Iowa Family Converted Hog Farm to Mushroom Production
A former livestock site now yields specialty fungi, offering a new model for producers shifting away from large-scale hog farming.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Organic Food
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In 2022, an Iowa family ceased hog operations after repurposing their 200-foot barn into a controlled mushroom fruiting room. The farm now serves as a demonstration hub for other producers exploring alternative agricultural paths.
Why it matters
This transition addresses both the physical toll of traditional livestock labor and the environmental concerns associated with managing 1 million gallons of annual manure waste. By repurposing existing infrastructure, the site provides a proof-of-concept for farmers seeking to lower their environmental footprint.
A yearlong mushroom pilot supported by a $15,000 grant in 2023 tracked labor, costs, and margins for this farm conversion. Ongoing data collection is supported by $216,000 in project funding, though long-term financial outcomes for this specific model remain under investigation.
The players
The Transfarmation Project
An initiative that supports farmers as they transition from industrial animal agriculture toward plant-based farming and other sustainable alternatives.
The Faaborg family
Iowa-based farmers who converted their former industrial hog production facility into a mushroom farming and demonstration hub.
The details
The conversion involved modifying half of a 200-foot hog barn into a climate-controlled environment tailored to specialty fungi. The farm also transformed its former manure storage pit into a freshwater pond to mitigate past environmental impacts. This shift allows the family to move away from the high-waste management demands of previous industrial livestock production.
Timeline
1990: State reached 789 large CAFOs.
2021: Family began working with The Transfarmation Project.
2022: Family ended hog production.
2023: Family received a $15,000 grant.
2025: State reached 4,444 large CAFOs.
Health Landscape
This transition marks a departure from the rising trend of industrial confinement livestock operations in Iowa, which grew from 789 units in 1990 to 4,444 in 2025. It illustrates a move toward smaller-scale, lower-impact specialty crops that avoid the waste management demands of traditional hog facilities.
This development highlights the environmental and health-related benefits of reducing large-scale manure contamination in local soil and water. Residents interested in sustainable food systems may find it useful to track how regional land use affects local water quality standards.
The takeaway
Repurposing industrial farming infrastructure can successfully reduce waste output while maintaining agricultural productivity. Interested readers can monitor the ongoing demonstration data to understand the viability of alternative farming transitions in their own area.
Further reading
For more on the shift toward sustainable agriculture, read our latest reports in Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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