alongside producers.
Hansen says that specialized focus comes from teams dedicated to specific segments of the livestock industry, allowing them to better understand challenges facing beef, pork, dairy, and poultry producers.
His own background in production agriculture also shapes that perspective. Hansen grew up on a ranch in Nebraska’s Sandhills with a family cow calf operation that dates back generations. After beginning his career in commercial banking, he has spent nearly twenty-five years working within the Farm Credit System.
Hansen says one of the biggest shifts he sees today is the growing emphasis on protein in consumer diets, which is helping support demand even as prices remain elevated.
He says that momentum creates opportunity, but producers still face a number of challenges ranging from animal health threats to long-term financial decisions.
Hansen says balancing strong consumer demand with disciplined risk management will be critical as livestock producers look toward rebuilding herds and positioning their operations for future growth.
